The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-10
GOES TESLA 4 FEW BETTER
PROF. e. S. VIRGINS, OF OTTAWA,
PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO TEs-
LA AND MARCONI
COMMUNICATION WITH MARS
He Thinks the Latter Planet Is Now
Exchanging Notes With Jul
piter and Saturn-EfFect
of Electric Energy.

There's trouble in the camp of the
scientists who are at work on plans
for wireless telegraph and for communI-
eating with Mars. Prof. E. S. Virgins,
OF Ottawa, Canada, is responsible for It,
He has just come out in print with
a warm roast of Tesla, and at the same
time he practically accuses Marconi OF
stealing his idea and giving no credit to
him.
Prof. Virgins places no faith in Tes-
las claim of having mechanical and cleo
trical devices by which electrical energy
can be forced through space, yet he
considers it possible for the earth, under
certain conditions, to have communlca-
with Mars This he says, can be done
by what generally is called the MarconI
method. but which he (Wiggins) really
discovered and announced to the world
in 1898. two years before Marconl began
his experiments. Prof. Virgins argues
that electricity exists only on the surface
of bodies. The surface of the earth
atmosphere is covered with lake OF
electrical energy, and no little current
such as Tesla describes can pass through
it without being absorbed.
The nrofessor said that the principle
of communication by elevated PORTS Is
the one means OF talking with Mars.
For the people of this earth to commuh-
icate with Mars he suggests that all
mountains except the highest peak De
removed. If an electrical instrument
were placed on this highest peak II
would affect a similar one on Mars. e.
pecially if the sun, earth and Mars were
in conjunction. He says:
at am almost certain that with a prop
err instrument en- the summit of Mount
ST. Elias we could even now telegraph
to the planet Mars. The nick seen in
the edge of that planet by Lowell and
Javelle on July 10, 1894, was no doubt an
enormous pinnacle erected to commun-
icate with the planets Jupiter and sat
urn"
OF course the professor does not ex-
pect all mountains except Mount st.
Elias to be removed this year. He uses
the suggestion merely as a figure to sus-
tain his theory.
AS to the adoption by Marconi Of an
idea advanced by Virgins and the lat
ter's intention not only to demand all
the honors but emoiuments due him in
connection with the discovery, the pro-
fessor says: Surely the philosopher
who, by years of study, evolves theory
should be equally rewarded with the man
who puts it to the practical test by kav-
ing legal right in all patents
If Marconi fails to give him a share in
the French patents, Prof. Virgins says
he will, as British subject, ask through
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the governor
general of Canada for equal rights with
Marconi In the British patents, and will
make the same representations to the
president of the United States, basing his
American plea on the fact that his es-
say for the Hodgkins prize of $4,000 was
submitted by the Smithsonian institution
to the French scientists III 1891. and that
it was from this essay Marconi first learn
ed that the earthS electric energy col
lects on hills and mountains, or, IN fact,
all elevations on her surface. Following
this theory advanced by Virgins, Mar
conf, the professor says, erected towers,
and, placing instruments upon their sum-
mits, they answered each other.
Prof. Virgins declares that he has dis
covered that the telephone acts on the
wireless principle, and he will get even
with Marconi because the Virgins wire
less telephone will Supplant the Mar
conf wireless telegraph.
When this latest discovery is in full
swing, the professor says, railway COM
panies will take down their wires, for
conversation can be conducted between
stations, and even running trains; gen
erals can talk with each other while the
battle is raging by merely sticking their
swords into the ground; ships VIII also
speak with each other miles away, While
we can converse, stretching our limbs
weary traveller trudging his icy way to
the northern pole.
Prof Virgins further states that vol
canoes, like Vesuvius and Aetna, owe
they collect from the adjacent seas.
mountains and country. He predicts that
before the close of the twentieth century
towers of great height will be built all
these, burning by the earth's electric en-
ergy, will give eternal light to the sur
face of our planet. With small towers
with wire coils the SUBMITS of the
come a row OF glowing torches from Cape
Horn to the Arctic circle.