The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-04
FROM sun TO EARTH.
Latest Idea of Americas Great
est Inventor.
WONDERFUL SOLAR TELEPHONE.
Edison Preparing to Record Sounds Issu-
ing From the Center of the
Planetary Universe.

At Ogden. n. j.. there is mass of iron
ore mile long standing perpendicular and
extending into the bowels of the earth to
great but unknown depths. said to contain
several hundred million tons of magnetic
material. As the violent storms and up
PUSHES in the sun produces disturbances of
the earth's magnetism which are recorded
on the magnetometer at the Kew and other
observatories. it has occurred to Mr.. Edi-
son. says the New York Herald. that the
strength OF the solar disturbance, as ex-
erted on our planet. could be increased
enormously by utilizing vein of magnetic
iron ore, and running around the body of
ore several miles OF wire, forming an in
ductive circuit. into which powerful
electric currents would be thrown by
any disturbance of the earth's magnetism.
"By use of instruments every change"
he says, could be recorded.
and by the use of the tele-
phone all sounds produced on the sun
would be heard on our planet" He is, ac-
cordingly, erecting telegraph poles on each
side OF the Ogden ore hill and parallel with
IT. on which he is coiling an insulated wire
many times around the whole area where
the earth's magnetic hines leave the iron
mountain and extend into space. The two
observation station and connected with the
receiving telephone.
From every point of view-poetic, spirit
ual and scientific-this promises TO be one
of the most thrilling experiments ever
made. Its successful conductor-like
Wordsworlh's
curious child, who dwelt upon tract
OF inland ground, applying TO his ear
The convoiutions OF a smooth Tipped shell
hearing ''sonorous cadences" and holding
converse with the unseen universe itself
will be able TO listen to the awe-inspiring
rush and roar of the SUMS mountainous
pillows of fire as they splutter forth in in
conceivable fury from his cyclopean fur
naces. What a sermon will be preached
into the receiving instrument A voice
from the central orb of our planetary sys-
tem--type answering TO anti-type thunder
ing forth the eternal power and God-head
of Him whom the Christian pulpit, often
too feebly for our duh ears, proclaims 1.-The
Light of the world"
From scientific point of view the value
OF this experiment may be immense. Ev-
cry new fact brought certainly to light re-
speeding the actual phenomenon in "the
regions beyond, however insignificant it
may seem at first, becomes to science in her
onward path of research the keystone of an
arch serving TO bridge some hitherto i'm
passable chasm. Almost every great out
burst of a solar cyclone is followed by
magnetic storm on our little planet, and
simultaneously the ices of its polar circle
glisten in the light of the Aurora Borealis.
Familiar examples of this are found in
all astronomical and magnetic observa-
tons. The magnetic storm of November
II, 1882 (succeeding the appear
ance on the 10th of sun spot
which, measured at Allegheny observatory
covered 1900, 000.0 goo square miles) seriously
interrupted the telegraph lines at New
York and cable messages were delayed
nearly an hour, while at Chicago the
switchboard was dozen times on fire. As
an experiment one of the Western Union
wires between Washington and Baltimore
was worked with the earth current alone.
There is every reason. therefore. to expect
that the strength of all such disturbances
will be increased enormously in Mr.. Edi-
sons Induc,ive circuit of the Ogden iron
mountain; that by the use of his instru-
ment the variations of intensity can be re-
corded and, as he hopes, sounds pro-
duced on the sun will be heard through the
telephone"