Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-01-21
TALKING ACROSS TIE
OCEAN, Fl Sw sysss MsSSs, o p;SSsssa Wss Ills


found that hills or buildings inter
yenipg, proved no obstacles to the
current. In one experiment there
was hill between the two masts 314
feet higher than they, yet the signals
were as distinct as if nothing inter
posed.
The work of experimenting went
on and new discoveries were made.
Various improvements in the instru-
ments rendered it possible to increase
the distance without increase in the
height of the masts. Copper re-
Electors were found to be important
aids in directing the course of the
current for short distances, and
finally the operation known us stun
ing" was discovered, which is an i'm.
portant partof the Marconi system.
This consists in adjusting the power
of the receiver to that of the trans
mitter, which may be done to an
unlimited extent as is done with the
Yale lock and key. To such an
extent has this system been per-
'ected that, though when a current
is started it may spread in circles to
every point of the compass, no re-
ceiver is affected but the one attuned
to the key of the transmitter. How
ever numerous may be the receivers
scattered over intervening space,
there is only one that receives the
message, unless others have been
attuned to that particular key.
Since 1899, when the Marconi sys.
tenn received general recognition, the
uses to which it has been put have
multiplied. Its chief value has been
found in its use on steamers. By q
wire suspended from the mast of a
ship and connected with an instru-
ment on deck, messages are received
from tho shore for hundreds of miles.
Passing ships communicate with one
another. During the voyage of two
vessels of the Cunard Line last week,
the vessel proceeding to England
was in communication for two DAYS
in mid-ocean with the vessel COM
ing to New York. Messages were
exchanged freely, though the vessels
were never in sight of one another.
1t would thus be possible for ves-
sci in distress, if equipped with the
Marconi apparatus, to call upon other
vessels for help though none were
visible. The approach of ships may
also be announced long before they
can he seen. This has been practi-
cally proved by the enterprise of the
New York Herald, which has
equipped vessel stationed off Nan
tuoket with the Marconi apparatus.
1t receives reports from incoming
vessels and sends them by wire to
New York.
The principle on which the Mar
conf system is based, is that commu-
nication proceeds from waves in that
mysterious ether, which is believed
to fill all space. Very little is known
about this strange substance, which
is 80 rarified, 80 imperceptible that
it passes conception. Its waves,
however, bring US light and sound,
and may have other uses not yet dis
covered. As a stone cast into a
pond produces ripples that reach it's
edge, 80 the electric force projected
into the ether produces waves that,
when regulated and controlled, pro-
duce signals. Signor Marconi does
not attempt to explain these waves,
but is content with learning what
they will do and will not do.
i ho uioCofCISI lS du cACeculnglY
modest, unassuming man, intensely
interested in his study, patient in in
vestigation, careful in experiment,
and practical beyond the usual char
acteristics of discoverer. He is the
the son of an Italian father and a
British mother, and speaks the Ian
guage of each fluently. He is slightly
above middle height, and has the
blue eyes and light hair of his
mothers race, though he is careful
to preserve his Italian nationality.
He is only twenty-seven years of
age, and until he was twenty one
had made his home in Italy with his
parents, who are both living, and to
whom he sent message of congratu-
lation after those transmitted to the
two Observation-Disclosures Herald.