The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-03-17
HELLO!
America May "Ring Up" Europe
Over the Phone.

New Wire That May Rcvoiutionizc the
| Present system of Long Distance Talk
| INSTRUMENTATION Can Ise Madcat
tho Ra te of 100 Words u Minute.
NEW YORK, March 12.-1t begins to
look now as though America would be
able pretty soon to ring mp" Europe
over the phrae. The question of ocean
telephone is being earnestly studied,
and for q month past experiments tend
ing toward that end have been carried
on. The results that have been oh.
tained are the talk of the scientific
world.
| Keen attention to the subject has
been caused by the invention of new
electric wire, and, according to some
eminent authorities. it may revolutions
ize the present system of long-distancc
talking.
The problem of how to bring both
sides of the ocean within speaking dis
tance OF each other has been rendered
difficult because of the breaking up of
the sound.waves, the leaking of the in
sulation and several other technical OBJ
stacles of like nature. But it looks
at present as though all these might be
oy ercome, for the new wire carries the
sound perfectly and does not need any
insulation.
1t is composed of steel wire coated
over with copper, and, simple as the
combination is, it apparently solves tho
problem of long-distance communica-
tion. Another point in its favor is that
it may be used with any style of trans
| ,r;ttor ca that fbo,.a will na No ipter-
ference of valuable patents to increase
the cost. Also, as communication can
be made by it at the rate of 100 words
per minute, the advantage over the
present cable methods, which will only
allow of 20, is sapparent.
The voice could be easily heard be-
tween New York and Chicago, and
Cleveland, the ordinary Bell magnetic
receiver used as a transmitter was
sufficient to carry on conversation.
! But these good results were attributed
, to the large amount of copper in the
wire, and it was not thought that the
steel had anything to do with the in
creased transmitting property of the
wire.
S TO the general public these facts will
I be absolutely new, for it is generally
, supposed that the recent trials of the
. telephone between Boston, New York
, and Chicago were the final results of a
= long series of experiments. Among
those who witnessed the experiments
I on the wire stretched from New York
9 to Chicago was VIM. Ii. Eckert, general
I manager of the Metropolitan Telegraph
and Telephone Co. and a brother OF
i. Gen. Eckert, president of the Western
Union Telegraph Co. Mr.. Eckert at
j tributed the great success of the wire
!. to its being composed of both steel and
!: copper, but his theory was laughed at
and the affair was dropped. During
|. the last month he made series of eX.
] periments with similarly constructed
wire, and the wonderful success OBJ
e tanned is what is now the talk of the
e scientific, and especially of the cleo
: trical, world.
9 The experiments were carried on
t near Plainfield, N. j. A fine wire com.
n posed of steel and copper was laid
1 without any insulation on it for a mile
y and a half through the water, mud and
i slush of country road. Then that
e length had been stretched out g
t common ordinary telephone receiver
IS was placed at each end of the line and
q whispers were distinctly heard by the
!, men at each end.
}. A heavy truck loaded with stone ran
Z across the wire, but it was merely
e pushed deeper into the mud, and the
s talking still went on.
A remarkable fact about this line il
:. that only one wire is used. The earth
k takes the place of the other wire. The
t fact that part of the line ran through
I Il brook seemed to make no difference
y in it's working: hence the inference o:
it's working across the ocean.
!, Mr. Eckert, who helped to carry OF
l. the experiment, says regarding it:
e From its performance l have doubt /
n would work perfectly we'll across the ocean. o
. course this is q point to be arrived at, but TIN
little experiments that have been tried ough
" to demonstrate its practical utility 1 wa
q present when the experiments were made be
!, tween New York and Chicago. The distance is
!, I believe, but l,Oi0 miles, and the line WORKED
- perfectly. Had it been stretched to San Fran
l. cisco it would have done just WELL In fact
| strange as 1T may seem distance seems to In
q crease rather than retard its working, Th
\. distance between New York and San Francisco
and New York and the nearest point on th
= other side is about the same; therefore, tn
C scheme Is feasible.
new system is that it requires no patented at
tachments to work it Any ordinary telephon,
u receiver will answer, and the conversation goe
l. on just the same Then the difference in tn
G rate that words may be received is the larges
point in its favor Conversation could be trans
mitted from London TO New York rs fast q
one could talk, while under the present system
i, twenty words per minute is the most rapi'
rate that can be achieved
D. may be little enthusiastic concerning it
10 great qualities, but should like TO hear al
electrical other scientific mon tell me why tn
d results can not be accomplished 10 review IL
=. good qualities We can say that II does ava.
- with one WIRE no transmitter is needed an.
person can use 1t, the expense is greatly les
4. sened and the whole system is placed withil
the reach of everybody. just think OF bein
able, for instance, to take up telephone re
cciver in New York and asking 10 be place.
in connection with London and all rs easily y
thought It were merely the Harlem branch
II Depauw Won.
$. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 12-In thu
e state intercollegiate oratorical contes
a, held here, the representative from D.
& Pauw university, l.. +. Dimmit, wol
u first honors Subject: ''The Humsl
Spirit in Modern Civilization"