New-York tribune., 1906-11-23
ANOTHER HERTZ WAVE SYSTEM

Precisely what use is to be made of the Amer
lean patents on the wireless teegraphic appara-
tuS which Herr Poulsen Is said to have Invented.
and for which Lord Armstrong is reported to
have paid half a million dollars. must for time
be matter of conjecture only. The report Is
not without interest, however, for 1t points to
possible increase in the number of Hertz wave
systems which are to have a trial in this coun-
try The people Of the United States are more
or less familiar with several already, most Of
them being of domestic origin Fessenden. De
Forest and Massey, whose work has attracted
the attention Of electricians, are Americans. and
Mr. Marcon the pioneer in this field Of expert
ment is certainly no stranger 80 the Western
world. Herr Poulsen is not so well known in
America. He is Dane by birth and residence
| and his other most noteworthy invention-a de-
vice for automatically recording telephone mes
sages-has not yet come into extensive use
Still his previous work gives him standing in
the realm of science and provokes curiosity con-
cernng, If it does not justify confidence in, his
| more recent achievements.
One Of the merits imputed TO the Poulsen sys-
TEN is economy in the consumption of power
Messages were sent successfully, it IS said, from
Copenhagen to Newcastle-a distance Of about
five hundred miles-with an expenditure of only
two horsepower. Since the conditions which
conduce to ease Of transmission vary greatly
from Gay TO uay, ana even from uOuT 10 nOuTp
too much Importance should not be attached to
single experience like that just mentioned. Be-
Sides it may turn out that improvements in
other systems now make 1t feasible to match
this performance.
Press dispatches from Denmark also assert
that Herr Poulsen generates Hertz waves in
such a manner that no interference is possible
between messages sent simultaneously. At least
| two other methods OF accomplishing the same
| object known, but If after thorough trial
| they should prove TO be inferior to the Danes
| the latter would have strong recommendation
to favor. 1t is too soon, of course to pass judg
ment, but If the story about Lord Armstrong;
| investment turns out to be correct the public
will ct least have a. hint of the considerations
which probably appealed to him.
| Eventually, no doubt, there will be a good
deal OF consolidation of wireless telegraphic in
terests In Germany the companies which con-
trolled the patents of DR.. Slaby and those of the
Count dArco effected such fusion several years
ago. Negotiations which contemplated similar
actions in this country have recently been pend
ing, it is said, but they have come to naught. A
better definition of the ownership Of some of the
| devices employed In Hertz wave communication
| seems to be an essential preliminary to even a
| limited combination In the United States. Only
| after the courts have had chance to determine
| a number of such disputes, therefore, are merg-
! ers likely to be made. Besides, further advances
| IN the art may with reason be expected, for it
| is doubtless still in its infancy. Thus there is
| promise Of postponement, for few years at
| least of monopoly in the business, which is not
| an unwelcome prospect. The livelier the compe-
tition the lower should be the rates for service
and the more certain the Survival Of the fittest"
Hence Americans will regard with cheerfulness
a possible invasion of the country by Herr Poul-
| sens device.