New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-08
TRAYsPACrFrC TELEGRAPHY.

The hardness of the Commercial Cable Com
pany in giving TO the government at Washing
ton the assurances which the latter has a right
TO demand raises number Of interesting Ques-
tons. Here is one of them: Has that corpora
ton fully considered the possibilities of trans
oceanic wireless telegraphy, and what Uncle
Sam could do with it? Suppose that within the
next few days or weeks Marconi should ex-
change messages between Cornwall and Cape
Breton, a distance of 1900 or 2300 miles. Sup
pose, further, that he demonstrated the feasbil-
ity of carrying on such communication with
secrecy and immunity from hostile interference.
Neither Of these is an especially rash assump-
ton. Wireless telegraphy will unquestionably
undergo great improvement. both in range and
facility. II has not yet attained its full proper
tons But viewing the matter from the point
Of view Of achievements at the close Of the pres
ent year, the companies which have just laid
and are now laying submarine cables across the
Pacific have reason for careful sef-communing
Some day II may be practicable to send wire
less telegraphlc message 5000 miles without
repetition. This is not necessary, however in
crossing the Pacific. Between the American
and Asiatic continents the United States has
bases of operation in Hawaii, Guam and the
Philippines, the intervals between them being
in no case longer than between Poldhu and
Table Head.
The first great advantage OF a wireless tele
graph system on the Pacific under government
control would be that in time OF war the United
States would have its own Independent means
Of communication with its outlying possessions.
This fact alone might justify Congress in giv-
ing to the Chief Signal Officer Of the Army
money enough 10 institute experiments looking
TO that end, If not enough to equip the necessary
stations Immediately for practical service Al
though there is no pressing necessity at present.
and although there may be improvements in
coming years. yet 10 prepare for war in time OF
peace is the soundest policy. The plant for wire
less telegraphy will cost only small fraction Of
the amount necessary for building and laying a
cable. Hence, II renewal or substitution ever
becomes desirable, 1t can be accomplished with
comparatively little expense. Already General
Greedy has In operation wireless telegraphic ap-
paratus in Alaska. With equal or greater pro-
priety the government may own or lease the
necessary equipment for transpacifc service
Were the President to ask Congress for a spe-
cial appropriation for this purpose, and present
the matter with urgency the money might be
put at the disposal Of the War Department be-
fore the holidays.
There is another consideration which the Com
mercal Cable Company can afford to weigh. AS
sanctiOning the conduct of purely commercial
telegraphic service by the government How
ever, If the government once put in successful
operation wireless telegraphic system on the
Pacific for exclusively military purposes. the
demonstration would Immediately tempt capital
to repeat the experiment for ordinary business.
1t would be In the power Of the administration
too, TO encourage such an enterprise directly by
franchises and legislation, well as indirectly
by its example. IL is too soon TO forecast the
effect of transOceanic wireless telegraphy upon
the existing submarine cables 1t will be a long
time before the latter become funk" as one
enthusiast has put It, There is no denying the
fact, however, that the Hertz wave apparatus is
vastly cheaper than the cable and consequent
~ its managers can afford to offer reduced
rates. Has the Commercial company, while
seeking to protect itself from competition of one
kind by its alliance with the British line, over
looked far more formidable possibility?