Evening star., 1897-02-06
PHOTOGRAPHIC SIGNS
0>EEI
RLPHABETIC SIGNS

stones are marked on one or both sides
with simple devices-dots bars and
graphic or combination characters
while occasionally a border forms part of
classified by NJ. Petite in four categories:
Numerals. symbols. Photographic signs and
alphabetical characters Most of the spots
and bars are ingeniodsly reasoned out to
series spots, being cohsideped to be units
of the second 0he bars to represent
simple numerals. IN the Photographic
transcription of natuta1 objects, such as
serpents, trees, reeds, etc. Assuming the
alphabetic signs to be properly interpreted
in their icaning-i. e., to be Syllable in their
constr,ction-the question IS raised: Can it
be possible that these, pebbles were en-
ployed in building up words and sentences,
much as children use boxes of letters?
However conclusive or fnconclusive may be
NJ. Piette's Interpretation OF. his finds, their
discovery will doubtless tend to warm UP
the zeal of anthropoiogists " the direction
of the new and most Instructive field of in
yestisation which has b been opened up to
them. 20 -
Speed ReGsArsis. ingTeIeRraphy.
What is the limit of speed in tefegraphy:
The question has been ans#ered many
times. but in each case it has been found
necessary to revise the answer soon after
it was given, a few more seconds were
clipped off the record. When the name Of
the winner of the derby is known in New
York a quarter of q minute after the con-
test is over, when the result OF inter-
national yacht race is announced in Glas-
cow forty-four seconds after the winner
sails across the finish line in New iork's
lower bay. it seems as though the prac-
tical annihila ton of time was accom-
plished. But the men who spend their time
in trying to improve the telegraphic SER
Wee have not been satisfied with these as
tonishing records. and have tried to drive
the time limit still nearer the vanishing
point. AS result of their efforts, it may
be said that if time will not wait for any
man it will at least almost stand still some
times.
special work of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, has regularly been be-
tween the great exchanges. especially the
stock and produce exchanges of New York
and Chicago. This has been so probably
because it has had to be So that is to say
because the demand for the fastest possible
service has been stronger here than any
where else. The limit. for the time being
at least, mas now been reached by an i'm
provement which was recently made in the
connection between the produce exchanges
In these two great centers of American
trade The floors of the two exchanges
have Ter long time been connected by
direct wires. SO that only a few seconds
We're consumed in sending information
from one to the other. Some time ago,
however, the Western Unions manager lii
New York suggested that time might be
saved IN sending quotations If a telegraph
apparatus was set up in the wheat pit IT.
sell Ihis meant saving trip of perhaps
fifteen feet between the wheat pit and the
Geographic booth, but in slicing off seconds
one must cut exceeding thin and even the
smallest things have to be taken into ac-
count. The change brought about by the
adoption OF this suggestion may be best
observed by taking peep into the New
YORK exchange at the opening of business
AT one side of the circle known as the
wheat pit stands a high box. which looks
IKE an old-fashioned pulpit. and in which
TWO men are sitting. In front of one Of
them Is a telegraph instrument. the wire
from which runs directly to the floor of
.he Cnlcago exchange. and before the other
Is a set of keys. controlling the big indi-
Gator at the end of the room which an
nounces at every moment of the day the
ruing price OF wheat on the floor of the ex-
cnange AS soon as the first bid Is offered
before the sound of the mans voice can
travel across the floor of the exchange
the operator IN the pulpit presses one of
his keys. and the bigd indicator on the
great dial flies around nD the figures named
IN the hrst transactiea. Ia the second,
while We have been watching the perform
ance, the reporter who HAS been stand
ing just below the rpl,lpit among the
brokers. has scratc hed1the same figures on
yellow slip. has passed this sheet up to
the man above him. and the opening price
i'll New iOfk Is Writtenin 8aightning flash
at the Chicago end of the wire
The booth in which,Ithe wire terminates
on the floor of the Chicago1 exchange is at