The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-28
MAY TALK WITH MARS
Electrician Tesla has Entirely New
Wave Vibration Scheme.


New York, March 27.-Nicola Tesla
has added another to his wonderful dis
coveries as to the possibilities of the
electric current His latest announce
ment, made today, is likely to attract
more attention among scientists and
laymen than Roentgen's y rays, the
electric light or even the telephone, for
it means, possibly, that at last method
has been found by which the inhabi-
tan'ts of this earth way ultimately COM
munfcate with those on Mars or any
other planet.
Mr.. Tesla believes such thing is now
possible, and within a short time We
may be on speaking terms with other
planets by means of electric waves
But even if the people of Mars are not
of sufficient intelligence TO understand
signals or the communications from Mr..
Tesla, the new discovery will be useful
in other ways as a means or transmit
ting important messages to all parts OF
the earth simultaneously. Such a means
of communication without wires would
be of the greatest Importance in the
transmission of news, especially in fl
nancial matters or in times of war or
epidemic.
Mr.. Tesla is now perfecting machine
with that end in view. The idea OF COM
municating with planets by the same
means is an after consideration. Mr.
Tesla'S idea for communicating with
Mars, or other near planets, is not based
on pvrotechnics, or a System Of lights
placed in triangles and squares, such as
the German scientists thought might be
effective. His scheme is to utilize cleo
trio waves. He thinks such waves would
communicate to other planets just as
disturbances of the sun are transmitted
TO the earth, and produce similar dis
turbances here in the form of thunder
showers.
Mr.. Tesla believes the transmission OF
disturbances shows beyond doubht that
waves of electricity are propagated
through all space. The objection, ne
says, may be put forawrd that sutflclent
electrical disturbances cannot be made
on the earth's surface, and that we
should be wholly dependent upon thun-
der storms and other phenomena of
nature for the success Of the expert
ment. There is no difficulty because all
the lightning and thunder necessary
may be manufactured. In support OF
this statement he points to the fact that
there is now no difficulty in making an
electric apparatus with spark gap or
a mile. which might be increased.
From this argument, however, Mr..
Tesla does not wish the impression to
be drawn that the success of the expert
ment is in any way dependent upon the
light. noise, or vibration accompanying
the electrical discharge. The idea is to
utilize the electricity waves propogated
through the atmosphere and the ether
beyond. At any rate, Mr.. Tesla thinks
If there are intelligent inhabitants in
Mars or any other planet he can do
something at least in the near future to
attract their attention.
Such a course would be the extreme
application of the principle of the pro-
pagation of electric waves. The same
principle may be applied TO transmit
news to various parts of the earth As
the earth is a conductor an electric dis
turbance in one part, Mr.. Tesla believes,
ought TO cause a change in the equill-
brium of the earth'S electricity, and
therefore should be felt at all points on
the earth's surface. and might be re-
corded by properly constructed instru-
ments.
Mr.. Tesla IS enthusiastic over his lat
est experiments, and believes that the
possibility of the transmission of news
by electric waves cannot be exagger-
ated. Every city on the globe. he says,
cult, so that a message sent from this
city would be in England, Africa, and
Astralia in an instant
When seen in his East Houston street
laboratory today Mr.. Tesla talked free
" of his plans. Il have been working
on this discovery for six years" said
Mr.. Tesla. 1T first originated with
Russian scientists. but heretofore has
been nothing but dream l am satisfied
now I have machine which viii, when
perfected. enable me 10 make practical
experiments. My one idea now is 10 dis
tribute electric waves about the earth
SO that messages may be conducted sim
ultaneOusly 10 All parts of the globe.
After that has been done I shall turn
my attention 10 attempting TO commu-
nicate with planets. AS yet the ma
chine I am working on iS not complet-
ed. hope 10 see its completion shortly.
| have much difficulty in perfecting my
experiments. I take the harded prob
lens because they have more charm for
me- and. of course, are more difficult 20
solve. Sometimes think I have a ma
chine that solves problem. and then
discover an error which i takes years of
labor 10 correct. am satisfied. though.
that the transmission Of news about
the earth by electric waves is no longer
a dream"