Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-26
SIGNALS TO THE STARS
Nicola Tesla Says the Earth's Electrical
Waves Will Be Used.
Problems Which He 10 Striving to
plish With the Oscillator.

Nicola Tesla stood in the outer room of
his laboratory at No. 4S East Houston
street yesterday afternoon, says the New
York Herald today, and smiled as he said:
my electric oscillator is nearing compile
ton. 1 have spent years in experiments.
and have been alternately encouraged and
discouraged by the results But now there
is everything to promise success. 1t seems
to be close ahead"
Mr.. Tesla's remarks were occasioned Ivy
Inquiries concerning the truth OF a rumor
that he was perfecting an instrument for
communicating with the planets by means
of electrical waves. The inventor nodded
his handsome head and remarked:
Perhaps, in time. But not yet. We have
to begin with little things before We can
accomplish great ones. / am confident that
the principles upon which l have been
working are correct. How soon they will
be demonstrated, of course 1 cannot saw.
The perfection may come in ten minutes
and perhaps not for years. But that it will
be possible to signal all parts of the earth
instantaneously. and that from the logical
development OF this it will be possible to
signal the stars by electrical disturbances
here have no doubt whatever.
His Recent Experiments.
Years ago, in st. Louis, 1 delivered an
address before the National Academy of
Sciences. 1 then declared it would be pos
the atmosphere for lighting and heating,
and, of course, for communication between
different parts of the earth's surface. The
problem was the conservation of electrical
energy at the least possible cost to the
other elements. That problem, ] was con-
fident then, / could solve by my oscillator.
AT present am sure 1t can be done From
my most recent experiments l am con-
WINGED that within a very short time we
shall be Independent of the clumsy meth
IL ,go.s.
The electrical fluid in the atmosphere will
give energy enough. The same electric en-
velope of the earth will enable US to send
messages from one part Of the globe to all
other parts In an instant OF time. The
same element, which, 1 believe is infinite
and is not confined to this atmosphere, may
be used to communicate with the other
planets"
apparatGs?" / asked
Il regret very much to say that I cannot
at present. l. is rather a tool than an ap-
paratuS. My experiments are made scien-
tfcaliy. on small scale. for L have neither
the money nor the space at my disposal to
co more. But it is readily admitted that If
1 prove my principle i'll this minor way,
and am able to do what l am sure can be
done with electricity in limited fashion,
1t will only need an extension of method
to accomplish the greatest results. Stimuli
taneous announcements may then be made
in all parts of the world. In case Of dis
aSttI, VI peStliSiCe, Oh atmospheric disturb
ahces. in all events which are international
in their character, the word may be sent
from any place to all other places The
principle is the same as that which was SO
generally discussed some time ago in re-
gard to the possibility of signaling at sea-
telephonically or otherwise, between ships
or with the shore and without wire
Applied to Light.
will the work accomplished by the oscil-
lator be suited to the sending of messages
of this kind?" / inquired.
NO. not at ALL" Mr.. Tesla replied TT
will realize the possibility OF generating
light SO that the means We now use will at
once appear old fashioned. Electric light
will be exceedingly cheap, and so will cleo
trio heat. The principle will be applied to
all lines of necessity in which the use of
the force is now important In photogTa-
ply l have already achieved results from
the experiments with the oscillator on the
Roentgen principle at a distance of forty
feet. and have secured photographs that
others have seen or that have heard de-
scribeG."
The principle of lighting to which Mr.
Tesla referred, and which is a part of the
discoveries which he declares he has made,
will enable one to use electric lights unat-
tached to any dynamo by wire or other
medium. They may rest upon your draw
ing room table unillumnated, and by merely
graspng them You may generate conditions
which will make them glow and shed light.