The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-08-29
WIRELESSFOR TEIEGRAPHY
WAR DEPARTMENT HAS A NEW
SYSTEM.
The Department of Agriculture Also
Has Been Experimenting for the
Benefit of the Weather Bureau.

WASHINGTON, August 2O.-The
American systems of wireless tele-
graphy are numerous and, so far as
official records go, date back to 1872,
when a Washington dentist was grant
ed letters patent on a system of wire
less biography.
Within the past two years many
patents have been granted to Ameri-
cans for improvements of the general
system of wireless telegraphy employ
ing Herzian waves and many of them
are pronounced practical improve
ments, but for general improvement
and development of the system two
departments of the United States Gov
ernment-the War Department and the
Agricultural Department-have carried
the system forward with great strides
and the improvements they have made,
although not listed and protected by
patents, are said to outstrip those of
any system now in operation.
The Signal Corps of the War Depart
ment has been conducting experiments
along original lines with wireless tele-
graphy for three years and has devel-
oped a system that will soon be put
into practical operation upon the Pa
cific coast for signaling arriving trans
ports. The details are kept secret. No
patents have been taken out, and if it
is believed that the system can be kept
Government secret and used for pur-
poses of war upon battleships and in
the battlefield it will not be given to
the public.
War Department officials are looking
forward with interest to the practical
tests to be given the systems in con-
nection with the army transport SER
vice. The improved instruments are
being made ready for use on the
transports and the signal station near
San Francisco will be finely equipped.
The reports of experiments already
made at Shore station, San Francisco,
declare the system a pronounced sue
cess and it is believed that an extern
sion of the system Will give the same
good results.
The Department of Agriculture has
also been experimenting with wireless
telegraphy and it is said, with marked
success. Professor Reginald Fessenden
is now experimenting off Cape Hat
teras and will soon report to the de-
partment about the workings of the
system. Professor Willis Moore, actin~
Secretary of Agriculture, said today:
1t is impossible for me to talk about
the system of wireless telegraphy now
being experimental with in the Agri-
cultural Department. Our patents
have been applied for in the name of
our expert, REGINALD Fessenden, but
they have not been finally taken out
yet. Our experts have been giving
their best efforts to the work of solving
the problem of practical wireless tele-
graphy under special directions issued
by Secretary Wilson. They have been
directed to spare no effort to introduce
a practical commercial wireless tele-
graphy for the use of the Weather Blu
reau. / have been kept fully informed
as to the progress of their experiments,
i believe the apparatus devised by the
Weather Bureau experts to be equal
to, if not superior, to any yet produced
| However, l am frank to say that dc
not believe there has yet been system
introduced worthy of commercial use
Marconi has accomplished a great
work and / believe the day is not fan
distant when he or some one will solve
the problem and produce a system OF
practical commercial value.