Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-07
MARc0Nl OUTCOME.
Pref. eray's Marvellous Invention for Sub.
marine Signalling Company Organized.

Waterville. Me, Nov. 6.-(SpeciaD.-
Even the Marconi system of wireless
biography may be surpassed by Prof
Gray's invention, to develop which a
company was organized here, this af-
ternoon. The invention is the product
Of the brain of Elisha Gray of Chicago.
and Arthur j. Murdy of Boston, and is
to be used in signalling from one ves-
sci to another through water. The in
vention has been found to work in a
perfectly satisfactory manner when
the vessels are 10 miles apart and the
inventor is confident that there is prac-
tically no limit to the distance at which
ii will work
Prof Gray has been at work on the
invention for over three years, but not
until the present time has it reached
the stage where he was willing to make
the invention public.
In outline the invention consists of
a receiver and transmtter and works
on the principal of using the water as
medium through which the sound
NAV be transmitted. 1t is now an es-
tablished fact that sound waves are
transmitted more rapidly through the
water than through the air and for
that reason the method is superior to
that of sending sound waves through
the air.
The transmitter is fashioned after a
bell and by means of appliances the
bell is struck and the sound is carried
through the water. At the other end
is an apparatus that may be likened.
roughly, to a drum. On this diaphram
the waves are collected. BY means of
an invention of Prof. Gray the sound
waves are carried to a receiver. like
that of telephone receiver. and the
signal sent from the bell miles away
are heard.
One of the peculiarities of the inven-
ton is that the sound waves will not
affect the receiver unless placed at
right angles to the source of the sound.
This will make it of the greatest value
in the lighthouse signal service.
1t is planned to use the apparatus on
board ships to warn them of dangers
on shore. 1t has been found that
weather or any other condition will
not affect the instruments, so that in
case of a fog or heavy storm the use
fulness of the instrument is not i'm
paired.
Should a vessel receive the signal
from shore that she is in a dangerous
position it can be told, since the re-
ceiver will be affected only when at
right angles. in just what direction the
danger is. Should two signals of dan
ger be received a chart can easily be
made by making the angle at which
the two danger signals come, and find
;,,. hot lA oh hon
to either source of danger and thus
the trouble be avoided.
The inventors decline to go into
further details concerning the inven
ton, for as yet the patents have not
been secured in all the countries where
it is proposed to protect it.
There is another invention which the
two men have lately perfected. This
invention has some relation to the for
mer invention, but just what they de
cline to say. This invention is an APP
paratus for stopping the racing of
locomotive wheels or even the propel-
lors of ships.
The company organized, this afternoon.
is to be known the Submarine Signal
Co.. and was or 80 nized at the office of
Davis x Soule with these officers: Presi
dent, Henry Nj. whitney, Boston; vice
president, j. l.. Milet treasurer. Arthur
J. Mundy; clerk. G. W. Davis; directors.
Henry NJ. Whitney. j. Il. Millet. Prof.
Elisha Gray, Arthur j. Mundy, Henry NJ.
SOule. The company is capitalized with
stock Of 100000
Concerning the small amount of capital
stock for such a valuable invention, Mr..
Mundy said that the present company y
formed only for the purpose of developing
the patent. When the patent is fully de
velOped then new company Will he
formed. probably one with a capital stock
Of $',0O0,OO0, and the patent pushed.
The invention has attracted a great deal
of attention from the war department ana
Secretary Long has written several let
tiers to Prof.. Gray and Mr.. Mundy asking
that they make haste to perfect the in
Tention that the war department may
give it trial.
Prof Gray said last evening. that pres
ent Indications are that the invention wilt
be ready to be placed on the market in
side of II months. 1t has been found -
work in a most satisfactory manner at
q distance of 10 miles. The patent on the
invention has already been granted ana
1t is to be protected in II foreign cou1
tries. Until those patents are granted the
company is not ready to make public the
minute details.