The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-01-06
SAFETY ON THE OCEhh
Value of Wireless Telegraphy
on Transatlantic Liners.
FAR BETTER THAN FLAG SIGNALS


The details Of the agreement between
the Marconi International Marine
Communication 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 u
secure and enduring footing for mer-
camille marine signaling and intercom-
munlcation between ships and coast
signal stations. As is we'll known, up
to the advent OF the Marconi system
communications between passing ships
at sea aud between vessels and the
'Lloyds signal stations have been by
flag signals. Against this system,
which has been In use for centuries,
many objections have been made. Dis
tance was always a drawback, as the
range Of vision eveh on a clear day
is limited, and in foggy or stormy
weather or in the night no signaling
except the pilot flare" and the signal
of distress is In vogue. Further than
this, Il has often been necessary for a
vessel to go out of her course to sig
nal coast stations, thus losing valuable
time and often running into danger In
the effort to get near enough to the sta
ton to give and answer messages.
cumbersome, and only few phrases
can be sent back and forth.
Now that the Marconi system has
been proved success il seems strange
that there has not been more haste in
taking It up on all merchant vessels.
or course the question of monopoly
will arise. for, according to the agree
ment. Lloyds will employ no other
system OF wireless telegraphy than
that OF the Marconi company for the
next fourteen years. but as the Morse
system and the telephone were monop-
olles IL should be no drawback. They
will receive commercial messages at
their signal stations from any vessel
supplied with the Marconi apparatus
and will also send messages to any
such vessel, but they will receive or
transmit no wireless telegraph COM
munication whatever where n vessel is
equipped with apparatus not supplied
by the Marconi company. BY this
agreement the monopoly is established.
for It will be necessary for vessels de-
string to communicate with shore I'm
that way to get that particular appara-
tus. 1t would be interesting to know
what would be done in the case of sig
nails of distress. but II 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 Marconl apparatus on board.
The agreement further provides that
whenever n center for commercial
wireless telegraphy with ships would
be advisable the existing Lloyds sta
tions at these points shall be worked
on the Marconi system, or IL no station
exists within about twenty miles new
Lloyds station will be built and OF
course be placed In ordinary telegraph
ic communication with the British
postoffice lines. Arrangements have
been made by which Atlantic liners ut
ted with Marconi apparatus will be
supplied with all the latest important
news as soon as they come within
about hundred miles of the coast OF
America or the British islands.
The rental system which has been II
force with the Marconi company will
not be used under the agreement, bu
tariff system will take its place. Sig
nal stations will be allowed free us,
OF the apparatus for the ordinary re
celpt OF Lloyds signals, and vessel
signaling to one another are permitted
certain number of service messages
but for all commercial messages
charge of siXpence per word In add
tion to all land charges will be made
There can be little doubt that bushes
men on steamers, finding that they cal
communicate with land a hundre,
miles out at sea. will be prone TO us
the system and that the dissemination
OF important news on the vessel
likely to promote private messages.
With this system in vogue, 1t seem
as II there should be a decided in
provement in the security of ocean voy
ages. Vessels equipped with the wire
less instruments may almost always b
in touch with other ships on transa'
lantlc voyages, and any trouble can q
once be flashed through the air, con
munication being possible for at leas
hundred miles. Under these circun
stances any steamship that float
around disabled and lost to the worl
would do so simply because the owner
OF the vessel have neglected to equi
her with the wireless system and thu
failed 10 take one OF the most ordinar
precautions against trouble and worr,
Overdue vessels will be able to te
where they are and what has delaye
them. so that anxiety may be allaye'
and call for help at sea from a hui
dred miles away should rarely or nev'
fail TO be answered. Those who 8
down to sea in ships in the future al
more than likely to ask questions In r
gard to the Marconi equipment, and