Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-06-13
WIRELESS FOR
WHOLE NATION


II is now practically certain that the
federal government will install net
work Of high power wireless aerogram
station covering the whole United
States. says the Chicago Tribune.
Necessity for wireless service in
cases where telegraph communication
Is impossible was demonstrated four
years ago on the day OF President
Tafts Inauguration and emphasized
strongly more recently by the cutting
off Of the Ohio Hooded districts from
communication with the outside world.
The Omaha cyclone which put the
telegraph lines out Of business, also
demonstrated the need Of wireless sta
tons for Just such Emergencies.
1t was therefore suggested that the
government take steps to cover the ca
tire United states with adequate wire
less service Besides It's value for
government service. such system
would be Of untold usefulness in af-
fordng information and Fastening the
sending Of relief supplies to the scene
of any great, disaster.
This suggestion has met with gem
arai approvalfrom government otllcinls
and members of congress.
The chief signal officer of the army
is at present discussing a scheme for
providing large radio telegraphic sta
tons in the interior Of the country for
the purpose Of maintaining transcon-
tnental communication.
Use In Emergencies.
II is proposed, that these stations be
erected by and be placed under the
control OF the war department These
stations are to be used mainly for gov
ernmental business, but of course 1t
could be provided that they could han
die urgent commercial business in
times of general breakdown of wire
telcgraphic systems.
In discussing this project Major ed
gar Russell of the signal corps said:
1T is probable that two stations, one
of which could he somewhere east of
the Mississippi river and north OF the
Ohio. the other to be in the Rocky
mountain region. would insure radlo
Geographic communication under prao
tically all conditions il they were Civ
en- sufficient power and were solidly
constructed Such stations, including
the lnnd. buildings and necessary ma
chinery have been estimated to cost
in the ncighborhood of 100000 each.
"In addition to these two large sta
tons Il humber of smaller stations
could be provided for maintaining local
communication, and on account of the
shorter distances to be covered be
tween these local stations and the
large stations mentioned they could be
considerably. smaller and much less OK
pepsiye, White it is Il little premature
to state the exact cost Of each of these
il would probably amount to 100000
each. If such stations were put up at
various important centers the cost OF
these and the large stations would
reach something near 100000.
THE advance in the art OF radlo
telegraphy is such that communication
could be maintained between these
stations with great certainty. and they
no doubt would serve valuable pur-
pose in case of general interruption OF
wire telegraph systems, as has occur
red in great storms and floods in re-
cent years"
Chain Across Continent.
Major C. Mex. Saltzman of the sig
nal corps also expressed his hearty APP
prevail of an extension of wireless sery-
ice to cover the whole nation.
"The recent disasters in the middle
west" he said, "have brought to the
notice OF all telegraph people the ne
cessity for a chain of radio stations in
the interior of the coa4itgy which could
be depended upon in time of disaster
to insure communication.
my idea is that a central system OF
stations should consist of Washington,
Cincinnati, Kansas City. Denver, Salt
Lake City and san Francisco. There
are two northern stations. st. Paul
and Helena, and three southern sta
lions, New Orleans, San Antonio and
Phoenix.
',The signal corps of the United
States army maintains and operates
government radio stations in the in
terror Of the United States. The navy
operates the stations along the sea-
coast
'The signal corps has developed a
chain Of big stations in the interior OF
Alaska for the purpose of insuring com
munication across Alaska when forest
fires and snowshdes put the telegraph
lines out OF business.
"Based on my knowledge Of the Alas
Ran system. | should say the Tribune
project is an excellent one. l believe
If the matter We're properly set forth
congress would be glad to appropriate
money for building such a chain of
high power stations.
"Tf such a system Of stations were
built by the government 1t would be a
great incentive to the national guard
to amateurs. newspapers and CONNER
cial concerns to build smaller stations