The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-07
Wireless For Moving Trains
A New Safeguard Against Collisions Seems
Assured.

III SHeIt tlUc, III plcuiCtloDS
based on tests regarded as success
ful, come true, limited express
trains will be fast.moving wireless
telegraph stations, says the St.
Louis Post. Dispatch. Messages
will flash back and forth between
cities and trains travelling fifty and
sixty miles an hour. Passengers
being whirled from one city to an
other, will be kept in constant
touch with both. The important
news of the world will be hurled
through the air across the prairies
and bullelined in the trains, and
the passengers will know what is
go ng on almost the instant that it
is known in the cities. The busi-
ness man will be able to krow
the opening market and stock quo
tations only few minutes later
than he would learn them from the
ticker in his office. He will be
able to receive private messages
from his associates in business and
give instructions TO them by wire.
less telegraph almost as quickly rs
he could by telephone if he were at
home. By the same wireless means
the danger of collisions between
trains, it is promised. will be re-
duced to a minimum. Ahead OF
each train will travel wi eless sig
nails of its approach. giving warn
ings to the engineer Of other trains.
No matter now fast the engine may
leap over the rails, faster will leap
ahead the wireless flashes, ringing
danger signals in the cabs Of other
engines which will send back an
swering signals telling OF the proxi-
nifty of danger. The promise Of
these things is contained in the re-
suits of tests being conducted by
officials of wireless telegraph CON-
pany, in cooperation with the Off
cials o, the Chicago and Alton Rail-
way Company.
They have demonstrated, the in
terested officials say, that the verti-
cal wireless towers can be dispensed
with and horizontal receiving wires
substituted; that messages can be
sent from and received on trains
travelling at maximum speed, and
that the grounded circuit is efficient
under those conditions. And these
things are practically all that are
necessary, the experts say, to in
sure successful wireless communi-
cation with trains all along the way
from St. Louis to Chicago and
successful operation of wireless
warning signals ahead of flying To-
comotives.
In the first experiment the wire
designed to catch the message and
transmit it to the instrument in
the drawing-room was stretched
lengthwise along the roofs of the
six cars constituting the train.
That day there was nothing sent
but signals. The wire caught them,
and those working gained conf
dence. The next day the wire was
stretched inside the cars along the
bell rope. Messages sent from St.
Louis and Chicago found their way
into the train and were caught by
the wire and transmitted to the re-
ceiving apparatus in the drawing.
room, which licked them off to the
operator with perfect distinctness.
Not only was the arrangement of
the wires experimental and in the
nature of a make-shift, but the cur.
rent was grounded in the most
crude manner. wire being merely
passed out through a window and
attached to the track.
Provision will be made for in.
stalling the service on a new train
which is to be put into commission
in July. A booth will be arranged
in the rear car, the wires will be
strung some distance above the top
of the cars and a more perfect
ground return will be obtained by
probably using sliding shoe on
the rail.