Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-10-20
LONGEST TELEPHONE.
Opening Of the Chicago-New York
Telephone Line.
Distinguished Guests Present. Familiar
Airs Played and Responded TOT
Mayors Of the Two cities Exc
change Congratulations.

New YoRK, Oct. I9.-The cities o
New York and Chicago were uniteC
yesterday afternoon. Figuratively
speaking IL was a civil marriage, th,
mayors Of the two great cities, thou
sand miles apart, performing the cere
mony 1t was distinguished gather
ing in the Office of the American tele
phone and telegraph Office in this city
which acted as witnesses to the cere
mony Gathered within an arched glass
chamber, made brilliant with colored
electric light. and whose sides were or
namented with potted plants and flow
ers, were many men famed in electrical
science and skilled with the pen. In the
center of the room, placed at the base
of column, profusely decorated with
golden ribbons and yellow chrysan-
themums, was a handsome cabinet re-
ceiver constructed especially for the oe-
casion. Radiating from this cabinet
were twenty or thirty receivers that
were distributed among the guests in
order that they might hear for Them
selves what science had accomplished.
The test was an absolute success, not
withstanding that the weather condi-
tions in Chicago and along the way
were decidedly against the experiment
In the New York Office of the COM
pany were gathered Mayor Grant, Com
missioner Walter Storm and Electrical
Expert Schuyler S, Wheeler, OF the
board of electrical matters, Prof. Gra-
ham Bell, the inventor Of the telephone,
II n$ fI.t
Subway Co, John Il. Hudson, president
of the American Bell Telephone Co,
Col. Edward Parker, f. j. Parker, vice
president of the Long Distance Tele-
phone CO., W. J. Seaton. Ralph Pope,
George NJ. Phillips and T. G. Martin, of
the Society of Electrical Engineers,
several ladies, officers of the telephone
company and a score Of newspaper men.
Altogether about 100 persons were as
sembled. 1t was learned by telephone
that precisely similar gathering was
in the Chicago Office.
President Hudson explained to the
assemblage in the New York office that
this new connection between New York
and Chicago was the longest telephone
line in the world. The long distance
telephone between Paris and Marseilles
was, he said, only 500 miles and that
between London and Paris less than $50
miles, whereas the New York-Chieago
line was nearly 1000 miles long.
With these preliminary remarks tho
test began with the soft strains of
cornet floating through the room, car
rying the familiar strains of the "Star
Spangled Banner" Hardly had the
last note died away when it was an
nounced that the music would be re-
peated from Chicago. The auxiliary
receivers were placed to numerous ears
and clear and distinct came the famil-
lar air A hush was asked for and the
auxiliary receivers disconnected Then
the wonderful carrying power was
fully demonstrated. A small thread
like note came from the cabinet re-
eeiver, but 1t was the familiar tone and
was distinctly heard by all in the room.
"America" was sent and received in the
same way and then Mayor Grant came
to the cabinet His honor sat down,
clapped the receiver to his ear, his
mouth to the sender and said in lns=
distinct voice; Hello, Chicago; is that
you, Mayor Washburne?1
The Chicago mayor was evidently not
familiar with long distance telephones
as he did not get sufficiently near to
the instrument to make his voice carry
at first
"The city of Chicago grects the city
of New York" said Mayor Washburne,
in Chicago
"The city of New York returns the
and wishes you all success
in the great celebration you are to have
there this week." was Mayor Granite
reply.
The city of Chicago extends its
greeting and congratulates the nation"
said Mayor Washburne, impressively,
ION an American invention which shall
the telegraph and enable
the people of this continent to commu-
nicate orally where they now resort to
the post and telegraph"
Mayor Grant responded no less inn
pressively: Il congratulate you and
the people of the United States upon
the opening of this great wire
Mayor Grant in conclusion made a
graceful personal expression of regret !
1t his inability, owing to press of oil
,ial business, at not being able to be |
present in person as well as by voice in |
Chicago during the worlds fair dedica-
lion week.