Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-06

always considerable fall in potential in
the neiEhbOrhood Of waterfalls but no
thought 1t worthy of remark that he had
just heard from an old pupil at zambesi
that there was in that district at times a
fall potential OF 1000 volts per meter. In
speaking OF the influence of radioactive
substances, he said that in his opinion,
the amount of emanadon Of radlum and
thorium in the air, which varied within
considerable limits from time to time, de-
pended on the course OF the wind, whether
1t was over land or sea. This would be
responsible for ionisation Of the air, and
the extent TO which the air would remain
ionised would depend on side currents.
The formation of artificial thunderstOrms
would depend on our power TO separate the
positive charges OF the atmosphere from
the negative. He had found that water
condensed more readily on the negative
pOsltives of the air than on the positive,
and he therefore was of the opinion that
the work done in a thunderstorm was that
done by gravity in drawing down the
negatively electrified raindrops against the
attraction OF the positive.
Defects In wireless ON WarshiPs.
The recent battle practice OF the Atlantic
fleet off the Virginia capes, says the New
York Tribune, disclosed defects in the
wireless telegraph apparatus that will be
productive Of renewed efforts to perfect
that line Of work. The naval experts would
be surprised to find any troubles not sus-
ceptible Of Improvement as the result OF
the experiments and the inventive ingenuity
OF it's men engaged, both in the practical
operation Of the system aboard ship and
in researches looking to making the wire
less one of the vital features OF naval ef-
ficiency as reliable as possible
So far the Navy department has received
no word in the way Of reports from the
fleet that would justify any conclusions as
TO the working fitness Of the wireless
plant at sea in its present stage. Under
the rules OF the battle practice, which
Admiral Schroeder, commander-in-chiefO OF
the fleet, conducted with considerable
handicap IN view OF the heavy seas that
early interfered with the work Of the
sixteen formidable battleships, the flag
ship and the vessels Of the firing squadron
had to be In wireless communication dur
ing each run.
Regular reports will be made to the de-
partment on the observations OF the work
ings OF the apparatus and the efficiency OF
the personnel In charge OF them. The re-
suits OF the experiments which have been
made during the last few days by the
fleet are awaited with considerable interest
by officers OF the navy, particularly in
view OF published reports that the wire
less had proven too delicate an instrumenU
for the war game, and that It had been
put out OF gear on one OF the ships after
five minutes OF big gun work, and had not
responded 10 the efforts 20 readjust II for
several hours afterward.
In the view OF wireless experts. not alone
In
where great steps have been made in
achieving success with wireless work, tho
findings Of defects a. this time under the
heavy strain OF the big firing such as has
occurred during the fleets practice, Is
fortunate rather than otherwise. for II
puts the government IN possession OF
knowledge I'm detail OF obstacles which the