Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-21
IN The EFlELD OF ELEC TRICITY
Prospective Change from Steam to Electricity
on Suburban Railroads.
NEW DEVICE FOR WIRELESS TELEGRAPH
Progress of the Government TeIe-
grapb system In Porto Rico
x-Rays In Detective
work.

work.
The recent action of the directory OF the
Illinois Central railroad company recon-
nending to shareholders an increase OF
capital stock of the company from SEQ, 000,-
GOO to $50, 900 900 is taken to mean the early
substitution Of electricity for steam a
motive power on its suburban service in
Chicago. The Chronicle says a part OF the
proceeds OF the sale of the new
stock will be devoted to this purpose. ON
GERS OF the road have been working for
several years attempting to devise prac-
tical electrical system for the suburban
service The overhead trolley was deemed
impracticable by reason Of the immense
uaffic and the third rail unprotected was
considered dangerous. 1t is said that cleo
tricians have now devised a plan for using
a third rail and protecting it. This is TO
be done by covering the rail, connection
with the train being obtained through
slot similar to the cable and underground
electric systems
Great benefits would accrue to the Cen
trail by changing to the electric system. IT
would effect, It Is said, saving Of IS per
cent in operating expenses, would enable
faster time and would forever do away
on the lake front OF Chicago.
The transition from steam to electricity
on suburban traffic is one OF the great prob
lens confronting managers OF steam roads In
the east. These lines present with their
crowded traflc OF short haul passengers
their frequent trains and their many stop
Ting places conditions that are at once
easy for the electric motor train and very
difficult for the steam locomotive. Al
ready much OF the profitable business that
was once enjoyed by steam railways in tho
transportation OF suburban passengers has
gone to the trolley car and many managers
OF railroads having large suburban systems
realize that they must, in effect, adopt tho
trolley car on their lines or lose the bes,
part OF this business.
Pocket wireless Telegraph.
II In the future an electric bell concealed
about the person of a man in the street is
heard to ring and he draws from his pocket
small case, listens to 1t and then hur-
ries off, 1t must not hastily be assumed
that he Is mad, says the London Tele-
graph. The probability will be that he has
Just received message by wireless tel
egraphy In wireless telegraphy there are
several Richmonds In the field Best known
is, OF course Marconis system, But Sir
william Preece described to the British
association "A system which he claims to
be both earlier and simpler and which
may be used for telephony as well as tele-
graphy. At the Cafe Chantant OF the Crys-
tai Palace recently there was an exhibit
tion OF Mr.. Rosenberg's system The chief
point Of difference between this and Mar
CENTS method is In a slight but important
alteration in the construction OF the CO.
herer. which arrests, as they travel
,,Kh
which all wireless telegraphy depends
Otherwise the apparatus is much the same
Mr.. Rosenberg uses an induction coil, sup
piled with electricity from an accumula tor
Morse Keyboard is fitted to enable him
TO make or break the current at will and
the message Is sent as usual by means
OF an oscillator. 1t is taken at the re-
quired spot by an instrument containing
the coherer, small brags tube filled with
nickel filings and a receiver. from which
tho message may be printed on a tape in
the usual way. Mr.. Rosenberg further
claims that he has provided a practical
system which is clear OF Marconis patents
and which can be made much
cheaper The apparatus used has
no vertical poles and he main
ta'ns that he can telegraph two miles.
With poles he can send messages forty
miles and is engaged in an automatic re-
peating device which shall enable them to
be sent on indefinitely. But in the course
o. conversation he mentioned an interest
Ing fact. When he leaves his Office to
lunch In restaurant 200 yards off he takes
with him the little box containing the re-
ceivlng apparatus. This he sets on the
table beside him and 70 the bell rings he
knows that he is wanted at the office, even
though his clerks might not be aware
where he was, and he can receive a mes
sage from them. Whether this introduces
new boon or a new terror to life cannot
be hastily decided. 1t is not too much to
suppose that before long the receiving ap-
paratus might be improved and reduced In
size, SO that a man could easily carry IL in
his pocket, and the range OF the MESA ge
may be increased up to say half dozen
miles. Then the business man may carry
his receiver about with him and be In
touch with his office all day. Again, the
system would be very useful for issuing
Instructions to employees and others away
from headquarters.
Telegraph system In Porto Rico.
In report sent recently to Senator
Foraker of the committee on Paclf,
islands and Porto Rico, by General A. w
Greedy, chief signal officer of the army, the
matter OF the Porto Rico telephone ant
telegraph is taken up, and 1t is upon this
report that the next congress will be asket
to take action looking towards its improve
ment. General Greedy in his report gives
brief outline OF the history OF both indus
tries on the island, showing that while tn,
first steps towards the installation OF
telegraph line were taken in 1850 no con
sruction was done until 1872, and II wa
not until two years later that San Juar
WAS connected with the seypn diffarant do
partmcnts OF the island and about SOt
miles OF wire were in use. 1t was thes,