The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-23

Electric Signals Flashed From Ship to ship
without Wires.

Jltcltic olkndib fihhheu FROM 'tiP g." up
without Wires.
Thomas A. Edison has perfected and
patented another wonderful electrical inven-
ton. IL is one that is intended not only TO
further the interests of commerce. but TO pro-
tect human HE at sea. 1t is, IN substance.
system by which telegraphic communication
can be carried on between ships at sea- be
tween ships and the shore, and between dls-
tant points on land. The most remarkable
part of it all is that this intercommunlcatio
can be maintained absolutely without the use
Of wires or cables.
Here is one Of the ways in which the inven-
tion viii work Suppose all the ships that
sail the seas are fitted with the proper appara-
tus An ocean greyhound-the City OF Paris,
say-break. her shalt and there are fears that
she may sink If assistance cannot be sum-
nOned quickly. Not san IS IN sight not
sign of smoke on the horizon. An operator
skilled in the transmission of Morse charac-
tiers manipuiates "a key located, for instance,
in the charirOOm. Away down below the
chOrzOn is another ship, so lar distant that
not even her tOpmasts are visible. The Morse
signals are transmitted 10 the other snip and
answered The disabled ship gives her posi-
ton and the other speeds TO her and.
The other ship might be small bark or
brig proceeding under sail and incapable OF
rendering aid In such II case the BARI or
brig would work her signals, which would be
thirty miles Then they might reacl a"other
sailing ship. also TOO small anC 10, far away
to give the assistance required. bat she IN
turn would begin signaling. covering another
radius OF thirty miles. The signals might
uass along 90 half "a dozen ships before they
reached one large enough TO aid 50 big YES
sei as the City of Paris. When they did
reach one. however, she would reply that she
would 90 O. the disabled vessels assistance.
The word OF cheer would be passed back from
.k... ~ al4.4I or
again
Tie principle involved is that of induction.
Naturally. only those who have given some
little study TO electricity will understand
clearly Just how and why these results are
obtained.
In his specifications. fled at the Patent
Office IN Washington, Mr.. Edison says
81 have discovered that If sufficient eleya-
ton be obtained to overcome The curvature
OF the earths surface and 10 reduce 10 the
minimum the earth's aOsorptD n, electric
telegraphng or signaling between distant
points can be carried on by induction with
out the use of wires connecting such distant
points.
'This discovery is especially applicable 10
tslegraphng across bodies of water, thus
avoiding the use OF submarine cables OF Tor
communicating between vessels at sea or
between vessels at sea and points on land. but
il is also applicable to electric communication
between distant points on land II beng ne
OF communication over the open prairie TO
increase the elevation IN order TO reduce TO
the minimum the induction absorbing effect
of houses. trees and elevations IN the land
itself.
At sea. from an elevation Of 100 feet. i can
communicate electrically great distance
and SINCE this elevation. or one sufficiently
high. can be had by utilizing the masts OF
ships, signals can be sent and received be-
tween ships separated considerable dis
lance, and by repeating the signals from ship
10 ship communication can be established be-
tween points any distance apart or across the
largest seas. and even oceans.
The collision of ships IN logs can be pre-
vented by this character o. signaling by the
use OF which, also, the safety OF sbip IN APP
preaching dangerous coast IN foggy weather
can be assured. In communicating between
points on land poles of great height can be
used. or captive balloons. At these elevated
points, whether upon the masts of ships,
upon poles or balloons. cOndensng surfaces
OF metal or other conductor of electricity ara
located. Each cOndensing surface is con-
nected with earth by an electrical conducting
wire"
BY sending up captive balloons from ships
the distance through which signals can be
sent can be vastly increased the object being
60 overcome the curvature Of the surface Oh
the earth.
If balloon in New York should be sent up
70 great height, equipped with condenser.
and held to the earth by "a rope cable in
which there was strand of wire, and an
other similarly equipped should lie sent M
from London. circuit would be formed
through earth and air without the aid OF
wires for transmission. through which mes
sages could be flashed at greater speed than
has ever been attained by ony other system
All that II IN necessary to 90 is to locate the
condensers at sufficient height 10 overcome
she curvature of the eaIth's surface. This j.
similar III many respects 10 the train tele
graph system invented by Mr. Edison. and
now III use on the Lehigh Valley railroad by
which messages are transmitted between NOV
Ing trans and stations and from one train 10
another. The new invention has boundless
possibilities. All that it can accomplish can
rs yet only be coniecturel by Mr. Edison
who has unlimited faith IN its efficacy
For Over finy Years