San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-02
Wonders of the Telautograph.


From the Chicago News.
Prof. Elisha Grsy's telautograph is
the device to be used by the Chicago
Writing Telegraph Company. Alder
man O'Neill introduced an ordinance
Monday evening granting the COM
paDy the right to use certain streets
and alleys for the laying and operst.
ing of electric wires, for it lie the de.
sign of the company tn use the te-
Autograph as the telephone system
is now operated, so that su hscribers
on call up their correspondents and
send autographs letters by lightning.
A clause inserted In the ordinance
for bids the tearing up Of streets until
after the Worlds Fair, and it is said
that the com uany will install o model
writing telegraph section as an ex
hibit at the Exposition, equipped
with 100 instruments in complete
working order. This will not only
serve 10 thoroughly advertise the
enterprise but will permit q thorough
and severe six months test that Is to
be made. 1t goes without saying that
it would form one of the most inter-
esting features Of the Fair.
SOhO Hull lhb oSo q BLubII IdClOTH
was built near Highland Park for the
purpose of making the telautographs.
The device, with its counterpart q,
the other end of the line, will receive
and transmit-by reproduction-an
photographic letter by electricity. Prof.
Gray has been at work on 1t for some
time and but two machines were
built, and these were used in taking
out foreign patents. Now that 1t is
perfected, the machines will be rented
10 the public and photographic ex
changes similar to telephone ex.
changes are near probability.
Speaking of Gray's telautograph
yesterday, an electrician we'll &C.
quainted with the promoters of the
Chicago Writing Telegraph Company,
said: ut is current gossip with the
electrical fraternity that the telauto-
graph is TO be handled in connection
with the bell telephones That is,
a general company controls the de.
vice. 1t will form local companies
in the usual manner, and working
with the Bell telephone people place
telautographs with telephones. Thus
man will be able to talk or write az
he may see fit. If his hello is GU
he Can leave note. Signatures and
legal documents can be transmitted,
and you gentlemen of the press can
call up your city editor, tell him
what you have, receive his orders as
to space and write out your copy :,
which will be instantly reproduced
In your editorial rooms. It's a great
scheme and will work nicely har-
messed to the telephone"
Greenwich's Famous Observatory
The world famous Greenwich OBJ,
servatory. near London, founded by
Charles III. and planned by Chris
topher Wren, is a picturesque build
ing standing on slight elevation in
the midst of well-kepr park, sprink-
led with elm and chestnut trees,
some of them dating back to the DAYS
of Queen Elizabeth. 1t IL surrounded
by q massive wall, entrance to the
Enclosure being effected through a
heavy iron gate, giving IL somewhat
the look of fortress. Upon it's east t..
ern front pole is stationed, to the
top Of which every day q huge black
ball Is hoisted by means of electricity.
which drops upon the instant IF IL
O'Clock noon, announcing meridian
time to all the vessels on the Tbames
In the midst Of the lawn, upon
which tame lawns may he seen dis
porting, is q dry we'll 100 feet deep,
with spiral stairs leading to the bot.
tom, which was formerly used 10
watch the stars during daylight.
The science OF astronomy has of
late years attained such proportions
that most observatories find it neces-
sary to confine their attention to one
or two special divisions of the subject
the astronomers at Greenwich being
occupied exclusively in determining
the positions of the principal stars
and the movements Of the planets, so
Intimately related as these are to the
ecience OF navigation. =