The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-20
NEW RECORDS MADE
Remarkable Work Done at Den ver-73,000 Words in
 28 Hours,

The democratic convention at Denver saw other records broken besides that for q political demonstration The record for long distance telegraphing was broken by George w. Conkling, a news service operator.
 Working over wire that stretched more than half way across the conti- nent about 2,500 miles, Mr. Conkling attained the remarkable speed of 3la6, 20 words an hour, which has never been equaled anywhere
 MT, Conkllng in Just 2s working hours sent over the wire by the Morse sys- tenn and using the Phillips code I3o0D words an average of 43,i5 words min ute, Much of this matter was sent from a seat in front of the speakers stand in the convention hall while pande- monium was being raised
 The Denver convention was the big gest job the telegraph business has had to tackle probably since the tele- graph was invented. This was because Denver was so far away from the large cities in the east to which much of the press matter was sent It wasI a test not only of long distance wires, but of the ability of the man at the key to convey words continuously at high speed in the face of most tryins conditions,
 Mir Conklin worked duplex circuit. It really was four wires joined together by the Western Union company for this emergency. It ran from Denver to Kansas City, to St. Louis, to Pittshurg and to New York. Repeaters or auto matic relays were at Kansas City, St. Louis and pittsburg
 It would probably have been impoa- sible to make any such record over q wire of this length had not the utmost care been taken In watching the wire at the three relaying points. At each of these men were stationed at the d. rection of Mir Conkling to refine the wire, as the operators say Their duty was to keep readjusting the repeaters and make sure that the circuit was just right in spite of weather condl- tions and other contingencies,
 To send an average of 2,60O words an hour 1t is absolutely necessary that ev- cry letter should be distinct, otherwise the man receiving will have to break in and have 1t repeated The man at the receiving end of the wire that reached the Laffan news service office from Denver. II. R. Clark, did not I,, t,t ttvao hours q record in itself.
 In the convention hall Mir. Conkllng was not permitted to use the ordinary sounder. Instead of the usual instru- ment, with ifs loud ticks, 1t was neces- sary to use what is known as a secret sounder. This resembles watch and is worn strapped to the operators ear kTwo of these were required for the du- plex circuit, one strapped on the ear and one held in the hand, the latter being for messages coming from New York. Working with such instruments in a place where 12,O0o persons are yelling in unison occasionally, with the band crashing nearby and the chalrmans gayel pounding above ones head it was not an easy job to keep up, even with the usual speed.
 In the long session of Thursday night at which Bryan was nominated at S;f5 a m. Denver time, words were fash ed from Denver right Into the Laffan office at the rate of 52 minute and were taken by Mir. Clark on q type writer without q break the ticks of the instrument being as distinct as if the wire ran to Harlem instead of to the Rockies, Besides being a record for speed. it was also one for endurance as we'll
 On July ', the first day of the con ] yention. Mir Conkllng sent 14,T50 words in five hours and 23 minutes, an aver age of 2739 words an hour On July s he increased the average to 2,9i9 words an hour, sending s,100 words in two hours and 45 minutes, and on the day following the record was 575o words in one hour and 30 minutes or S136 words an hour.
 The last day of the convention Mr, Conklin sent 10370 words in three hours