Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-18
FOUNTAIN PENS AT FREE PRESS.
WIRELESS PHONES USELESS
Apparatus Proved Of Little Value On
World Cruise.


Washington. Feb. 16--rt developed yes
tertay that one OF the results OF the
cruise Of the battleship feet around the
world Is the discovery that the wireless
telephone Is not OF so much use as had
been anticipated when the apparatus was
installed. While no orders. so far is can
be learned, have been issued by the navy
department for tho removal OF the wire
less telephone from the ships, II is ac-
knowledged that the apparatus has fallen
into disuse.
The trouble with wireless telephony Is
that when in use It precludes absolutely
tho use of the wireless telegraph. The
telegraph has n much wider range of use
fulne.s and can BE- called on IN all kinds
Of weather. so that ship comma nders are
more favorablv disposed toward it than
toward the telephone. The wireless tele-
phone Is IN It's infancy yet. however. and
officers Of the bureau Of equipment are
NJ work seeking 70 overcome the defects
that now make II second In importance
to the Telegram phi. Crder certain condi-
tons. II Is pointed on. the use OF wireless
telephony. provided the apparatus can he
perfected. will be OF evnn greater value
than the telegraph This might he the
or when executing intricate manoeuvres
| Lee de Forest said Yesterday that
no had not heard any criticism Of his
wireless telephone on the part of feet
officers.
When was In Washington last
week" Nr. De Forest said. II saw
Lieut. Sweet OF the United States
| Iola ,
der Davis to test and report on the
practical value OF the wireless tele-
phone in it's present State OF develop
| ment for use on United States battle
ships. Lieut.. Sweet made tests in De-
cember, 1907. and talked over the
wireless telephone distance o.
twelve miles In Hampton Roads. III
reported favorably on the device ant
thought so we'll OF IT'S practical valu'
that he approved our bills for the in
stallation Of the Instruments will
what considered unusual prompt
ness. When the fleet was At Homo
lulu, | have been Informed. Admira
Thomas issued orders that tine vessel
should carry on all interAeet com
munication by wireless telephone In
. stead OF by wireless telegraph.
understood from Lleut. sweet las
. week that no reports. either favor
able or unfavorable, had been mad
as to the wireless telephone from tn
warsh!ps."
Mr.. De Forest added that the wireless
telephone was being constantly improve
snd that the apparatus had been mate
rally changed since II was installed O
the Meet year ago.
Eve have recently devised new auto
matte arc. for example" he said, "whc
y transmits the sound OF the voice. mo-
: continuously, The are OF tho apparat,
a on the battleships is not automatic"
Mr.. De Forest said that his compar
= vas at present giving it's attention pa
= ticularly to having tho wireless tel
rhone installed on vessels rather thu
@ On land.
10 1.-THE installation Of the wireless tel
= phone on vessels is more profitable TIN
4 Ito installation on land, where IT WOW
have TO compete with the regular tel
p Phone companies" he said ION vess'
Il II can be installed for 50 month
N service, and the charges for single me
er sages are higher than could be charg
Is on land"