The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-19
MYSTERY OF THE CABLE CODE.
How Vast Numbers of Expressions
Are Represented by Single Words.

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From the New York Tribune.
To ordinary folk who have no occasion
to use them, the cipher cable codes en-
ployed by business houses in sending mes
sages across the ocean are unfathomed
mysteries. All that is generally understood
on the subject is that firms whose bust
ness requires frequent and swift commun
ication with foreign countries have a meth
Oh OF cabling their meaning i'm greatly
abbreviated form, and that this cipher
besides Its economical value. possesses the
merit of being unintelhgible except to
those holding the key to the code by which
IL is sent
There are numbers of such codes. differ
ing from one another more or less in form
ana size, but they must all conform TO
certain regulations which have been laid
down by International agreement among
the cable companies. The primary rule is
that IL is not permissible TO send any com
bination of letters which one may de-
wise but that only actual dictionary words
from some OF the languages named in the
agreement shall be used This, however
allows for an almost Infinite number OF
available words. because eight languages
are given from which the compilers Of
codes may select. These are English
French German, Spanish. Italian. Portu-
gueses Dutch and Latn-seven modern
languages and an ancient one. The Latin
from few glances over huge new code
recently published, appears to afford more
cipher words than any of the others. The
wondrous number of changes which may
be rung upon Latin verbs. and which has
been the despair of generations OF school,
boys now finds new use, for Ia the code
may he found almost complete coniuga-
uons OF hundreds Of verbs their variations
IN mood, tense and person being admirable
Tor cipher purposes.
The new code referred to above is known
as the "Leviathan," and Is published bv
the fairfield Telegraphlc Code Publishing
Company. IL contains 296,700 words, ali
OF which are selected from the regular "Of
fetal Vocabulary" of over 25O.O0O words
from the eight languages, upon which an
cable codes must be based. The first 100. 600
words OF the "Leviathan" which includes
all the cipher words down 20 the letter "I'i
Ohey are alphabetically arranged. are de-
voted to tables OF figures and the re-
mainder OF the book to the far more in
teresung department OF phrases or dia-
logue. IL Is here that the ingenuity ana
the laborious task OF the code compiler are
made manifest. To make the code COM
plete so that no matter what communi-
cation firm wishes to send IL may be able
20 una the desired expression among the
ciphers " has hcen necessary TO think Of
an The thousands Of phrases that CONNER
cial houses would be likely TO employ. The
aie' vi Aue nooh ana the thorOughncss
with which every section appears to be
covered seem TO indicate that the work
has been successfully done. OF course.
such mammoth code as this has been
evolved gradually from smaller ones. "a
experience has shown where improve
ments and additions could be- made.
The chapters are an conveniently sub
headed, under such titles az Buying
seillnR,F Banking" stocks" Con
tracts etc.. ind a few specimen phrases
ifom the first OF these VIII serve TO show
the manner OF the books compilation. The
sentence Are We az liberty 20 buy when
We thlnk proper Be- expressed by tho
single cipher word "tnfrinRido." while
'lnfrinEir' stands FOR the following
statement: Are VOL supplied. but Won
may buy slowly and cautiously al any
material decline" ling bracht'i signi0es.
At what price can you probably buyg''
ana thus the Hist goes on There n no
connection whatever between tho mean
Ing oi the sentences ana that of the words.
which are simply taken as they come ian
alphabetical order and IN whatever Ian.