The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-13

the discovery made by Professor H.
Hertz that light rays are smaller
wave-length. particularly ultraviolet
rays, are able to start an electrical
discharge. Working on this idea with
a view to %inventing a system of teleg-
raphy that would make communication
possible between two points without
the aid of wires. a prominent electrical
scientist Of this city began experiment
ing. and soon found that by drawing
out the spherical electrodes OF an in
duction coil until a spark no longer dp-
peared between them. and then throw
ing the rays of ultraviolet light on
the space where the spark appears, a
discharge of sparks Immediately re-
suited. The cause of this, as of many
more light effects that have been. pro-
duced of recent years. has yet to be
discovered. The practical use to which
the discoverer proposes to apply his
mean of starting a spark discharge is
to telegraph to light houses. ships. or
under any circumstances where Wire
less biography IL needed or where the
wire system cannot be used.
After starting the discharge of sparks
by means of ultraviolet rays directed
on the electrodes, a receiver Is set to
catch the stream of sparks. In the ex-
perments there were used first a bell.
then a telephone. and finally a Morse
ink-writer.
The apparatus employed was an arc
lamp placed in such a position that IL
could be used as a protector. When IL
was necessary to throw the light a
greater distance. mirrors were used.
not os glass but OF quartz. so as to
permit the ultraviolet rays to pass
through them. The usual telegraph
signals of dots and dash were produc-
ed by opening a shutter in front OF the
light rays for a longer or shorter time
as required.
The most interesting part OF the ex-
| periments is the way i'm which the dis
charge of sparks made by the ultra
violet ray being thrown on the spark
gap causes the bell tn ring or the Morse
fnk-writer to do its work. As soon as
the shutter I'm the transmitting station
is opened the ultraviolet rays from
the arc lamp fall on the disc electrode,
and sparks pass across the gap. ceas-
ing as soon as the glass shutter falls
and shuts of the active rays. The
sparks produce feeble electric waves,
which actuate a coherer fitted with a
Taper and placed I'm proximity to the
apparatus. by means of which the sig
nails are received on an electric bell or
hoI>t dppdtdttc-
Experiments have shown that these
signals can also be received by using,
in place OF a coherer. a relay connected
in the secondary circuit In series with
the spark-eap. The question as to the
best means OF constructing this hna'
! receiving mechanism Is reserved to he
determined by future experiment. II
the signals need only to be made audi
BILE. and are not required to be printed
the simple connection of a telephone ~
the spark-gap circuit s%uffices. The in
sulation of the winding OF the tele-
phone must be of a nature correspond
ing to the pressure in the secondary
circuit OF the induction coil. An or
binary telephone gives signals audibl'
at about one meter from the instru'
ment. and by the use OF a loud-speak'
ing telephone the effect can be increas'
ed so as to be clearly audible in any
part Of a very large room. When tn
message is ready BY the inaudible sys
tenn IL has the advantage over othel
systems of communications by flashes
OF light Of being as secret as h ordi'
nary method OF te~legraphing.
The gentleman who has carried oil