The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-04-03

ilih5ssgi re- I ! (lll9P S
TELEPHONES IN JAPAN.
Il e markab1e Developments In EIec.
tricity In Janan AEs

american electrical eng ineerS may
find It not improbable to keep a close
eye upon electrical developments in
Japan. During the last session of the
Japanese Imperial diet it was agreed
to appropriate a sum of above $780,
#OOO yen, or more than $14, 900, 900,
spread over seven years, for the extern
sion Of the telephone service, and the
work of construction is being actively
carried on at vacious important places.
* The number of new subscribers to the
four centers Of Toxic, Yokohama and
Kobe, under the expanded system, will
be over 1900, and in Kioto and thirty
i've other places where the service is
to be newly established, there will be
over $500. A considerable number of
branch lines will also be established in
places OF less Importance, so that tele-
phone communication will be within
the reach: Of large part Of the popula-
ton of Japan. The people everywhere
are eager to take advantage Of this
means of communication, and it is
stated that Ut present, in Toxic alone,
there are over 1000 subscribers, and
more than 1000 applicants are waiting
1mpatiently to have the privilege ex-
tended to them ALSO Arrangements
are being made in Toxic to grant 500
new applications during the present
year, in order Of priority, and during
the next two years 800 new applica-
lions will be accepted, the intention be-
ing to increase the number of subscrib-
ers until it reaches 10000. Notwith-
standing the activity of the Japanese
in these matters, many of the applica-
lions which are being granted this
year were sent i'll as far back as 1893.
The way is being made much easier
for American manufacturer by the
marked preference which the Japanese
have shown for American methods.
This is stril1ingly instanced in the fact
that three electrical experts have late
ly been sent from Japan to this coun-
try for the purpose of studying the
latest developments. One of the COM
missioners says: ''All over cur empire
now there is the greatest interest in
electrical lighting and power. Electric
lty has been introduced in several cit
les, but the government wants it all
oyer the country. Beyond a thorough
~ comprehensive telephone system, we
want to generate electricity from the
many powerful waterfalls in our cOun-
try, and to use it for electrical rail-
ways, general power ard lighting, and
in connection with our numerous pub
lie and private enterprises. It is also
our desire to utilize the long distance
telephone in Japan" That Japan is
open to adopt the best electrical appli-
ances of any country is seen in re-
cent large purchase Of camp telegraph
apparatus in Berlin, for service in Jap
anese military operations, and it is
stated that in future the Berlin materi-
/ al will be imported for the use of the
Japanese army. tits to be hoped that
those present in this country who are
specially interested in the matter will
take careful note Of these facts.
Hearing Music Through the Hands
Notwithstanding the great amount of
study which has been brought to bear
upon improving or restoring the hear
ing of deaf persons by electricity, but
little Roadway has been made so far as
practical results are concerned On
the other hand, much light has been
thrown on the physiological effect of
certain kinds Of electrical vibrations,
and many eXperimenters are sanguine
Of being eventually able to employ
them successfully in many branches of
aural therapeutics. One singular and
most interesting outcome of this line
Of Investigations is the proposal of DR..
T. McKendrick to make a deaf man
hear music by dipping his hands in
tub of water. A photograph is used
for supplying the music. The sound
waves are directed into regular tele-
phone transmitter which connects with
a series Of batteries under the tub.
These batteries are specially construct
ed to give perfectly rhythmic vibra-
lions, the difficulty OF securing which
has always been a stumbling block in
the utilizing Of this principle Of convey
ing the rythm of music through the
nerves to the nerve centers of the
brain. A passenger on. board of a
small steam vessel which is being pro-
PEELED at high rate of speed by pow
erful machinery, feels the unbroken@ or
rythmical vibrations going through the
body of the craft. A deaf person, I'M
der similar conditions, hears t1lse vi
brations as well as one whose auditory
nerves are perfectly normal While.
the sensation of listening to the music
by the aid of DR.. A1cKendrick's appara-
tus is accomplished on the same gen
cral principle. the effect on the deaf, it
is stated, and is much more striking
and agreeable. In the case Of person
who has been deaf from birth, the
hands are Immersed in the DreDared
water connected with the monograph
The rytbm of the ,'lusic is conducted
by the nerves locally affected to the.
assure Rolando in the brain, and the
sensation is one Of pleasure. Greater
still is the enjoyment experienced by
one who has at some time or other had
normal hearing: but who is suffering
from deafness. If the tune selected is
one he is familiar with he can easily
follow the varying changes of the mel
ody and harmony, and it is claimed
that, by the aid Of his ina gination,
which in the deaf is unusually acute,
he can thus enjoy the odd conducted
concert almost his thoroughly as if his
hearing were normal
WOmen's Battle in America.
Miss Frances M. Abbott. In an arti-
Gle on The Pay of College Women
gives some instructiye fig1lreS in re-