The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-18
SAFETY ON OCEAN VOYAGES.
Wireless TeIegraphy ON Transact
lantic Liners.
From the New York Post.

From the New York Post.
The details Of the agreement between
the Marconi International Marine Com
munication Company and Lloyds are
given in the current number of the
London Electrician. BY the terms of
this agreement the Marconi system of
wireless telegraphy is placed upon a
secure and enduring footing for mer-
camille marine signalling and intercom-
munication between ships and coast
signal stations. AS is well known. up
to the advent Of the Marconi system
communications between passing ships
at sea and between vessels and the
Lloyds signal stations have been by
flag signals. Against this system,
which has been ia use for centuries,
many objections have been made. Dis
lance was always a drawback, as the
range of vision even on a clear day is
limited, and in foggy or stormy wealth
err or in the night no signalling except
the pilot flare" and the signal of dis
tress is in vogue. Further than this
it has often been necessary for a ves-
sci to go out of her course to signal
coast stations, thus losing valuable
time, and often running into danger in
the effort to get near enough to the
station to give and answer messages.
Besides this the system of flags is
cumbersome. and only a few phrases
can be sent back and forth.
Now that the Marconi system has
been proven a success, it seems strange
that there has not been more haste in
taking 1t up on all merchant vessels
OF course, the question Of monopoly
will arise, for, according to the agree
rnent, Lloyds will employ no other sys-
tenn of wireless telegraphy than that
of the Marconi company for the next
fourteen years, but as the Morse sys-
tenn and the telephone were monopo-
lies il should be no drawback They
will receive commercial messages 1t
their signal stations from any vessel
supplied with the Marcon apparatus.
and will also send messages to any
such vessel but they will receive or
transmit no wireless telegraph COM
munication whatever where vessel
Is equipped with apparatus not sup
piled by the Marconi company. By this
agreement the monopoly is established
for 1t will be necessary for vessels de-
string to communicate with shore in
that way to get that particular appa-
ratus. 1t would be interesting to know
what would be done in the case Of sig
nails Of distress but 1t is more than
likely that this great possibility of the
system will not stand in the way of
humanity, and that the stations will
promptly report any vessel which may
be in difficulties whether or not she
has the Marconi apparatus on board
The agreement further provides that
whenever center for commercial wire
less biography with ships would De
advisable, the existing Lloyds stations
at these points shall be worked on the
Marconi system; or. IL no station exists
within about twenty miles, a new
Lloyds station will be built. and, Of
course, be placed in ordinary tele-
graphic communication with the Brit
ish postoffice lines Arrangements have
been made by which Atlantic liners fit
ted with Marconi apparatus will be
supplied with all the latest important
news as soon as they come within
about 100 miles Of the coast OF America
or the British Islands.
The rental system, which has been
in force with the Marconi Company,
will not be used under the agreement,
but a tariff system will take it's place.
Signal stations will be allowed free use
OF the apparatus for the ordinary re-
ceipt OF Lioyds signals. and vessels sig.
Mailing TO one another are permitted
q certain number OF free service mas
sages; but for all commercial messages
charge Of sixpence per word, in addi-
ton 20 all land charges, will be made.
There can be little doubt that business
men on steamers finding that they can
communicate with land 100 miles out "a
sea. will be prone 20 use the system.
ana that the dissemination Of import
ant news on the vessel Is likely 20 pro-
mote private messages.
With this system Ia vogue, n seems
as II there should be decided Inn
pr0vement IN the security 81 ocean
voyages, Vessels equipped with The
Wireless instruments may almost az.
ways BE- in touch with other ships on
trauEatlantir Yoyager ana any froubil
ear 90 once b. flashed through tho az.
stances. amp steamship fhai n0ate
around disabled ana Loot 10 the sorlg