New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
MARCONI 10 CRITICS.
Strikes Ont at British Cable COM
DGniies Wu-eiess at Dinner.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE UNTEsTEo.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE UNTEsTEo.
dinner in honor of Cfugrelmo Marconi was
given last evening by the directors of the Mar
conf Wireless Telegraph Company of America
at the Metropolitan Club.
The guests sat around one large taDlc. deco
rated with palms and green's, while on the "siis
were draped the flags os the United States and
Italy. Ex-Attorney General Grggs presided AT
his right Mr.. Marconi and at his left sat
Signor Branchi, the italian Consul General at
New-York.
Among the other guests were Sir Percy San
derson Charles r. Miller George c. ward
Francis B. Crocker, Gustav H. Schwab Pro
fessor M l. Pupin John ]. McCook, Thomas A
Edison George r. Sheldon, f. r. Morse, william
H Bentley Spencer Trask, ID. o. Mills. Chester
s. Lord s. H. Goddard, f. W. Rice, #. Benedlct
Herzog c. w. Barron and Benjamin t. CaDle.
The directors and their guests had visible
proof of the effective workings of the Maroon
system when at the close Of the dinner mes
sages were flashed across the room by a small
wireless apparatus installed in the dining room
for their delectation.
'Ex-Attorney General Griggs, In introducing
the guest of the evening, said:
1t is barely possible that old Democratic
hero. Andrew Jackson might never have won the the
battle of New Orleans had this system peen @
known And to come down TO later @ ddSs; f Jpet rs
think how many minds would nave Deen g- re-
neved and how much anxiety 9een eah a0he aTtft
the ST. Louis
Governor Grggs then added MI Maroon
will now tell US how he does it, and the IN
ventor, after thanking his hosts. said:
Tt is undoubtedly true that wireless telegraphy
has become a subject of such world wide i'm
portance that l can add little to what mas al
ready been saiG by others more able than my
self The Amo rican public has taken a most
lively and encouraging interest IN my work 1
think II ia due to thank the daily press OF
the L.-..-d States. which has taken such IN
terest in my work, and 1 must thank the teen
nical press of the United States, for IL was the
first to appreciate the Importance of the subJect
and to put it before the world in a careful, able
and efficient manner. The success of the ex-
periments in which have been engaged is the
logical result of the work of myself and OF my
assistants in the last few years and of scientlnc
investigation of the latter part OF the last
century
Wireless telegraphy has peculiar place, be-
cause of the special difficulties which 1t Involves.
Any other machine enables the inventor to smut
himself up in a room and announce results When
wise for him to do Wireless telegraphy is
different especially under the conditions under
which we labor 1t is not a case of one ma
chine here and in England, but there Is
half a machine here and another half in Eng
land each to be adjusted. We cannot very wen
give all instructions by cable In the first place,
it is too expensive. and in the second place,
though have nothing to say against cable COM
panes. land lines go through villages where
somehow, things become known.
Fire years ago wireless, telegraphy was con-
sidered very wonderful. and doubtless should
have been offered dinners for communicating
across two miles Two years later sent mes
sages across the English Channel. thirty miles
Then came the successful attempt TO communl-
cate between Cornwall and Newfoundland. The
letter communicated across the ocean was
ridfculed by some. The cable companies said it
stood for SELL but will not discuss that
My experiments at Cape Cod and their re-
suits justify me in saying that 1t IS now as
sured that messages at a high rate of speed ana
with absolute accuracy can be sent across the
Atlantic without tangible means except ether.
Wireless telegraphy has had difficulties not in
the way of cable companies There IS a large
vested interest in the cable company which
seems to regard wireless telegraphy as a dan
gerous competition This is not true in the case
of American companies. but in Great Britain the
cable companies have been very antagontstlc'
but as think very inefectively so.
We have had to combat in the technical press
of England a great vested interest OF neariy
S400000OO0 that works against us, but lneI-
fectively.
The fact that stations can be established at
both sides of the ocean at much less cost than
cables makes plain that rates must be reduced
We under contract with the Canadian Gov
ernment to transmit messages at 10 cents
word if we are successful I do not see why
that rate should not be remunerat1ve- one 10
the company.
by SPONSORS of cable companies, will not exist.
We are not subject to the limitation of cable
comp anies. which decrease speed with increase
of length.
1 thank you, my directors, and I hope that
moral and pecuniary satisfaction will come to
you for your confidence in this enterprise. But
there is an ideal higher than mere pecuniary
gain l feel that we shall be filling a want OF
nations and placing long distance telegraphy in
the reach of many who cannot avail themselves
of the ca BILE at present prices. Perhaps my di
rectors may be dspleased but should be much
pleased If the result of wireless teleSraphy shall
be to diminish cable charges. Lower cable rates
may be to the advantage of the cable companies
1t is not all my fault if cable directors have been
frightened.
The telegram which the President Of the
United States good enough TO honor me by
sending has a peculiar significance. 1t has
been my system to send first single letter, then
announce that 1 should send message, and
then finally send one. The message of the
President came when had just finished ad-
. justing our apparatus and transmitted
without preliminary testing In all my expert
ence this the first time that message has
been sent without previous experiments.
He concluded by inviting those present to
drink to the health of the directors of the COM
pany.
The next speaker, Professor Pupin. of Column
bia, said:
| have no stock in any cable company. If l had
/ should not worry. There is room for all. l
wept tear over the sad departure OF the old
traction cable when ii gave way 70 the trolley and
third rail electric system. Scientific ought to
say something the subject for the benefit of
such poor, struggling men as Gould, Mackay and
Bennett
MISSOURI SOCIETY DINNER.