The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-31
AN IMPORTANT INVENTION.
Officials of Signal Corps VIII RevO-
lutionixe Telegraphfng-Add
speed in Sending Messages.

WASHINGTON, Oct. Se-One point in
the annual report OF Gen. Greely has es-
cdpsd public attention. owing % its dis
association with the late war. Il relates
TO the discoveries Of TWO young physic-
lists, Prof A crehore and Lieut. Col
George o. Squier. volunteers signal offic-
ers. who have lately pursued, under the
direction of the chief signal officer OF the
army. certain scientific irivestisa tioEs s44ssss
premise 10 work a revolution III izssst--'le
or ocean telepraphy. Gen. Greedy ax-
presses his beEef that these discoveries
and inventions have assumed such form
and phase as 10 be Of the greatest value
10 the commercial world. TIE discoveries
outline the true scientific methods Of teie-
graph known as the sine wave system
The first experiments were made a. the
artillery school, Fort Monroe, Va, and
were discussed theoretically in 1897 under
the title of the ''synchronogr ph, new
method OF rapidly transmitting inforna-
ton by the alternating current. The next
step was the testing OF this system on a
long telegraph line. and for this purpose
Prof. Crehore and Col. Squier visited En-
gland, where they were AFFORDED every Ia
City for exper mental work over the gov
eminent teie graph lines through the cour-
tesy of the postmaster general ana the
distinguished electrician. Chief Engineer
Preece. The experiments. the report sets
forth. proved conclus.Sely the superiority
wave, the typical force OF which is sim
pie sine wave. as compared with the sys-
TEN now exclusively used throughout the
world IN code Geography. Under me sine
wave system the words were sent and re-
ceived over a line /, loo miles long at rate
of over 300 words per minute. Under
this new system the speed Of the Wheat
stone commercial receiver was increased
as much as ,hree-fold. when operated UNI
der identicalIy the system of the old code
biography. The superiority OF sine waves
having been decided by experimental APP
paratus. the next step Is to construct
transrniiters for actual commercial condi-
tons. Two special apparatus We're de-
vised. one for operating iand INES ana stne
over long cables. The cable transmitter
was completed and land instruments adj
vanced, when the late war interrupted
progress which has only iately been re-
uewed by direction OF Gen. Greedy.
The first practical tests of the cable
transmitter have just been made through
the courtesy Of George Clapperton and Of
ilc!als of the Commercial Gable Company.
Of New York. The experiments were made
over the cable between New York CITY
and Canso. \. S. which has length OF
ST knots, an electrical resistance of 1870
ohms and an electric distfib ting capacity
of 81 microfarads. Thee tests were made
between September % and Oceober l6, 1926.
The change from existing Geographic
the present appliance of transmitter
sending smooth waves. such as are OBJ
tanned in alternating currents, work
Ing. without making any other changes
whatever in the elements of the present
system The conditions in The ,ransm ssion
of messages over long cables are distinct
ly and widely different from those OF
aerial lines. The necessity of increased
speed over ocean cables, the report con-
tinues, while not generally appreciated. is
str.kingly obvious when examined from
commercial standpoint Since every cable
spanning the Atlantic costs several mill
ion dollars, the value Of any discovery
that Will increase the working power of
these cables Is AT once apparent. Gen.
Greedy SAYS that he has no hes tation in
expressing his opinion that the sine wave
system which also admits of easy duplex
ing. will within a year or two, increase
very materially the working capacity OF
every cable to which it is applied.