Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-26
WE MAY SIGNAL TO MARS.

Nicola Tesla, the electrician and
scientist, has had in course of develop
ment for some time project for in.
stantaneous and simultaneous commu-
nication to all parts of the earth, and
perhaps to some of the nearer planets.
Mr.. Tesla's plan does not deal with fire.
works, or the illumination of large
part of the earth's surface in hope of at
tracing the attention of the dwelers
on Mars, but deals wholly with the
electric waves. In regard to it, Mr..
Tesla said yesterday to Sun reporter:
II have had this scheme under con-
sideration for FIVE or six years, and am
becoming more convinced every day
that it is pased upon scientific principles
and is thoroughly practicable. We know
that electric disturbances Oh the sun are
productive of similar disturbances
on the earth in the form of thunder
showers Now, why is it not equally
conceivable that disturbance on the
earth's surface should produce some
tangible effect on Other planets. The
transmission of disturbances on the sun
shows beyond doubt that waves Of
electricity are propagated through all
space.
"The objection may be put forward
that sufficient electrical disturbance
cannot be made on the earth's surface,
and that We should be wholly depend
ent upon thunder storms and other
phenomena of nature for the success of
our experiment. But, on the contrary,
we can make all the artificial thunder
and lightning we want. There is no
difficulty in making electric apparatus
with spark gap of mile, and if that
did not prove effective it could be in
creased.
"Do not get the IMPRESSION" con
tinued Mr.. Tesla, ''that the success OF
the experiment is in any way de-
pendent upon the light, noise, or
vibration accompanying such an electric
discharge. 1t is wholly through the
electricity waves, which are propagat.
ed through the atmosphere and the
ether beyond, that we may hope to OBJ
tain any results. But if there are in
telligent inhabitants of Mars or any
other planet, it seems to me that we
can do something to attract their at
tention.
''This, of course, is the extreme ap
plication of this principle OF the propa
cation of electric waves. The sane
principle may be employed with good
effect for the transmission of news TO all
parts of the earth. 1t wss formerly
thought that in order to get any power
out of electricity n conducting circuit
must exist, but it has been shown that
the same results may be accomplished
with single wire. 1t is perfectly pos
sible to operate motor or an
electric light with just single
line of wire leading to the ap-
paratus. 1t naturally occurred to me
that, as the earth isIa conductor, an elec
trical disturbance at one point, causing
d change in the equilibrium of the
earth's electricity, should be felt at all
points on the earth's surface, and might
be recorded by properly constructed in
struments.
"The possibilities of such trans
mission of intelligence cannot be eX-
aggerated. Every city on the globe
could be on an immense ticker circuit,
and a message sent from New York
would be in England, Africa and Aus
tralia in an instant. What grand
thing it would be in time of war, epi-
demic or panic in the money market !"
Mr.. Tesla is at present engaged in
finishing his calculations and perfecting
the apparatus necessary for experiment
in his new field of investigation, and he
hopes soon to be able to show the prac
y; V C,,a,