Evening journal., 1895-05-24
transmitting Elsotrlolty without wire,

Allusion has already been made in
these columns to the possibility Of our
one day being able to telegraph 10 any
distance without wires. To an ordinary
individual this looks like an iApossi-
bility but IN view Of the wonders that
have already been accomplished through
the medium OF electricity, who can say
that the day may not be Tar distant
when this apparent imposslbility will
be accomplished In an article on
Nikola Tesla and his inventions in the
April Century Mr. Thomas Commerford
Martin quotes Tesla himself to the fol-
lowing effect, on This marvelously ii
teresting subjsct:
In connection with resonance effects
and the problem Of transmission Of
energy over single conductor would
say few words on a subject which con
stantly fills my thoughts, and which
concerns the welfare Of ali. mean the
transmission Of Ineligible signals, or
perhaps even power, to any distance
without the use Of wires I am becoming
daily more convinced Of the practicabllity
Of the scheme; and though I know full
well that the majority Of scientific men
will not believe that such results can be
practically and Immediately realized, yet
/ think that all consider the developments
Of resent years by number Of workers
to have been such as TO encourage
thought and experiment in that direc.
ton. Ny conviction has grown so strong
that no longer look upon this plan Of
energy or intelligence transmission as a
mere theoretical possibility, hut as a
serious problem in electrical engineering
which must be carried out some day.
1.-THE idea Of transmitting intelligence
without wire Is the natural outcome of
the most recent results OF electrical in
vestigations Some enthusiasts have OK
pressed their belief that telephony to any
distance by induction through the air is
possible. cannot stretch my magma
tion SO far but do firmly believe that Il
Is practicable to disturb by means OF
powerful machines the electrostatie con
dition Of the earth, and thus transmit
ineligible signals, and perhaps power.
In fact, what Is there against the carry
ing out Of such a scheme2 We now know
that electric vibration may be transmit.
Ted through single conductor. Why.
then, not try 10 avail ourselves of the
earth for this purpose2 We need not be
frightened by the Idea Of distance.
ITO the weary wanderer counting the
mile-posts the earth msy appear very
large but to that hpppiest Of all men,
the astronomer, who gszes at the heav-
ems, and by their standard judges this
magnitude Of our globe, it appears very
small And so think IL must seem to
the electrician; for when he considers
the speed with which an electric dis.
turoRnce is propsgated through the
earth, all its ideas OF distance must com
pletely vanish A point Of great i'm
portsnce would be FIRST TO know what Is
the capacity OF the earth, aud what
charge does it contaia Of electricity.
Yes, how much electricity does the
earth naturally possess and what will be
the effect Of adding so much to 1T as is
now being dOnt9 An snswer to tails
question 1t is believed would set many
timid people to rsst who have been
heightened BY the representations Of
charlatans, as to the dangers likely to be
derived from the too * ensive manu-
facture Of this mysterious element.