Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-06-06
T0EXTEND WIRELESS
Chain of Stations to Cover a
Wide Radius.
Many Feats That Arc Now Considered
Unusual to Become Part of tho
Ordinary Days Work Of tho
Service.

Washington.-The navy department
has drawn up plans for chain of
wireless stations which will bring the
department into aerial communication
with all its ships wherever they may
be. from the coast of West Africa to
Chinese waters. Congress has been
asked to appropriate $1,0000O0 to es-
tablish this system, which will be su-
perior to any of the kind now In ex-
istence in any part Of the world.
The chain as planned will consist Of
seven stations. One already is under
construction at Arlington, Va, across
the Potomac from Washington. The
others will be in the Canal Zone, at
San Francisco, at Pearl Harbor, Ha-
wall. another on the island of Guam,
the next on the island of Luzon In the
northern Philippines and the last on
Tuluila island, one Of the American
Samoan islands
The Washington station Is expected
to cover the entire Atlantic coast with
sending radius of 5000 miles. The
station in the Canal Zone will cover
the Caribbean sea effectively, besides
being in touch with both Washington
and San Francisco. From the San
Francisco station communication will
be had with Pearl harbor, the Pearl
harbor will easily reach the Guam sta
ton, and the operator at Guam will be
able to talk to the man at the Luzon
station.
From Luzon 1t Is proposed to control
all naval vessels in Japanese or Chi
nese waters. The station In the Sa-
moan islands will cover the South Pa
cific. This station is especially de-
sired because there is now no cable
at Tutuila island.
Each of these stations will be
equipped with 100 kilowatt generating
apparatus. The design adopted for Ar
lington station, now being construct
ed. will be used, that is, three tall steel
towers with the antennae stretched be-
tween them. The Arlington station
is to have one tower 600 feet high and
two towers 450 feet in height. 1t Is
estimated that If 100000 only is ap-
propriated the other stations In con-
temptation will have only 450 foot tow
ers. If more money Is granted by
congress 600 foot towers will be built.
Each of these stations, 1t is expect
ed will have sending and receiving
radius of 5000 miles. That is what
the stations are expected to do regu-
larly under fair conditions both day
and night, as the sunlight absorbs the
electric waves sent out from the sta
tions. Communication over land Is
more difficult than over salt water,
yet Lieut. David w Todd, the wireless
expert of the navy In charge Of the de-
partments plans, is confident that reg
ular communication will be had direct
ly between the Washington and San
Francisco stations. The distance to
be thus covered is about 5000 miles
The navy now has wireless stations
of comparatively low capacity at most
Of the points where these powerful
stations are planned. On freak nights,
according to reports received at the
department, when atmospheric condi-
tions are abnormally good the opera
tor at Mare Island, Cal, hears mes
sages being sent on the Atlantic coast
This operator recently reported that
he heard the cruiser Salem calling the
auxiliary Prairie on the night of Jan
hot oh
searching for the destroyers lost in
the recent big storm. On the same
night this operator heard the operator
aboard the battleship Florida. then
near Galveston, Tex, sending Good
night" He talked with the operators
at Colon and heard the Cape Cod sta
tions sending news to Europe. These
incidents, 1t Is pointed out, are now
accidental with the present equipment
of the stations. It is confidently ex-
pected, however. that II the proposed
chain Of stations Is authorized by con-
gress such feats of long distance COM
munication will be regular every day
occurrences.
Efforts are to be made soon to OBJ
tain the ratification of the treaty of
Berlin, to which all the leading ma
tions except the United States are
signatory, which contains certain pro-
visions regarding international CON-
munication by wireless. AS the Unit
ed States Is not signatory to this
treaty, 1t Is barred from sending a rep
resentative to the international WIRE
less conference In London this year,
at which there will be further discus
sion of members to be agreed upon by
the different nations for the use Of
wireless by the worlds shipping. It
is the belief Of both army and navy
wireless experts that the United States
and American shipping Is handicapped
by not being party to the treaty
and by its lack Of representation at
the joint conference.