The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-19
HEARD WIRELESS.
Long Distance Telephone Lines Have
Trouble From Them.


The telephone systems Of the north
eastern part of Kansas were interfered
with by fragments of wireless telegraph
messages on Thursday and Friday Of
last week. Bell long distance lines
around Topeka so plainly intercepted
the vibrations that a Norris code read
er could decipher occasional words.
The phenomenon is extremely pecu-
liar. and is the first time that it has
been noted on telephone wires in this
part OF the country. In explanation the
experts offer the exceedingly damp
condition of the atmosphere. When the
air is heavy with moisture, wireless
messages are said to transmit them
during dry weather. An operator at
Salina, who was called by the Bell
company to its headquarters to note
the phenomenon, thinks from the frag-
ments which he intercepted, that the
message was being sent from Denver
to Kansas City. There are no wire
less stations at either of these cities,
but there is one at st. Louis, and II is
possible that the vibrations received
here were inductions from some coast
station to St. Louis 1t is mere guess
work, however, to try and hgure out
the points between which the message
was sent.
1t is hardly believed to have been a
sea message which not only reached It's
designation but Travelled this far in
land because of the peculiarly fitting
condition Of the atmosphere
But those who noticed it are sure
that ii was wireless tslegraphy. They
describe the sound as different from
the sharp, metallic clicking common to
telegraph wires, but on the contrary
very much like the vibrations OF pl-
ano, soft. buzzing, and musical.
Wire Chief Hamilton, OF the Iopeka
HEADQUARTERS of the Bell Telephone
company, noted the phenomenon ana
said today: The vibrations were as
67GfanRA lines
Thursday and Friday OF last Week
Some disturbance occurred on one or
two previous days, but not 50 alstlIle G.
as on the latter. The souno was SUI
and bIlzzing, with a vibration hke
striking a musical instrument. A gooo
reader of the Morris telegraph CODE
could have deciphered quite good deal
of that was heard on our wires, Dut
we did not have an expert tIy T. -
caused no serious annoyance on our
long distance wires. Takers eouid near
each other plainly, though OF ceutse
they had to contend with the intefi4iit-
tent buzzing I do not know Wnefe Lhe
message was sent from or 10 what
-Iaoe ii was going. whether II was IN
land or from the sea. I'm not an eA-
pert in that line.
The Salina Journal has TINS t2 say
abo1l+ the effect created there: Bruce
e,eT,9roill formerly of Salina, but now
s,7nerintendent of the Bel exchahss
~ Abilene called up Ben Pearl. man
ager of the Western Union oIles a.
Ssiina and connected him with the
Topeka line. when the clicking Of the
- 1gp5ie1s messages could be plainly
heard over the wires. The long as
lance line from Abilene 70 salll 49,, r.
ts-r1s5 no messages, but from Abilene
east the message was perfectly ais-
tinat- ,,-t +r5a.5
was not like the metallic cileklIls sen
Nv fhe ordinary telegraph instrument T.
b,,+ was like a musical note. very SINH
lar to the sound of piano. I could
a11v read a few letters at time, and
then something would interfere, put ~
a few minutes It was uhere 0saii'' a.
distinctly as before.