The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

ture sent is in fact only minute descrlp-
ton of drawing made at one end OF the
line, and enabling the receiver to reproduce
it at the other. 1t is in the method which
allows of this minute description, and OF
its successful Interpretation, that the value
of the invention lies.
The picture is drawn originally upon
paper ruled off into small squares, each
about one-tenth of an inch in diameter.
Each vertical line is mum bered along the
upper margin, and each horizontal line is
lettered down the side. Every square is
therefore identified with number and a
letter, and it's location is where the
two lines designated cross each other.
With the original drawing before him, the
operator describes the courses of the lines
from point to point, and his message con-
tains only as many signs or combinations
as there are changes in the directions OF
the lines forming the picture. This de-
scription being received at the other end of
the wire, the lines described are simply re-
produced upon a similarly ruled surface.
The principal direction in which the in
ventor's energies have been bent has been
in finding method of locating the points
described quickly and accurately. To Sc
cure that end his Checker board" is made
with every fifth line, both horizontal and
vertical. drawn heavier than the others,
and every tenth vertical line drawn still
more heavily.
This divides the surface into squares
containing twenty-five smaller squares
each and into columns of ten small squares
in breadth. Down the side there are
twenty letters used, which, when standing
alone, mark the first twenty horizontal
lines, for the next twenty lines b a, b b,
b C, b d, ETC., are used, for the next twenty
a, b, C C, d. etc, and so on down to
the bottom. The lines are all printed in
neutral tint, which will not photograph,
and so, when the picture is reproduced on
the surface it is ready to be used at once
by the photographer.
There are many signs which may be ar
ranged between the correspondents in
order to indicate shading, trees, crowds of
people, clouds and the general character
istics which appear in all pictures of SIM
liar subjects, the limits of the shading,
forest or other feature being accurately
and easily described. In this way pictures
which are much more than mere outlines
can be telegraphed and reproduced in an
incredibly short space of time.
On portraits, however, everything must
be accurately described, but if this be well
done an almost perfect picture may be OBJ
tanned. In curved lines the height and
depth of the curve is described and the
distance from end to end given. Where
the pencil is raised to form a new line the
word break" is sufficient to indicate it.
When a dot is wanted 'dot C. NJ 49," or
some similar formula makes its position
plain, and SO on through all the varied an
giles, lines and curves which go to make up
the whole.
The inventor believes his idea to be most
valuable in newspaper work or in the DO
lice or secret services. If the success of
the process is demonstrated he will estab-
lish agencies in this city, Chicago, New
York and Washington. A good picture,
he says, can be sent at the cost of and in
about the space of $50 words. 1t should,
by an expert, and if not too elaborate, take
no longer than half an hour to send and
drawing.