Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-03-16
A TELEPHONE TO LONDON
Scientists Are Making Experiments With
That End In View.
RESULTS THAT HAVE BEEN OBTAINED
Some Practical Tests With q Summarized
Wire at PlaiDfeld, N. j., Of Which
Great Things Are Expected.

NEW YORK, March st begins to look
now as If We would be able pretty soon &c
ring up" Europe over the phone. The
question of ocean telephony is being
earnestly studied, and for a month past
experiments tending towards that end
have been carried on. The results that
have been obtained are the talk Of the
scientific world.
Keen attention to the gu ject has been
caused by the invention of new electric
wire, and, according to some eminent
authorities, it may revolutionize the pres
ent system OF long. distance TALKING.
The problem OF how to bring both sides
OF the ocean within speaking distance OF
each other has been rendered difficult
because OF the breaking up OF the sound.
waves, the leaking of the Insulation and
several other technical obstacles of like
nature. But it looks at present as If all
these might be overcome, for the new
wire carries sound perfectly and does not
need any Insulation at all.
Strange as it may eeem, however, this
very wire WAS known eleven years ago,
and has actually been in use for that
time. though ita owners did not know it
and remained ignorant Of its great posi-.
bilties.
1t is composed OF steel wire coated
over with copper, and, simple as the
combination is, it apparently solves the
problem OF long distance communication
Another point in its favor is that it NAV
he used with any style of transmitter, ,
that there will be no interference OF valu-
able patents to increase the cost. Also,
as communication can be made by it at
the rate OF $50 words per minute, the ad-
vantage over the present cable methods
which will only allow Of twenty, is APP
parent.
Early in 1888 the Postal Telegraph
Company, in extending its lines to the
West, employed wire consisting of a
steel core upon which thick layer of
copper was deposited. This conductor
had tensile strength greatly exceeding
that OF any similar line heretofore en-
ployed, and, in addition, had a much
greater conductivity The results oh
tanned with this wire were Geographically
30 good that they at once suggested the
possibility OF employing the line for tele-
phonic transmission as we'll
The voice could be easily heard be-
tween New York and Chicago, and be
tween New York and Cleveland the ordi-
nary Bell magnetic receiver used as a
conversation. But these good results
were attributed to the large amount of
copper in the wire, and it was not
though. that the steel had any thing to do
with the increased transmitting property
Of the wire.
To the general public these facts will
supposed that the recent trial of the
telephone between Boston, New York
and Chicago were the final results of q
long series of experiments.
The experiments were carried on near
Plainfield, N j. A fine wire composed
OF steel and copper was laid without any
insulation on it for mile and half
through the water, mud and slush of
country road. When that length had
been stretched out common, ordinary
telephone receiver was placed at each
end OF the line and whispers were die
tincty heard by the men at each end.
Mr. Eckert, who helped to carry on
the experiment, says regarding it:
From it's performance | have no
doubt it would work perfectly well across
the ocean. OF course, that is point to
be arriyed at, but the little experiments
that have been tried ought to demon
strate it's practical utility. was present
when the experiments were made be-
tween New York and Chicago The dis
lance is, believe, but 1850 miles, and
the line worked perfectly. Had it been
stretched to San Francisco it would have
done just as well. In fact, strange as it
may seem. distance seems to increase
rather than retard its working. The dis
lance from New York to San Francisco
and New York and the nearest point on
the other side is about the same; there
fore the scheme is feasible"