Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
Proposes to Help Defeat It.

But, dSlue lIoHI lily peFsOHdg Interest III
the matter. / regard this measure as en-
tirely wrong and shall exert all my small
power to protest against it. You will
find that most of the instances OF anna
teur interference will be furnished by the
army and navy stations, in which the
apparatus is SO aDtiquated and poorly de-
vised that it is wonderful they can receive
messages at ALI The government opera
tors are also the extreme of inefficiency.
Most of them are men who have had
some experience in wire telegraphy and
It's methods, but who are utterly unfa-
miliar with the operation of wireless ap-
paratus.
Perfect seIectivity has been proven
many times. Most modern and well con-
structed apparatus can be placed in COM
munication with one station. and one
only, for as long or short a period as
is desired, and irrespective of the strength
or nearnesS of other stations or their
attempts to interfere. Mr.. Marconi has
with his selective system received two
messages, one in French and one in Eng
ish. simultaneously, over the same aerial
wires, and two receivers tuned to their
respective senders, separated these mes
sages, so that they were read correctly.
This is certainly rather convincing proof
of seiective wireless biography.
Interest Is Monopolistic.
Few complaints will be received from
the large commercial companies. Their
interest In the matter Is to secure a
monopoly of wireless communication.
That this is bad is shown by the state
of wireless science in England. where the
system is in operation. OF course, the
commercial companies are not SO anxious
for advances which will necessitate the
installation of different apparatus, and
SO invention and Improvement are dis
couraged. Very different is the state OF
affairs in this country, where hardly a
day passes but some new feature Is pat
ented by wireless enthusiast, who Is
usually an amateur. DIR. Lee de Forrest.
who has contributed 80 much. to wireless
Itelegraphy, started as an amateur. and
is one still, to some extent, although his
system has been bought by the United
Wireless Telegraph Company.
while amateurs undoubtedly do some
times send false messages, the majority
of amateur sending stations offer an alb
sorbing occupation which calls forth the
best of a boys or young mans mental
faculties. The erection and operation OF
station entails considerable thought
and calculation. 1t stimulates invention
and often brings out scientific abilities
and inclnations which will help a man all
his life.
1T seems to me that it would be more
advisable for the government to install
modern instruments in their stations,
which would increase their efficiency and
prevent interference, than it would be to
forbid amateur stations and so deprive
citizens and SONS of citizens OF their
equal rights.
Protests for His Association.
II am a member of the Wireless Asso-
citation of America, which has member
ship of about one-tenth of the amateurs,
or 5000, which was formed for the ex-
press purpose of protecting amateur sta
tons. which are. / believe. almost as i'm
portant as the commercial wireless tele-
graph and telephone interests
las a member of this association / say
to you and to every one who asks me that
/ protest against this measure as being
n-American, impractical and opposed to
the best interests of wireless telegraphy.
Hoping you will excuse the brevity Of
this letter and also any ideas herein ex-
pressed which you think arc wrong for
a little boy to have. l remain,
Very respectfully,
tSigne0 FRANCIS NESBITT."