The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19

provements include. frst. tho Introduction OF
the automatic break OF the electric current at
the end OF every movement OF the nrmature
through q predetermined distances all auto
matte electric olarums without clock work. and
many other constructions. rest on this prncl-
pie. Secondly, the production OF tho synchro-
nous action OF two or more electric machines Ivy
allowing q fresh impulse to take place only
when all tho automatic contact breakers nre
again closed. Thirdly. the manufacture OF In.
sulated conductors for subterranenn or sub
marine telegraphs, by coating wires with
Rutta percha Fourthly. tho construction OF
machines which press the gutta perchn with
out seam round the wires to be insulated.
Filthy. tho discovery OF the phenomena Of the
Charge In insulated subterranean or sub
marine conductors, and the establishment OF
the law OF the charge for open and closed
circuits. Lastly. the establishment OF tho
methods. measurements. and formula for de-
termining the place OF faulty CONJUNCTION and
Insulation in subterranean circuits. OF those
improvements. several had been made con-
siderably earlier than the publication of the
memoir communicated to the Paris Academy.
But at that time patents were taken out by
Germans only in rare cases. There was no Ger
man patent right, and in Prussia patents, being
given almost arbitrarily for from three to five
years, were without practical value. Tho inven-
tons and improvements. therefore. proceeding
from Siemens during the earlier part OF his
career. lacked. in the majority OF cases, the
attestation OF their origin by publication or
patent. conspicuous illustration OF this oc-
Cured few years ago. There turned up
somebody in tho United States who asserted
that he was tho inventor Of underground con-
ducs,rs. especially Of those insulated by gutta
percha and who tried to obtain for this pre.
tended invention patent, which threatened
considerable loss to a well-known American
telegraph company. The company sent to
Berlin special commission. headed by their
Director. General Eckert. to search for veriflca-
tlon by printed publication that in 1916. Sic
mems had already introduced wires with gutta
porcha insulation. To their written inquiry
ho was Obliged to reply that nothing was to be
found In print upon the subject. but that
tho official records OF the staff COM
mission and OF the subsequent Telegraph
Board contained complete proof OF tho fact
This however. did not suffice for the lawsuit
pending or threatened in the United States
The Americans Interested in the matter chose
another and effective way Of procuring printed
information. They advertised in several Ger
man papers that they would pay consider
able sum for a description printed in 1917 OF
tho underground telegraph lines made on the
track OF the Anhalt Railway After few days
there arrived from different places in Germany
newspaper cuttings with the desired descrlp-
ton. and the commission congratulated Sic
mems AZ the undoubted inventor of the gutta
percha conductors. The proposed publication
OF the facts. however. never came off, because,
as 1t Is said. in the mean time compromise
with the reputed inventor had brought greater
profit to the company.