The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-11
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

The raceless yacht races have not been
entirely without compensat ton. The sew
eral failures of the boats have given Sig
nor Marconi an extended opportunity 10
demonstrate the success of his wireless
telegraph system which he would not have
enjoyed had each contest. been to a con-
clusiOn. Instead of three experiments, he
Will have the advantage of seven or more
demonstrations of transmitting messages
from varying distances at sea. from a
moving transmitting station on shipboard,
without wires. Before he has finished, il
is probable that he will have experienced
about all conditions of weather; and
weather conditions have an important
bearing upon electrical signaling.
So far, under varying conditions, Mar
conf has met with nothing but success
lie has put rather severe tests upon the
apparatus, and 1t has responded to all de-
mands made upon il in a manner that
leaves little or nothing to be desired. A
greater number of messages has been
sent than would ordinarily be sent over
a commercial wire, without the develop
ment of any untoward circumstances or
the failure of the signal 10 be properly and
instautaneously read at the receiving sta
ton. Marconi and his friends are, naturs
ally, much elated over their success.
To what distance the wireless Geography
may be employed is not yet known. Mar
conf himself hesitates to venture a posi-
tive opinion though he Is inclined to be
lieve that the possibilities of the system
are practically unlimited. Within the
course of a few years it may be that
America and Europe will be exchanging
messages across the intervening ocean
through blank atmosphere.
The value of the new mode of communi-
cation can be readily understood. 1t is not
always convenient and often impossible TO
have metallic connection between two
points which II is desirable to have in
communication with each other The dem
onstra tion of the practicability of the Mar
conf system removes the hitherto impera-
tive necessity for such metallic connec-
ton for the transmission of kilograms.
Messages are already being projected
through the air for distance of ITO miles,
with the proba Utilities favorable to an in
crease to 200 miles before a very great
while.
Ii is not thought, however, that the
Marconi system will. at least for a long
time, interfere with the established tele-
graph and cable lines. 1t has not yet
reached that stage of development which
would make it an active competitor with
such lines But without interfering with
them, it is predicted that it viii find a
large field of It's own. Ii is understood
that the navy department is already con-
sidering the matter of equipping a number
of war vessels with Marconi instruments,
the treasury department will probably
have such instruments set up at the first
class light houses on light ships and at
life saving stations, aud the war depart
ment is in treaty with the inventor to
have him conduct a series of experiments
for il. with a view to having the system
adopted in the signal service of the army.
On the other side of the ocean, both Italy
and Great Britain have equipped war
ships, light houses and light ships with the
apparatus. The value of the system TO
shipping in heavy weather or fogs cannot
be oVerestimated.