The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-19
TALKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

-
Successful lost of the Long Distance Tel
ephone = Music and Conversation Be-
tween Chicago and New York.
New York, Oct. lS.-The cities OF
New York and Chicago were united this
afternoon F~iguratively speaking it
was a civil marriage, the mayors OF the
two great cities, a thousand miles
apart, performing the ceremony. 1t
was a distinguished gathering in the
office of the American Telephone and
Telegraph in this city, who acted as
witnesses to the ceremony. Gathered
within an arched glass chamber, made
brilliant with colored electric lights,
and whose sides were ornamented with
potted plants were men, famed in
electrical science. In the centre Of the
room, profusely decorated with golden
ribbons and yellow chrysanthemums,
was a handsome cabinet receiver, con-
structed especially for the occasion.
Radiating from this cabinet was 20 or
80 receivers that we're distributed
among the guests, in order that they
might hear for themselves what science
has accomplished. The test was an abb
solute success, notwithstanding that
the weather conditions in Chicago and
along the line were decidedly against
the experiment.
In the New York office OF the COM
pany were gathered Mayor Grant,
Commissioners Walter Storm and Elec-
trical expert Wheeler, Of the board OF
electrical control, Prof. Alexander Ora
ham Bell, the inventor of the tele-
phone, and many others interested.
Altogether about one hundred persons
were assembled. 1t vas learned by
telephone that a precisely similar gath
ering was in the Chicago Office. Presi-
dent Hudson explained in New York
that the 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 in length,
and'that between London and Paris less
than $50 miles, whereas the New York
Chicago line was nearly 1000 miles.
With these preliminary remarks the
test began. The soft strains OF a cornet
floated through the room, carrying the
familiar strains OF the "Star Spangled
Banner. Hardly had the last notes
died away when it was announced that
the music would be repeated from
Chicago. The auxiliary receivers were
placed to numerous ears and clear and
distinct came the familiar air. A hush
was asked for and the auxiliary re-
ceivers disconnected. Then the won
derful carrying power was fully demon
strated. A small thin thread-ike note
came from the cabinet receiver, but 1t
was the same familiar tune and was dis
tinctly 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 mouth
close to the transmitter, and said in a
low distinct voice: Hello, Chicago.
Is that you, Mayor Washburne? The
MAYOR was evidently moi familiar with
the long distance telephone, as he did
not GET sufficiently near to the instru-
ment to make his voice carry.
'The city OF Chicago greets the city
of Now York." said Mayor Washburne
in Chicago.
"The City Of New York returns the
compliment and wishes you all success
in the great celebration you are to have
there this week." was Mayor Grants
reply.
"The city OF Chicago extends its
greetings and cougratulatcsthe nation"
said Mayor Washburne, impressively.
ION an American invention, which
shall supplement the telegraph and en-
able the people of continents to COM
municate orally, where they now resort
to tho post and telegraph"
Mayor Grant responded no less i'm
pressively: 81 congratulate you and the
people OF the United States upon the
opening OF this great wire"