The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-03-16
.HELLol
America May "Rlng Up" Europe
Over the Phone.



INSTRUMENTATION Can Be Madeat
the Rate OF IBO words n Minute.
NEW YORK, March l2-It begins to !
look now as though America would be
able pretty soon TO ring up" Europe
over the phone. The question Of ocean
telephone is being earnestly studied,
and for month past experiments tend
ing toward that end have been carried
on. The results that have been OBJ
tanned are the talk Of the scientific
world.
Keen attention 10 the subject has
been caused by the invention OF new
electric wire, and, according to some
eminent authorities, 1t may revolution
ize the present system Of long-distance
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 il looks
at present as though all these might be
overcome, for the new wire carries the
sound perfectly and does not need any
insulation.
II is composed OF steel wire coated
over with copper and, simple as the
combination is, it apparently solves the
problem OF long-distanee communica-
tion. Another point in its favor is that
II may be used with any style OF trans
mitter, so that there will be no inter
ference Of valuable patents 10 increase
the cost Also, as communication can
be made by II at the rate Of l5O words
per minute, the advantage over the
present cable methods, which will only
allow Of 20, isapparent
The voice could be easily heard be-
tween New York and Chicago, and
Cleveland, the ordinary Bell magnetic
receiver used as transmitter was
sufficient TO carry on conversation.
But these good results were attributed
10 the large amount OF copper in the
wire, and II was not thought that the
steel had anything to do with the In
creased transmitting property Of the
wire.
To the general public these facts will
be absolutely new, for II 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
on the wire stretched from New York
TO Chicago was VIM. II. Echert general
manager Of the Metropolitan Telegraph
and Telephone Co and brother Of
Gen. Eckert, president Of the Western
Union Telegraph Co Mr.. Eckert at
tributed the great success Of the wire
70 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-
, pcrimeuts with a similarly constructed
wire. and the wonderful success OBJ
: tanned is what is now the talk of the
: scientific, and especially Of the elec
: trical, world,
The experiments were carried on
: near Plainheld, n. ]. A fine wire com
! posed OF steel and copper was laid
: without any insulation ON it for mile
and a half through the water, mud and
slush OF a country road. Then that
! length had been stretched out q
: common ordinary telephone receiver
: was placed at each end Of the line and
whispers were distinctly heard by the
| men at each end.
5 A heavy truck loaded with stone ran
I across the wire, but it was merely
5 pushed deeper into the mud, and the
, talking still went on.
1 A remarkable fact about this line il
: that only ono wire is used. The eartl
a takes the place OF the other wire. Tn,
5 fact that part Of the line ran through
5 a brook seemed TO make no differences
G in its working: hence the inference o
its working across the ocean.
Mr. Eclxert, who helped TO carry oil
the experiment. says regarding IT.
Q From It's performance l have no doubt
would work perfectly well across the ocean o
!, course this Is point TO be arrived at but tn
little experiments that have been tried ough
/ 10 demonstrate It's practical utility | wa
Q present when the experiments were made bt
r tween New York aud Chicago The distance Ii
A believe, but l,OO miles and the line worke
: perfectly. Had Il been stretched to San Fran
u cisco Il would have done Just as well. In faei
= strange as II may seem, distance seems 10 II
n crease rather than retArd its working Tn
distance hetween New York and San Francisc
and New York aud the nearest point on tn
" other side Is about the same therefore, tn
a scheme Is feasible
G The large and important point in favor OF tn
~ new system is that Il requires no patented al
tachments 10 work a. Any ordinary telephon
= receiver will answer, and the conversation goe
q on Just the same Then the difference in N
Is rate that words may be received Is the larges
point in its favor Conversation could be tran
lnitted from London 10 New York as fast a
10 one could talk, while under the present systei
Is twenty words per minute Is the most rapi
D rate that can be achieved
m may be q little enthusiastic concerning II
great qualities but ] should like 10 hear a
electrical or other scientific man tell me why u
results can not be accomplished Toreyiew Il
good qualities we can say that II does ava
n. with one wire, no transmitter Is needed, an
!, person can use IT, the expense Is greatly lie
- soncd and the whole system is placed With
a the reach OF everybody. Just think Of bell
" able, for instance. 10 take ur telephone T
v ceiver in New York aud asking to be place
: In connection with London, and all as easily
9 thought Il were merely the Harlem branch