The evening times., 1899-11-16

THE navy will probably equip half a
dozen vessels with Marconi's wireless teie-
graph instruments, provided we can come
to an understanding with Marconi about
the price of instruments" said Rear Ad-
miral Bradford, of the Bureau Of Equip
ment, today. oaao4-e---.-.- -"
1.-The trouble about MarcoGi is that he
will not sell his instruments outright, but
wants to dispose of them at good stiff
price, and then. in addition. wants a
heavy royalty of SO much per annum.
am not prepared to state at present ex-
actly what Marconi's figures are, but they
are I'D in the thousands, and more than the
Navy Department is willing to give.
Il have received the report Of Rear Ad-
miral Farquhar on the tests made on tie
New York and the Massachusetts with
Marconi's system, and, while l have not
read 1t thoroughly, from all know Of the
tests they were very satisfactory except
the feature of interference. Marconi fall
ed to prove that two vessels sending mes
sases to each other could not be inter-
fered with by a third sending out mes
hA&S
New York, the Massachusetts,, and the
lighthouse at Navesink Highlands. N. j.,
whenever two messages were sent out al
once neither could be understood, the re-
ceiving machines simply making lot OF
unintelligible dots and dashes Maroon
has assured me that he has way OF
combating this interference, but ne mas
not proved II yet.
Even with the interference question
unsolyed. Marconi's system would still be
Of considerable value in times OF peace
for naval movements and for commercial
purposes. How valuable the system would
be TO the navy ! am not prepared 10 say.
but Marconi asks too large price at pres
ent for his instruments. 1t may be that
later we can come to an understanding
and secure some Of his machines.
Il do not know yet what recommenda-
ton / will make to the Secretary OF the
Navy regarding an appropriation Tor puy-
ing the Marconi system.
Lieut.. John b. Blish. of Rear Admiral
Bradford's Office, was stationed at the Nav
esink Highlands to watch the tests made
between the Massachusetts. the New York,
and the station at the Highlands. He said
today:
There is no doubt that Marconi's instru-
ments will do wonderful work. The system
is known by all electricians who have made
a study OF it and plenty OF instruments
have been constructed in imitation OF Mar
coui's. but still the Marconi instruments do
the best work. and why this is SO no one
but Marconi can tell.
THE tests made would have been much
more satisfactory if Marconi had employed
expert operators instead Of those he did
have, who were young fellows he had
trained himself In fact Marconi is any
thing but an expert telegrapher himself.
The tests were very successful, mes
sages being sent distance Of thirty-six
miles in all sorts OF weather; in fact the
machines seem to work better in a good
heavy fog than in clear weather, which, OF
course. makes them very valuable, as any
other kind Of signaling except by whistles.
is out of the question in foggy weather
Any vessel or station equipped with re-
ceiver can get the messages as well as
those for whom they are intended, but this
drawback exists in other forms OF signaling
and those who understand the code can
read the messages. The question Of avoid
ing Interference was not solved in the re-
cent tests.
Some Of the messages were sent when
the ships were miles below the horizon. and
while from thirtys six TO forty miles were
the greatest distances messages were sent
during the test it depends great deal on
the height OF the wires.
The tests were made under many difa-
culties. For instance the operating room
on the New York was flooded by big sea
during a part of the time the tests were in
but the operators kept sending
along and the messages came if nothing
had happened.
Nv ha Lace 10. of ffas seS-tc
boat was used and in spite of the tossing
of the boat in the heavy seas the messages
were sent and received in good shape"