The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-05

was ready to make a test for the pur-
pose of properly adjusting the instru-
ments. AS in the case of ordinary teleg-
raphy, it is absolutely essential that
the instruments at either end of the
line be adjusted so that they will work
together properly.
There was one wire in the Herald's
operating room that was lying idle and
which could be utilized for the purpose
of the testing. This was a wire run
ming from the Herald office to the
Western Union Telegraph Companys
building, at the corner of Broadway
and Dey street, a distance of four
miles, or making circuit of about
eight miles. The wire runs through
a conduit. A loop, or extension, was
made by the addition of short length
of wire, which was fastened to the pic
ture instruments by means of ordinary
thumbscrews
In addition to that wire and its bat
terry force four dry battery cells and
two storage batteries, the latter of two
cells each, were connected with the in
struments to furnish a local battery to
supply power for the mechanical part
OF the apparatus.
Mr.. Hummel adjusted the instru-
iously, and then announced his read
mess to telegraph picture over the
wire. For all practical purposes the
eight mile length Of travelling distance
was Just as good as If it had been
twenty or even thirty miles.
The inventor had some pictures with
him, which, as they were already pre-
pared, were used for the purpose of
getting the machines in readiness for
oct hot
not a picture could be telegraphed.
The pictures that Mr. Hummel had
with him were placed in the transmit
ter one by one and reproduced in the
receiver To telegraph a picture oc-
cupied, as the instruments were regn-
lated, about twenty-five minutes.
VAN WICK BY WIRE.
Accepting Mr.. HummePs word that
the machines were in good working
order, and after three or four pictures
had passed over the wire, I said:
Mr.. Hummel, I want one Of the
Herald's artists to prepare one of the
pictures now. 1t will be that of man
with whom you are unacquainted.
"All right, SIR" Mr.. Hummel re-
piled. Il have no objections what
ever"
The inventor handed me a square
and a half
"All you have to do" Mr.. Hummel
said, turning to the artist, lis to draw
the picture you want autographed on
that piece of tin. Leave a margin of
about half an inch on all sides of the
drawing. You may take pen or a
brush for your work, but instead OF
ink use an alcohol solution of shellac."
The solution was quickly made and
ticst xrritH hot h
of Mayor Van Wyck at his left side
for a copy, and with small brush
PAINTED an excellent likeness of the
mayor on the tin. The plate was car
ried to Mr.. Hummel, who placed it in
it's proper place in the transmitter and
started the machine. In twenty-five
minutes the machine stopped automa-
tically.
A POSITIVE SUCCESS.
The picture was completed and out
of the receiver" or the companion
piece of mechanism. The paper was
removed with perfect reproduction of
the original drawing. Then other pic
lures were prepared for transmission
and accurately reproduced. The in
ventor's claim had proved true, the ma
chine had substantiated everything
that had been said of it. The expert
ment had been closely watched by those
who are versed in the present uses of
electricity, and they marveled at the
righteousness Of the quiet young man
who stood at one side while his work
was being examined.
The machines had worked in perfect
harmony, and there was no need of adj
justment from the time the instruments
were started until the experiment had
stopped, q period of probably two hours
or more Not a thumbscreW had to be
turned on a relay or anywhere else in
the complicated mechanical parts. This
showed that under ordinary conditions
and with a good wire it mattered not
whether the distance the electricity had
to travel was eight miles or 800 miles
The voltage on the main wire used yes
terday was about fifty or seventy-five
volts. Mr.. Hummel claims, and very
honestly, too, that there is no limit to
the distance over which pictures may
be sent, and that his instruments will
work over a telegraph wire as long
as any now in operation for the car
riage of messages.