The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-01-29
TALK ACROSS THE
CONTINENT NOW

Perhaps the highest achievement in
the scientific world was reached Mon
day afternoon when telephone CONVEX
sations were carried on between New
York, Washington, Boston and San
Francisco, with as much case as If
those conversing were only few
miles apart. This remarkable achieve
ment was enjoyed by President Will
son of the United States, Prof. Alex
ander Graham Bell, the inventor Of
the first man to whom Mr. Bell ever
talked over the telephone; President
Moore of the PanamaPacihc EXPOSE
ton, and many others. 1t was the in
auguration of the transcontintental
commercial telephone system and it
required over 3,400 miles of wire to
connect the eastern with the western
coast. 1t was as though the Atlantic
had reached over in its mighty splen-
dor and shaken hands with the peace
full Pacific. The conversation occur
red about 4 o'clock eastern time, and
o'clock San Francisco time
President Wilson was the first per-
son not connected with the telephone
company to enjoy the privilege of
hearing a human voice over 3,400
miles of wire. He stepped to the
telephone, and, placing the receiver to
his ear, said, in very clear and inn
pressive manner, to President Moore,
the Panama-Pacihc Exposition: 1T
appeals to the imagination to speak
across the continent. 1t is fine omen
for the exposition that the first thing
it has done is to send its voice from
sea to sea. | congratulate you on the
fine prospects for a successful expo
sition. | am confidently hoping to
take part in it after the adjournment
of congress. May | not send my
greetings to the management and to
all whose work has made it possible
and has made it the great event it
promises to be, and to convey my per-
sonal congratulations to you?"
AS the President finished, Presi-
dent Moore of the great exposition
responded: 1--WE are looking forward
to your coming here. | think you
will be we'll pleased with what we
have done. | assure you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that you will never receive
welcome that will none cordial or
more enthusiastic"
Thirty-four years ago, when Alex
ander Graham Bell invented the tele-
phone, his first conversation was with
Mr.. Thomas A. Watson. They talked
over line two miles long. At the
close OF President Wilson's talk with
President Moore, Mr.. Bell, who was
in New York, came in on the line,
and Mr.. Watson, who was in San
Francisco, was also connected, and
the three held short conversation,
congratulating each other on the
scientific achievement. The preSi-
dcatSaid; II consider It an honor TO
Lc able to express my admiration for
the inventive genius and scientific
knowledge that has made this pos
siblc, and my pride that this vital
word should have been stretched
across America as new symbol of
our unity and our enterprise. VIII
you not convey my cordial CON
gratulations to Mr.. Bell, and | want
to convey to you (meaning Mr.. Wat
sun) my personal congratulations "
1t is an interesting fact that DR..
Bell and Mr.. Watson used the same
instruments Monday in accomplish
ing the transcontential conversation
that they used thirty-four years ago
in accomplishing their two-mile con-
versation, They also used part OF
the same wire used then.
President Wilson also talked with
Theodore N. Vail, president of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
company, who was at Jekyll Island
off the coast of Georgia.
In each city from which the con,
versations were held, the greatest
preparations had been arranged-pre'
parations that were never excelled il
the history of the cities. The city
officials, state officials and others pro
minently connected with the publ,
and commercial life of each individ
ual community were present, and al
enjoyed the wonderful feat accom-
plished.
When an individual or a corpora
ton accomplishes a wonderful feat
the idea naturally arises, how was i