The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-26
TELEPHONE IS OBSOLETE
m 1NLU sISfJU or EIFID IfLi-
GRlPHI MINIS CIIfIOA>.
a Newspaper Could he sent on one ""e
Wonder. OF the Effect oi the N'e'""'-
ing Current on the Telegraph "ire'

WASHINGTON. u. G.. My IA pro-
positioc is before the senate IN he shape
M a bill introduced By senator Pcttigre"
10 expend Si.vJcv0 IN experimenting W."
I'll new system OF rapid u,legrIpny, wires
for the purpose TO be constructed De-
tvyeeu New York and Washington
II Is claimed that this system VIII sup
nlant the telephone. telegraph ana mails
AS a method Of communication between
the great BUSINESS centres OF the couh-
try. and will make possible the transmits
sion Of 900 words a minute.
The news method is called the syn
chronograph." and employs the alternal-
ing current on copper wires lHe pi""'
have been perfected. and experiment
conducted oy Albert Cushing Crehoe' as
sistant professor of physics az Darii"ou''1
College and George owen Squier' htst
Lieutenant 81 artillery I'm the lnileh
States Army ana instructor OF the oe-
pariment of electricity and mines in the
United states Artillery school
The laboratory IN Fort Monroe has been
used IN developing the system and ltfis
OF its utility are daily given on ia" gov
eminent telegraph and telephone lines.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT Is IN
TERESTED.
P0stmaster-Gcnara Gary was sent TOT
ard had a conference with Lieutenant
Squicr Friday 90 ascertain the merits
of his system in order that an intcih-
gent report might be- made on the BILL
First Assistant Fostmaster-Genc
Heath inspected the practical workings
of the system at Fort Monroe Yesterday
and viii report the result fo the p0stmas-
far-ffnUDrlI.
Professor Crohoe and Lieutenant Sqlier
have applications for patents in niiten
countries. The lieutenant viii soon go 10
England in response 90 a request from
the British Government. 90 conduct a
demonstration OF his invention. The
American Institute of Electrical Ensi-
ncers held special meeting DO fniial DO
phia Tuesday light. 90 consider ihis ln-
venti0n. and endorsed IT'S practicaoii.ty.
Barred OF technical terms. the invention
OF Lieutenant Squier Is "a combined i'm
proyement OF those of Whe3istone
Hughes. Edison. Delaney. and others. boy
which the capacity of telegraph wires
has been greatly multiplied. Lieutenant
Souier has given 90 your correspondent
figures to show the effect which bis in-
veuton may have on tue three -i gag
systems of communication. The number
of pieces OF mail sent 100 l'9j wis '..-
10000 the greatest amount eyer 7'h- iA
single year .....,...,.
WILLING 10 PAY FOR TELEGhAPlil.
wbe greatest number OF telephone me--
.4go- ora record for single year Dr.
--- .omDp m 1,95. The largest nnm''f
of telegraph mcs gees. 10000 was semi
lu isa ...
nh. cost OF The mail service in I't
WAS s4Ds.6 U00. or about Si-' per c'piNi.
The greatest receipts for amy year OF
fh. American Bel Telephone company
were boz 1888. si5400UN. about 3. cents
capita. while the greatest receipt ol '.'
Western Union Tcieeraph company were
I'm 1893. s2l@sooo. about 80 ''"'' p''
...IfH
II snnears. therefore. that taa people
NV for a telegraphic service about one
ii,t+v-.ixth as large as the mail srifi'.
s.,n,fbin, Ike one-fourth OF the amou~'
Maid FOR the mail service 10 also COSTS
cr, and onc-half times as much Tor iri'-
oranhfc service as for the tel'phon' SER
vice although the number or icirpnoN'
messages Is about n - times as great.
Tho conclusion seems 20 bee that the poo
n'o are willing 20 pay NOR" in proportion
for "a tolocraphic service than any Otner.
Lieutenant Squire claims that under ms
rcw system two lines in continuous opera
lion would handle AN the mail between
New York and Chicago. which i- now
d.n. lD means of about $1,000 letters
dav whereas IL now takes three days
Tor the sending ~ the letter and the re-
ception ~ reply. the work could easily
Boz done by machine ielography IN a SIN
qia DIV
TELEGRAPIIING ENTIRE NEWsPA-
PERS.
II is thought that the effect ~ Tins
would be- greatly 10 increase business
transactions.
Among he possibilities which L.u.en-
mt Squire secs in DIS invention is The
simultaneous publication OF Oh. same
newspaper 'n different parts of iNe D0un-
rv. IN an edition ~ daily paper nave
ing twelve pages. with eight columns 10
th. page making nincty-eiX columns ~
3D. there are Joss than $1,000 words. At
the rate of 5000 words a minute IL would
only require about 900 hour ID tran mir
fho entire contents N the paper.
Tho cost ~ maintenance ~ the pro-
posed system if De- cla mod. will be l'tie
moro than that Of the telegraph system
now IN use.
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