New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
New-York not Che second. but the first port of
NEFSPAPERS At ga.


More than three years ago-on May II, 1901,
to be exact-The Tribune pointed out the feast
bility Of printing papers on transatlantic steam
ships, for which n portion OF the news should
be obtained by wireless telegraphy To linn
tied extent the idea has already been realized.
On a considerable number of vessels few
hours before arrival at their destination. it Is
now customary to publish an edition for which
q part Of the material is supplied by wireless
stations that were erected primarily for the
purpose Of reporting arrivals. In the special
dispatch from Mr.. Marconi which The Tribune
printed yesterday he indicated that he is now
ready for material Improvement upon present
facilities His experiments on the Campania
last week satisfy him that he can now guar
antee dispatches every day during voyage,
although at the outset he may not try to fur
nish more than two hundred words. The pro-
posed extension of the service is facilitated, to
some extent, by the use Of a better receiving
device than the familiar coherer, but is main
ly dependent upon the employment of particu-
larly powerful transmitters The only stations
equipped Herewith at present are at Poldhu,
Table Head and South Wellfeet. From the
first named place the Campania picked up mes
sageS at distance of seventeen hundred miles,
or more than half way across the ocean. Co
operation from either Cape Breton or Cape Cod
should insure success for the rest Of the dis
lance Wneu lnG new service is lHlCdleu
So far as the equipment Of the ships is con-
cerned little addition need be made, If they
are provided with type and presses. Two re-
ceiving instruments instead of one, will be
required, however. The old receiver will con-
tinue TO handle messages from otner ships and
from short range marine stations, like those at
Siasconsett and Segaponuck. The new one will
be so regulated that it will respond only to i'm
pulses from Poldhu one of the long range
stations in America. Another innovation which
must result will be one of telegraphic usage
merely. 1t is the universal custom. when an
operator is about to send message by any OF
the systems now in vogue. to call up the sta
ton TO which the communication is addressed
and TO await signal in reply before proceed
ing further As none of the ocean liners have
transmitters whose range greatly exceeds one
hundred miles. it will De impossible to give in
dications Of readiness. of the satisfactory re-
ception of a message or Of n wish to have
portion repeated. The sending operator will in
the present instance be working little in the
dark, IT, however, the news service be con-
Quoted at a fixed hour every day the operators
the steamships will, of course, be on the
alert. The departure from precedent which is
here referred to is not likely 10 be attended with
serious Inconvenience
To what degree the travelling public will
welcome the publication Of a daily newspaper
on ShipbOard is an interesting question. The
proof OF the pudding is in the eating, and the
only way TO measure the popularity of a
venture is TO watch the sales. At least few
people go abroad with the distinct purpose Of
obtaining as complete a change Of thought and
scene as possible. They are glad to turn their
backs temporarily on their dearest friends. Per
haps that class of tourists Will feel that they
are yet too near to civilization if the news
papers accompany them across the ocean. STILL
they will be under no compuslon to buy and
read. Indeed, it will be possible to indulge 4
distinct aversion by sailing on a ship which has
not followed the current fashion. on the other
hand, it is not unlikely that the majority Of
cabin passengers will want to know the result
of elections, the outcome of the last battle in
the East and events of even less importance
without waiting 10 set foot on land. There is
usually a dearth OF excitement aud topics of
conversation during ocean voyage, and the
daily paper ought to meet recognized need
At any rate, it will be easier 10 judge of the
value of the plan n year or two hence than IT
is now.