The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-10

marvels of the modern Industrial world.
From the first il was evident that some
bette constructor much be found that ;he
iron wire then in use and within six
years from the date of the Lowell eX-
pertinent a hard-drawn copper wire had
been made and tested in actual operation,
and the ability to converse over long
distnces. as the term is understood today.
has been the result of the use of this me-
dunn.
The first experimental line in which
copper wire was used was that from Bos-
ton to New York, completed in 1884 and
this was in turn followed by extensions
to Philadelphia and other points of COM
mercial Importance, so that the cities in
the eastern section of the country were
soon linked together. Then the lines were
pushed westward. and on October Il, 1892,
Professor Bell, in the presence of a COM
pany of distinguished electricians and Off
GERS of telephone companies, spoke into
transmitter in the city Of New York, and
the message was heard in Chicago Less
than three months later. on the Eth of the
following February, Governor William Z.
Russell of Massachusetts. surrounded by
{
of the Bay state, opened the line from
Boston to Chicago, and during the CO.
lumbar Exposition held in the western
city later in the year. there were many
occurrences which brought home TO the
I minds of the people the fact that what
had been exhibited as toy at the Cen
tennial Exposition has become a factor
CT vast Importance in the world OF af
fairs
In what unexpected ways the long dis
lance telephone fits into the occurrences
OF every day life was early illustrated by
an incident in the visit of a distinguished
educator TO the fair. II was one CT the
first and most notable instances in which
the telephone has been used 10 locate
man visiting city far from his home.
An important matter at Harvard uni
versity required the action Of President
Eliot. then in Chicago. The residence al
which he was a guest was called by tele-
phone. only 20 learn that President Eliot
! had left the fair a few minutes before the
message was received. and was not ex-
! pected to return until late in the evening
1 Il was explained 10 the presidents host
I that the question was one OF emergency.
and the Chicago man called upon the
president OF tn telephone company for
I assistance The police department Of the
I fair was at once communicated with by
telephone, and by means Of the same In
strunent a description OF President Eliot
was given 10 the guards st the entrance
gates. with instructions that when he en-
tered the grounds he was 20 be requested
% so 10 the Office Of the chief OF police.
Consequently. much 70 the surprise OF the
head OF the university. as he passed the
turns;ile. an officer approached him, and
after asking his name told him that he
WIS wanted al headquarters. President
Eliot was escorted 10 the presence OF the
chief. and then learned that he was de-
sired at the telephone exhibit On reach
Ing that point the fun nature CO the er-
rand was explained 70 him, and he was
soon placed IL telephone communication
With Harvard university. What was done
that day. probably for the i-st time. has
now become Of common occurrence. and
it frequently happens that telephone mes
sages axe sent broadcast - locate some