Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10
THE TELEPHONE AT SEA.
Possibilities of Science Shown in &
Fascinating Manner

Possibilities of Science Shown in a
Fascinating Manner
From the London Invention.
Not long ago there were noted in these
columns attempts at deep sea sounding
by means of a cartridge SO arranged as
to explode only upon reaching the bottom
Of the sea. The depth would be ascer-
tanned by the use of a mtcrophone under
the water, and a calculation of the depth
from the time taken between the explosion
and the launching of the projectile from
the surface. It suggests a field for in
vention for signaling at sea which cannot
fail to be productive of interest, benefit
and money to the inventor If properly
worked out. The possibilities of it are als
most infinite.
At present among the few methods cm-
ployed for gr.aling to great distances
is the use of the Telegraph by mirrors, or
by the use of flashes from the search light
or other methods. Within certain limita-
lions these ways of transmitting intelli-
gence are successful, but the meteorologi-
cal conditions are not always favorable to
them No matter what the state of the
weather may be, however, the water at a
certain depth below the surface remains
in stratic condition, and 1t would be but
q simple matter for signals, rot electric in
| their entirety, to be communicated through
that medium.
Water transmits sound much more read
lily than air, and much more completely.
If. therefore, two ships at sea wish to
communicate with. each other, even from
distance of many miles, by the use Of a
submarine microphone. and proper con-
trivance for producing sharp, successive
sounds of detona lions, We're thrown over
board. the wave impulse of sound would be
conveyed through the water and caught
and transmitted from the microphone in
manner which would result in an almost
perfect system of signaling at sea, and also
from vessels at sea to the shore.
CT M onhi rty ha
through heavy fog, a vessel armed with
this apparatus, which might easily be made
self-recordfng or sef-signaling by means Of
electricity, could throw over its apparatus,
which would communicate with permanent
contrivances anchored along the coast, and
connect with the life saving or other sta
tons, by which attention could be called
from one to the other. Those connect ed
with the shore could be kept in continuous
action, sounding out their notes of warning
under the water, SO that any ship APP
preaching the coast in a heavy fog would
have but to heave over its side its micro
+ hone, and ascertain with precision both
its distance and it's location with regard to
the shore. The subject is full of fascinat-
ing probabilities. and it is sufficiently with
in the range of known electrical and me-
chanical appliances at present in use to be
resolved into an invention which will con-
tribute in the largest measure to the safe
ty of our coasts and vessels.
The fogs are the most fruitful source CT
disaster that We have. At the sinking of
the Seaforth in the channel, had such an
apparatus been on board, no doubt both
the vessels would have avoided collision;
there can be little doubt that its use would
be made obligatory upon all vessels. In the
case of steamships, the sound of the pad
die or crew would be conveyed to a much
greater distance in the water than is audi
BILE to the ear, and, by the aid of suoma-
rine permanent microphones. could be
heard at distance, and, most probably,
the direction, as well as approximate dis
tances, easily ascertained. Such a vital
subject as this cannot fail to attract atten-
ton, and We believe that not many months
will go by before such an apparatus will
be perfected.