Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-08-25

"I don't think you can do it
Edison,' said Mr.. Orton. The time
is too short. However, we will be
lenient'
The instruments were all delivered
more than week before the time
mentioned in the contract.
TINS was the real beginning Of Edi-
sons prosperity" continued Mr.. Lewis.
The British government soon ad
verliscd for bids on 1900 telephone.
Mr.. OItOn advised Edison to contest
for the contract. The Siemens and
other great European manufacturers
were in the field; but Edison's figures
were below theirs, and his date for de-
livery week earlier, so he was awarded
the contract. His defeated rivals pre-
dicted disaster for him, but, notwith-
standing the time consumed in transit
across the Atlantic ocean, the 1900
telephones were delivered several days
ahead Of the contract time. This ex-
plot gave Edison a world wide reputa-
ton, and he soon had more orders
than he could fl.
"The same man who had charge OF
this work also made the first phono-
graph. Ed johnson was in Buffalo
lecturing on the telephone. He acci-
IDENTIFY let fall a remark to the effect
that Edison would one day make a
talking machine. The audience
cheered this announcement, and |
at the conclusion of the lecture
crowded about Johnson and insisted |
that he should have Edison do so |
right away and exhibit the machine in
Buffalo first. This reception rather
ratified Johnson, who telegraphed his |
chief: You must make the talking
machine at once. The people are
crazy about it," The next day he re-
ceived this laconic reply: Come
home! Johnson packed his grip and |
went to New York. In three days
thereafter the phonograph was ma
terialized fact.
Edison owed great Geal TO John
sons business energy and sagacity, |
and rewarded him generously. John
s1n was sent to Europe, and there Oh |
tained all the foreign patents, and |
made contracts for the erectiOns of |
works in every country where the |
laws required that the manufacturing
should be done on native soil. He
then returned to this country, selected |
the most apt and capable among Edi.
sons pupils and took them to Eu-
rope, giving to each domain over the
territory of certain nation.
Charley Bachelor likewise con-
tributed invaluable aid to Edison, and
Edison made him rich man. There
is probably no finer mechanical cleo
trician in the world than Bachelor.
"For many years not one of these
men knew exactly how wealthy he
was. Edison, of course, was the great.
est gamer, but when asked as to the
amount of his riches and income,
would always reply, No idea At the
end OF every quarter the men having
charge OF the various departments sent
check to each of the other partners.
No statement accompanied it, and
during the existence OF this informal
copartnership no one ever asked to ex.
anime the books of another. 1t was
only when outsiders were admitted
that this happy family arrangement
was interrupted and finally smashed"
"What is Edison at work on now?"
was asked of Mr.. Lewis.
"You surely couldn't expect me to
tell you even if knew" was the reply.
" l do know generally that he has two
or three things. more or less forward.
with which he hopes to round out his
career, but even his own mathemati-
clans cannot guess their nature.
Among his minor experiments are
some designed to aid in the efficiency,
accuracy and speed of signaling at sea.
He has already devised microphone-
covered metallic tube for whistling
steam signals under water, which can
be heard, by means OF similar appar-
atus, at distance OF thirty miles. He
has also been experimenting with a
view of using captive balloons for tele-
graphing at sea. This is on the prin-
ciple OF induction. He has already
made a current Jump (to speak ex-
pressively in the absence OF better
verb) from the top of one telegraph
pole to that OF another, a distance of
It's feet. That is, by running wires
from telegraph instruments to the top
of poles 65 feet high, he was enabled
to telegraph from one to the other
without a connecting wire. This is
the basis of his captive balloon theory.
The superiority of water as a conduc-
tor of sound waves, exemplified in the
boys trick OF cracking stones while
bathing, suggested the steam whistle
scheme.
"No, cannot outline the great
things Edison is now incubating. If
knew my fortune would be as good as
made"
A YOUNG lady wants to know how to
make "nOt enough" out of the. word
enough" That is easy. Take the
Sd, I'd and 1st letters of the word
d" enough" for the first word and the