Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-07-23
NEW USE FOR KITES.
TELEPHoNle COMMUNICATION WITH.
 OUT A BATTERY.

BfapH anu telep10ne communication De- tween two distant and isolated points without constructing an elaborate sys- tenn of electric batteries, poles or con- duits and wires or resorting to the complex day heliograph or night fash light devices was successfully demon strated oD Saturday night at Bayonne, N. J., by William A. Eddy, the soien- tific kite hier of that city.
 The equipment used by Aerologist Eddy for his emergency telegraph and telephone plant comprised several of his aeroplanes, a reel of stout kite cord, a reel ef ordinary copper wire, number of common lanterns, two simple tele- phone transmitters and telegraph sounder. He utilized the ground and atmospheric currents for his electric power Mr Eddy and his assistants, Henry l. Allen of this city and Dr. William + Mitchell of Bayonne, con. trived to send and receive perfectly in. telligible vocal telephone messages and decipherable telegraph messages duri period of several hours from points fully ,000 feet distant and separated by double that distance of wire.
 The scene of MT. Eddy s achievement was the Bergen Point section of Bay onne. His aeroplanes and the wire they carried were sent up from the open lots i'll the rear of his home, on East Third street The kites carried and supported the wire over houses, streets, telephone and telegraph poles and wires to the point selected for the dis tant connection with the earth. Be- tween the two stations thus established ridge of sufficient height to prevent the xperimentalists from even signal. ing to one another with lanterns also interyened. This necessitated one of the trio stationing himself at an ilIterme- diate point to transmit signals before the aerial citouit was completed.
 When the pilot kite attained al alti- fude of 1, 300 feet, the wire and it's low ering device were connected with the kite cord, all eight ounce red lantern designating the place of connection and a similar lightweight green lan- tern being fastened to the plummet on the end of the wire. The lanterns were allowed to ascend 10 . height of 500 feet before an attempt to lower the wire was made. The wire ran out ! short distance and then became jammed in the pulley Efforts to disengage Il wire resulted ill the green lantern be coming detached. 1t fell and WAS bro. ken to atoms
 The kite string and wire were reeled in, and white lantern was fastened 10 the plummet. This lantern was also de- atroyed in same manner as the first MT Eddy and his assistants again haul ed i'll the ccfd and wire and attached xed lantern to the p.ummet. Line af wire were extended until the twin laA terus attained an altitude of 900 feet and then the lowering plummet and signal lantern were allowed to descend safely to the earth. Dr. Mitchell next carried the lowered end of the wire far down Lexington avenue and grounded it with steel rod. MT. Eddy did like wise with hls end of the wire, the tele. phone transmitters were attached, and tho aerial circuit was established.
 Satisfied that telephons communica- tion WAS practicable, both experimen ters signaled Mir. Allen at his interme diate station. It was half past clock when Dr. Mitchell sent the first yocal message to MT. Eddy.
 Hello. do you get me?" he queried
 ssYes, good, replied Mr. Eddy. General conversation over the wire ensued, Mrs. Eddy, Mr. Allen, Freder~ ick M Wilson and reporter partici- pating. A times watches were held against the telephone transmitters, ana their tickings were plainly heard at the other end of the wire Once or twice the telegraph sounder was attached, and the clicking of tho Morse alphabet on the instrument was carried clearly to the telephone receiver at the other end of the circuit The wind s fluctuations per mitted the wire to sag so much at times that 1t crossed the upper wires of the long distance telephone lines stretched along Lexington avenue, and scraps of conversation were transmitted to the experimenters. During the operations the lantern at the apex of the wire arch burned out, leaving the point of con. nection in absolute darkness
 The wire used in the experiment. waa thin copper filament, about the size of patent thread, and entirely bare. Bo- ing suspend d from the kite string and freed from connection with any surface object except at the ends, it was per fectly insulated from every element save the ground and atmoapherical electrical currents This fact made the wire mo } potential in conducting the messages transmitted.
 The success achieved by MT. Eddy in his experiment demonstrates the fur. ther utility to which his aeroplanes can be put by the army's signal service de. partment. Rivers and straits, forests, towns, areas of country where trans, portation and telegraph facilities have been discontinued can all be quickly bridged ill daylight or in darkness fcx asta tli iuf,s of to,,, ,r,ora,.~- Fol To-