New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-31

GREATER SPEED OBTAINED BY USE OF THE
SIGN-WAVE SYSTEM -COMMERCIAL
VALUE OF THE DISCOVERY.


Washington. oct 3O-One point in the annual re-
port Of General Greely has escaped public atten-
ton owing 10 It's dsassocaton with the late war.
1t relates to the discoveries Of two young physicists.
Professor Albert G. Crehore ana Iieuenant-C Colonel
George o. Squier. volunteer officers. who hay"
lately pursued under the direction OF the chief
signal officer of the Army certain scientific inves-
LEGATIONS that promise 10 work revolution In
methods of ocean telegraphy. General Greedy eX-
presses his belief that these disco cries have as
sumed such form and phase as to be OF the great
es, value 20 the commercial world.
The discoveries outline the scientific method OF
tecgraphy known as the sgn-wave system. The
first experiments were made at the Artillery
School Fort Monroe. Virginia, and We're discussed
theoretically in 1891 under the title Of the "syn-
chronograph." 4 new method Of rapidly transmit
ting intelligence by the alternating current The
next step was the testing of this system on long
telegraph line and for this purpose Professor Gre
hore and Colonel Squier visited England where
they had every facility for experimental work over
the Government telegraph lines through the cour-
tesy Of the Postmaster-General. and the well
known electrician. W. II. Preece
The experiments. the report sets FORTH proved
conclusivey the superiority OF a modern alernat-
ing current smooth the typical form of which
is A simple sign wave. compared with the sys-
tom now exclusively used throughout the world in
code telegraphy.
Under the sign-wave system words weta sent and
received over A line 100 miles long at rate OF
over three thousand words minute. Under this
new system the speed of the Wheatstone CONNER
cial receiver was increased much threefold
when operated under identCally the system Of the
old code ielegraphy. The superiority Of the sign
wave have been decided by experimental appa-
ratus the next step was to construct transmtters
for actual commercial conditions Two special ap-
paratus were devised. for operating land
fines and the other for the transmission Of mes
sages over long cables The cable transmitter was
completed and the land instrument advanced when
the late war interrupted progress, which mas only
lately been renewed by direction OF General Greedy
The first practical tests Of the able transmitter
have lust been made through the courtesy "
George Clapperion and other officials OF the COM
mercal cable Company of New-l ork. The expert
rnents were made the cable between New
York City and Canso. which had length Of -!
knots an electrical resistance of 1900 ohms and
an electrical distributing capacity Of 23l micro
farads. These tests made between september
- and October lG, 1895.
The change from existing telegraphic methods
consists in the substitution for tho present appl-
ance of a transmitter sending smooth waves, such
a obtained in alternating currents working,
without making any other changes whatever In the
elements Of the present system. The conditions
for the transmission Of messages over long ca bes
are distinctly and widely different from those on
aerial lines The necessity Of increased speed over
ocean cables the report continues, while not gen
orally appreciated Is strikingly obvious when ex-
cable spanning the Atlantic Ocean costs severa
million dollars the value OF any discovery that Will
increase the working power Of these cables Is at
once apparent General Greedy says he has no
hesitation in expressing his opinion that the sign
wave system which also admits OF easy dupexing
working capacity Of every cable to which II Is