The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-12
A Bril- iant E.eetr.c.l Possibility.

We are on the threshold, if not OF
startling discoveries III eiectrlcdl science
at least, OF new and starting appiicd-
lions OF accepted theories IN feSdlu -
that still mysterious form or energy. III
is difficult 10 make PLAN to popular APP
prehensIon the significance oil MaA"elI
discovery that the ngure which expresses
the velocity of iignt also expresses the
multiplier required TO change the meas
ure of static or passive elecrl MY INTO
that of dynamic or active electricity.
As the Marquis of Salisbury remarked
in recent discourse on the unsolVed
problems OF science, THE interpretation
reasonably aInXed to TINS discovery IL
that as light ana the electric Impulse
move approximately at the same Idte
through space, II IS probable ihdt the
unduiatiOus which convey them are I'M
duiations of the same medium. lhat
medium is the supersubtle ana al-ptr-
vading something when science cans
ether. To recognize ethereal waves IN the
vibrations OF electricity does not 80 iar
in penetrating the mystery Whicn en-
velopes both, put II has proved work.
ing hypothesis OF great practical as wen
as scientific value. 1t mas among other
things served TO prepare the popular no
less than the scientific mind FOR illshts
of electric achievement OF uhheafd-ol
daring.
What. for example, is the significance
OF establishing a close connection be-
tween the terres trial PHENOMENON known
as the Aurora Borealis and the eruptlons
tute the philosophers Of the sun? Inc
theory Is that the elecrostatis charge OF
the earth responds by greatly quickehed
vibrations TO the manifestation OF energy
on the surface OF the sun. But TINS Is
simply telegraphy without wires across
an interval OF ninety-tWo millions Oh
miles. IL is practically instantaneous
too. This fact was recognized years De
fore ready explanation of IT was found
In the close correspondence between the
velocity of the electric vibration ana
that OF light. Nearly forty years ago the
eruption lasting only five minutes OF
bright spot on the race of the sun was
found TO have an almost simultaneous
accompaniment OF a general disturbance
of magnetic needles, and the traversing
of electric wires all over the world by
so-called earth currents. The electrl-
cal storm I'm the sun had an immediate
response in a profound disturbance OF
what Is known as the earth's magnetism.
But If the electro-static charge OF the
earth can be disturbed In this elemental
way. why not try to set 1t vibrating by
an impulse which human ingenuity could
directly apply TO its surface, and by the
wave of electric energy thus set moving
through earth and ether, transmit intclli-
gence, III not power? If Mr.. Nikola Tesla
was not the first to formulate this con-
ception he was certainly the first 10 at
tack 1t as practical problem OF electri-
cal engineering. In his celebrated st.
Louis address of two years ago he eX-
pressed his firm belief that it was pract-
cal to disturb by means of powerful
machines the eleciro-statc condition OF
the earth and thus transmit Ineligible
signals, If not power. He added these
frightened by the idea Of distance. TO
the weary wanderer counting the mile
posts the earth may appear very large,
but to that happest of all men, the
astronomer. who gaZes at the heavens
and by their standard judges the magni-
tude of our globe, II appears very small.
And so, | think, il must seem TO the
electrician. for when he considers the
speed with which an electric disturbance
is propagated through the earth all his
ideas of distance must completely van
ish."
If Mr.. Tesla's views on this subject
have undergone any change in the in
terval, IL is simply IN the direction of
greater certainty and fuller assurance
that the problem which he had attacked
was no insoluble one. He began by the
preparation OF proper apparatus. and hi,
electrical 'oscllator," which has i'm il
such tremendous possibilities i'm the line
OF power production, was the result Of
an inventive faculty acting under the
spur OF scientific necessity. But even be
fore IL has been found possible to make
the experiments yield their best results
by applying an oscillator of satisfactory
power ana structure to the disturbance
of the earth's charge, resonance" has
not only been detected but some very
brilliant nantes tations Of its presence
have been forthcoming. That is to say
the electro-statlc charge of the earth has
responded to what may be called the i'm
pact of an electric force brought i'm col
lision with it. But there could be no
meeting between these two allied forces
and no resonance" unless the period OF
their vibration had something in com
mon, just as the tuning fork that will re-
spond 10 note Of certain pitch must
be sensitive at least 10 some OF the air
waves that carry the note. Tho more
nearly perfect the resonance" the near
or must the period OF the electrical Vi
bration communicated 10 the earth cor.
respond with that Of the electrical charge
II ilnds there. What The attainment OF
even approximately perfect resonance
WOULD mean to the future OF human
progress opens up dazzling vista OF
possibilities. The world would stand
astounded should that ccnsummation DO
slgnaHZed by the doing Of tho work OF
Atlantic cables without their aid: but
that. so far from being dream. is
reckoned to-day by calmly dispassionato
observers who have followed the OK
perimeints OF Tesla az among the assured
possibilities Of the immediate future
New YORK Journal Of Commarra