The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-06
MARCoNI AND THE FUTURE.

It Is now so years, possibly a little
more. since the discovery Of the science
OF electricity. but the discoverer progress
ed no further in his demonstrations than
the sending OF short messages over bits
OF silken thread or wire.
The science seemed to fall asleep in the
lap OF centuries awaiting the touch Of
Samuel Morse, who. according 10 his own
story. saw thoughts flying around the
world and creeping over the ocean bed"
His was the fate Of all who go before"
days OF waiting. Of criticism. OF hope
deferred, followed by loud moughed won
der and applause.
Since the sending OF his first message
there have been many improvements IL
the manner OF receiving and transmitting
them, and so familiar are We with the
telegraph that We have ceased to wonder
at Il and sometimes lose sight OF the i'm
portant part played by X In the ieveiiny
up process now going on in the world.
Is there battle at Ladysmith. we shall
know of II before sun-up and be able 10
discuss IL at orr morning meal.
The placing OF troops, the number and
kind OF guns captured. the lis, OF killed
and wounded. the tenacity Of the Beers.
the right or wrong OF their cause. enter
into our daily conversation. We touch
elbows with them. see through their
eyes and by the aid Of the telegraph they
seem not far away but near.
Wonderful as Is this age. We are by TO
means confronted with the limitation OF
its possibilities. and this electrical force,
that takes our thought and sends 1t with
the speed Of the thought itself. is yet 10
be the yoke-fellow and burden-b bearer Of
man The day draws on when 1t will
hau! the commerce OF nations, carry the
produce OF the farm over fine rnacadam
roads 10 the oity's gaze. heat the dwell
lings OF the rich and poor. cook our meals
and possibly heal all of our innrmities.
The study OF this science and the prac
teal application of IL TO our needs will
yet enter the curriculum OF all our schools
and colleges, and possibly the farmer
will find way to send the current around
his wheat field and potato patch. growing
better crops thereby. Who knows? And
here is a hint--that some day We may
manipulate it as TO thaw out the winters
and cool off the summers.
Recently two great battleships, the
Massachusetts and the New York. figured
In one OF the most significant demonstra-
lions of this remarkable age. Over a
tWenty-one mile ocean track men aboard
ship sent and received messages from
each other. the words dropping from
the clouds"
Marconi demonstrated his system to
the satisfaction of ali believers and the
bewiiderment of all who doubted. and
from this forth a door stands open wide
that no man can shut.
II Il Is possible for US 10 send messages
twenty miles without the aid OF wire.
then why not send them long distances
as well? That's the question. If. with
the aid Of transmitting stations, We can
master the currents Of the upper air and
send our thoughts TO the clouds and bring
them down again, then let some ono
greater than MarConi stand forth and
teach us how 10 catch the currents Of
air and earth and make them run on
rands for us at our pleasure. independent
of transmitting stations of any sort.
Is IL beyond the bounds Of possibility
that one of these days we may catch the
sunbeam glinting or our window sill.
harness 1t To our thought and journey out
to unknown fields. or or the twinkle OF a
distant star send greeting TO the inhabi-
tants Of other spheres?
MARION B. BANTER.