The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-15

aDlc DTebty SOOh w ilhS oP OPO
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 to the subject has
been caused by the invention of a new
electric wire, and, according to some
eminent authorities, it 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 a 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 the
problem of long-distance communica-
| ton Another point in it's favor is that
! it may be used with any style of trans
mitter, so that there will be no inter-
ference of valuable patents to increase
the cost. Also, as communication can
be made by it at the rate of $50 words
per minute, the advantage over the
present cable methods, which will only
allow of 20, is apparent
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
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.
To the general public these facts will
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
on the wire stretched from New York
to Chicago was VIM. H. Eckert, 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
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 a series OF ex-
periments with similarly constructed
wire, and the wonderful success OBJ
tanned is what is now the talk of the
scientific and especially of the cleo
trical, world.
The experiments were carried on
near Plainfield, N. j. A fine wire com.
J posed of steel and copper was laid
without any insulation on it for a mile
and half through the water, mud and
slush of country road. Then that
length had been stretched out a
common ordinary telephone receiver
was placed at each end of the line and
whispers were distinctly heard by the
, men at each end.
A heavy truck loaded with stone rar
!. across the wire, but it was merely
pushed deeper into the mud, and thu
talking still went on.
n 1dCU doouO oiAio AihS ~
= that only one wire is used. The eartl
takes the place of the other wire. Th'
fact that part of the line ran through
brook seemed to make no differenc
in it's working: hence the inference o
it's working across the ocean.
Mr.. Eckert, who helped to carry ol
the experiment, says regarding it:
From its performance have no doubt
would work perfectly we'll across the ocean.
course this is point to be arrived at, but tn
little experiments that have been tried ough
to demonstrate its practical utility. ! wa
present when the experiments were made ot
tween New York and Chicago The distance i:
believe, but 1850 miles, and the line worke
perfectly. Had it been stretched to San FraI
cisco IL would have done just as well. In fac
strange as it NAV SEEM distance seems to II
crease rather than retard its working Th
distance between New York and San Francisc
and New York and the nearest point on th
other side is about the same; therefore, th
scheme is feasible
The large and important point in favor Of tn
new system is that it requires no patented a
tachments to work it. Any ordinary telephor
receiver will answer, and the conversation got
on just the same. Then the difference in II
rate that words may be received is the largei
point in its favor Conversation could be tran
mitted from London to New York as fast {
one could talk. while under the present systel
twenty words per minute is the most rap
rate that can be achieved
may be little enthusiastic concerning i
great qualities, but l should like 10 hear q
electrical or other scientific man tell me why II
results can not be accomplished 10 review
good qualities we can say that IL does ava
with one wire, no transmitter is needed, ar
person can use II, the expense is greatly lie
sened and the whole system is placed with
the reach of everybody just think of beii
able. for instance, to take up telephone r
ceiver in New York and asking to be place
in connection with London. and all as easily
thought IL were merely the Harlem branch
" Depauw Won.
Gu INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March l2-In tt
We state intercollegiate oratorical conte
o. held here, the representative from |