The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-12

WIN Wnlcn tuGSS ctlrrSuUS ur>, lnaue To
pass. In this particular case the force
is very great The fact that u current
vibrates back and forth rapidly in this
way tends to set up or create waves in
the ether, which is hypothetical
thing that was invented to explain the
phenomena of light
'These currents permcatc all spare
not only the atmosphere, but solids
as well-ap6 the waves extend out i'm
conccntric spheres indefinitely into
space. utilize these waves. in some
of my experiments to produce certain
phenomena. 1t is not an electric cur.
rent in the sense in which we are pop
ularly accustomed to use that term.
These experiments may be further
illustrated in this way: Suppose you
throw stone in the center of IL pool
OF water. While there would he no
transmission OF water from the point
where the stone landed to the shore
yet the waves would reach the shore
and exert force on the shore. In & sim
liar way | utilize the force which
obtain in the manner described
Ono result of my Investigations. the
possibility of which has been proved
by experiment, is the transmission OF
energy through the air. advanced
that idea some time ago, and am hap
py to say it is now receiving some atten-
ton from scientific men.
''Thc plan have suggested is to dis
turb by powerful machinery the cleo
tricity of the Garth. thus setting it in
vibration. Proper appliances will be
constructed to take up the energy
transmitted by these vibrations, trans
forming them into suitable form of
power to be made available for the
practical wants of life. Primarily the
agent that propose to use consists of
an old-fashioned electrical spark, such
as they light from Lcydcn jar. This
is rapidly discharged back and forth
an enormous number of times. Every
time that the spark seems to pass it is
in reality passing hundreds of thou
sands of times, and each time it passes
it sets up these waves in the ether
which extend out into space.
II am hopeful that in no distant time
this method will be deemed worthy of
Il practical trial. 1t may be proper to
say that among other things l have
already demonstrated that we do not
need to have two wires TO convey an
electric current, one wire being sufi-
cicnt. and, in fact, in some cases, bet
ter than two wires"
"In the experiments of transmitting
power by means of wires the phenom-
cnon of resonance is to be observed. If
one tuning fork, for instance, is set in
| to vibration another one of the same
| pitch, anywhere within rcGsona-
BILE distance, will respond That is
n familiar phenomenon of sound
termed resonance. Now, if | set up
these etheric vibrations that speak of
to Il certain pitch, and my wire is with
in reach of these vibrations mot neccs-
sarily mctallically connccted) it will
respond provided it's pitch corresponds
with that of the ctheric vibration.
''In that way l obtain energy in
another conductor without any metallic
connection whatever. Where single
conductor is connected with the source
of vibratory energy these waves surge
back and forth in that conductor very
much as water would in tube when
| you reverse it back and forth
Lone of my most interesting expert
ments is with the incandescent lamp
with single wire to it. place in the
center of this piece of very refractory
substance of any kind and connect that
with the source of vibrasory energy
and, with this as n center, these etheric
waves are sent out in concentric
| spheres and are reflected back fror,
the inner surface of the glass globe
upon this small piece of refractory sub.
| stance. The impact of the molecules oil
rariiied ar in this globe creates such in.
tense heat in this refractory substance
| (Which is the focus) as to bring it to a
high state Of incnndcscence. Ii is diff
| cult to find q substance that will stand
that heat, but have found some sub
stances that stand it fairly well.
| The transmission through the earth
can be effected at any distance; in
fact, it matters little whether the dis
tance is small or great
| ''Such Il result, if achieved, would OF
| course be Of iucalculable value to the
world and greatly advance the prog
! rcss of the human race. In this
| great country (of which am proud
to be citizen) we have water powers
which, in aggregate amount, arc stuff
cient to supply all the needs-in fact,
far more than the needs-of the whole
human race. Take, for instance,
| Niagara. This famous waterfall is
estimated variously all the way from
| five to six millions horse power. Now,
four millions horse power, economic
ally directed, would light every lamp,
drive every railroad, propel every ship,
heat every store and produce every
article manufactured by machinery in
the United States.
ut will not be long before we can
transmit that power under quite prac-
teal conditions, by means of wires