New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

When Marconi sent messages across the Eng
Iish Channel for the first time ne merely
doubled the distance that he was able to cover
by his mode OF communication. The advance
recorded was only one Of degree, not OF kind'
In one sense the experiments conducted on
board the French warship Ibis few days ago
are more instructive. On this occasion the
vounr Italian dispatched one message that was
received simultaneously at two points, Sou'h
Forcland and the Goodwin lightship. lmme-
diotely thereafter he applied some additional
anporatus to his transmitter, and was thereby
enabled 10 conine his correspondence to
e,ro,o station. He thus established the possibil-
fly of insuring secrecy
None of the published accounts indicate the
nrecse character Of the device employed to
concentrate the action Of the transmitter. But
II seems probable, from the phraseology OF
some Of the references OF the English press to
the matter, that the attachment resembled, IN
principle. the paraboic mirror which focuses
the radiance OF searchlght into one compact
beam. The latter procedure serves double
purpose 1t intensifes the light ana thus .eH-
tends the distance to which the rays may be
projected and 1t permits the operator to illumi-
nate only one object at time. Inc most re-
markable feature OF the discoveries OF Hertz
was the fact that the electromagnetic waves
which he examined could be reflected and re-
fracted like light. The feasibility OF focusing
the invisible etheric vibrations emitted from the
shark gap Of an induction coil was partially
proved years ago. But the practical results
attained on board the Ibis afford much more
brilliant and suggestive demonstration. This
expedient. which furnishes a close parallel be-
tween the Marconi system OF telegraphy ana
the use of the Photograph In army signalling, Is
entirely distinct from the tuning process
which was first relied upon to insure privacy
1t is easy, however, TO recognize some OF the
limitations which restrict the use of the para
bollc mirror So long as both the sending ana
receivinp stations are motonless, like forts, and
ships at anchor, their bearings may be Known
even though the stations be hidden from each
other and 1t would be comparatively easy W
train the focused beam on the right point but
II either Of the stations were moving ana IL
fog or battle smoke were to veil one from the
other, It would be practically Impossible 10 aim
the sending instrument correctly.
This and other uncertainties that might DE
mentioned keep MarconPs interesting ana val
liable scheme in the experimental stage or It's
DEVELOPMENT ut present. 1t does not appear as
ret that the young Italian is himself remark
able inventor There Is nothing original In MS
apparatus except the tiny Taper which faciil-
tates the falling apart OF the silver filings IN
the coherer the essential part of his receiving
instrument But he has shown good judgment
in his adaptations Of other mems Ideas ana ne
~ blessed with a fair share Of patience. IL,
though. he should not himself fully realize all
the possibilities OF the system on which he mas
worked thus far, 1t Is highly probable that
some one else will perfect It, or surpass 1t with
a different one Several other methods have
been proposed, though none Of them have peen
so fully worked out as yet. And a wonderful
stimulus has recently been given to research
along this line Scores of men who never con-
s,dered the subject before are now studying
how to improve on Marconi. 1t is not altogether
incredible. therefore that some one else may
vet carry off the highest honors in the realm of
cheap efficient wireless telegraphy.