The Washington times., 1905-06-11
SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS
BY TELEGRAPH

A German university professor. DR..
Korn. has invented wonderful cleo
trical apparatus that may renc.r 1t pos
sible for the war correspondent of the
future to outdo anything now dreamed
of in newspaper philosophy. This In
ventor has actually succeeded in send
ing over an ordinary telegraph wire
clear photographs Of .aersons and OBJ
Jects with a rapidity tsst is rernarka-
bic when the comparative novelty of
the feat is considered. The cable en-
abled us to read full reports of frantic
attem"ts on the part of the japanese
TO capture Port Arthur twenty-four
Hhours after the events described had
taken place. Wonderful as this achieve
ment Is. both from the technical and
journalistic viewpoint, 1t viii be sur
passed when Kori's invention is intro
duced- The war correspondent 81 rhe
future VIII not only cable his news
iron, the front Immediately after an
engagement. but he viii also telegraph
striking photographs of fierce attack
Or come 2oJMeter Hill in the next war
Professor korn tried his invention ON
telegraph line several hundred miles
long with such startling success that
his ability to transmit pictures for
Areat distances cannot be questioned
Indeed. he would have experimental
with longer lines had the German gov
ernment been willing 10 place its fun
telegraphic equipment at his disposal
The principle underlying tho inven-
dcn is simple, chemical element
called seleIiuIn is employed, which has
the very remarkable property OF vary
fnO in electrical conductIyity with The
amount Of light by which IL happens To
De illuminated at any given moment
II there be much light, ,elenium al
iows current to pass; If there be no
light the element viii resist the cur
rent. OF this singular property of Sc
le1sium Professor Korn has taken prac-
Eay.
The Photographic film bearing the pic
Sure 10 be transmitted is so mounted
mat the light which passes through it
Tails on piece of selenium. placed in
the electrical circuit of which the trans
initting and receiving st&tions are the
terminals The film is rotated so that
the selenium. Whenever a dark part in
the. film is turned toward she selenium
no current passes; but whenever light
spot yeers around the sclenium becomes
conductor. These variations in the cir
! cui1 cause a little lamp at the receiving
station, hundreds OF miles away, TO flash
Iesponsigeiy with lightning-Iike rapidly
The flashes are photographed. and the
result is d perfect reproduction OF the
original picture.
German police authorities are said to
nave Shown much interest IN the invcn-
ton. One prominent official has given
II as his opinion that when korn's de-
! vice Is introduced the identification of
! Criminals will be considerably facilitated.
! The portrait of man who is wanted
IN New York can be telegrapbed 10 the
kpolice of the principal cities. and the
Fays that are now consumed In sending
potographs by mall can be reduced to
ew minutes. Similarly. a suspect can
1photographed and his picture trans
mitted for immediate Identification to
some city where he Is known
+ Korn's invention will necessitate no
change in existing telephone or telegraph
wires. Tt IS necessary merely to con-
meet the sending and receiving apparatus
with the line IN order 70 telegraph pic
tureS.-New York World.