The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
MARcoNI's MESSAGE.
Prof. Trowbridge of Harvard Believes
II Probable


John s Trowbridge. director of the JEFF
ferson physical laborato at Harvard.
and one Of the best physicists in the coun-
try, thinks it is an open question whether
Marconi's message across the Atlantic
was transmitted through the air or
through the earth. says the New York
World.
Prof Trowbridge has been working on
the question of wireless telegraphy for
come time and has infinite faith that the
undertaking will be a success. 1T is
bound to come soon or later" he says.
land If Marconi says that he has re-
ceived a message across the Atlantic with
out the use of wires I accept his state
ment without hesitation. Marconi is a
clever man and has always been success
full with his experiments. He, If anyone
viii succeed"
The reasons for Prof Trowbridse's
doubt asto whether Marconi's message
through earth or air are based upon his
experiments and upon the spherical shape
Of the earth. He argues that between
St Johns ard Cornwall the curve in the
earths surface would be many times
deeper than the height OF the pole from
which the messages were sent, so that air
wave sent from the transmitter would
pass far over the receiver, striking OF in
tangents from the surface Of the earth.
IN other words the earth itself would
intervene as a direct obstacle 70 waves
passing between transmitter and receiver.
And the question is Did not the waves
pass through this obstacle before they
reached the object for which they were
intended? Prof. Trowbridge thinks they
did
a second reason for thinking that the
earth instead OF the air is the medium OF
wireless telegraphy IS based upoa the
principles which govern the strenth Of the
machines used in sending the messages.
In his experiments Prof TrowbFidge has
tra nsmitted a message for distance OF a
mile without having his poles connected
in any way with the earth But beyond
that distance he has found that connec-
ton with the earth is absolutely neces-
sary.
The reason for this. he says. IS that the
earth acts in the place Of the metallic
under parts Of the machine. which in a
large measure determine its strength and
he is OF the opinion that Marconi IN send
ing bis message. is indebted more to the
ground under him than 70 the air over
his head
Prof TrowhTidgs has for soma time
been IN communication with his hone. a
distance of about a NILS from the l1ber-
atory. by rgeans ~ wireless lnstr7lrn ar.ts.
These Instruments have oeen connected
with the ground by means II ordinary
lead pipes Passing through the buildings.
and have given perfect satisfaction along
every iiua The plan e exactly 60 rtscal
With that used BY 1Iarconi The only
difference j. thar whereas that inventor
thinks he IS utilizing the air. TreworidEe
is almost certain that he Is using the
earth as hts cs.ief instrument
Prof Tron bridge has many arEssanenf-
2 hieh he sets forth ta show SIT the earth
q Tie 1afgrai neciurl Tor wireless COM /
0aaEseaftE ChisfIy. and se5ee every f
thlng else BE Says. il s. uleh Iaere ae-
Cessiials thsr the alr-sHo-e easy q ez-
pertinent uIoa AID O. ;ee i1 case lhose .
experiments prove q Success IRE i1ea +
as i-shluE stass ~ stu.enscus 4
heights in the air prezents ~ 7rs-4ss. = 4
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80 uscd III the sending q wireless iles-
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barrier 20 co1on.ete s5ceesa en- tae atasr
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F - tfey ear make RISE - uisa fhs
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