Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-02-17

ard transmitter and continued the con-
versation.
What wonderful progress has been
made by the Bell System since then
to enable our voices to be transmit
ted over a circuit of 5000 miles. with
out the least apparent distortion or
weakening.
Their work has been superb" de
clared Mr.. Watson, 'and superb also
is the discipline of the organization
that watches every inch of this long
circuit to safeguard those feeble vi
brations."
"All honor to the men who have
rendered this great achievement pos
sible," concluded Dr. Bell. They
have brought all the people of the
United States within sound of one an
others voices, and united them into
one great brotherhood"
When the telephone had grown so
that it could be taken outdoors on Oc-
tober g. 1876, DR.. Bell had called
"ahoy" across two miles of wire, just
as he was calling now across three
thousand, and it was not until some
time later that hello" was used.
Mayor Mitchell of New York and
changed greetings.
Statement by Mr.. Bethel.
In speaking of the new transconti-
mental line, u. N. Bethel, senior vice.
president of the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company, said:
1.-The completion of the transcontinental
line is not only an epoch-marking event
in scientific development, but also the
opening door to better conditions, COM
mercial and social. throughout the nation
1t means the breaking down of old bar
riers. BY facilitating the exchange of in
formation and ideas it brings the most re-
mote points in the country closer to-
gether than were points lying within
single state quarter of a century ago.
1t broadens mutual understanding and ap-
probation and thus aids tremendously
in the advance of civilization. This is
one of the romantic and inspiring steps
in the progress of the art as developed by
our great and always mutually helpful
organization which embraces in it's ranks
more than 10000 men and women. To the
organization as g whole this event will
have significance that cannot be OVereSti-
mated. 1t will exert an influence that will
not end with day. but go on working for
better and greater results through years
to come. In some way, directly or indi-
rectly every efficient man and woman in
the organization has contributed some
thing to the achievement, and therefore,
as whole, the organization merits con-
CALCULATIONS"
The following conversation took
place between Thomas ID. Lockwood
in Boston, and Thomas B. Doolittle in
San Francisco:
MR. LOCKWOOD speaking s'Good
evening, Mr. Doolittle, l send you greet
ing from the birthplace of the telephone.
1t is worth while to have given the best
part of our lives to the telephone service,
to realize that we have reached this no.
table day and are privileged to take part
in it. 1t recalls the earlier days when by
building the Boston and Lowell line, the
Boston and Providence lines, and the
first experimental line between Boston
and New York, this last supervised by
yourself, the first steps in the march of
long distance telephone communication
were taken.
THAT seems but yesterday, so fresh it is
in my memory, and yet here we are cele-
brating the completion of the system to
the Pacific coast the crown and cumina-
ton, and that has been made possible by
the combination and exercise of constant
effort in engineering and invention, and
constant profit by the teaching of expert
ence."
MR.. DOOLITTLE. IN SAN FRANCIS
CO. speaking: "Glad to hear you Mr.
Lockwood, and to exchange greetings and
congratulations. l reciprocate your ex-
pressions of satisfaction in the success
full accomplishment of this great work
Speaking of and looking backward over
the history of telephone progress we can
both say. as did one of ancient times, all
But are you not going to invite me to
dinner?"
MR.. LOCKWOOD, replying: Certain
ly; / am happy to invite you to dinner;
but don't forget that times and condi-
lions are changed. When in 1879 we
opened the Lowell line, if you were in
Lowell, you would have heard my invita-
ton while 1 was giving it, and could have
Joined me inside of hour, but now
and where you are. while you will hear
with your own ears my invitation three
hours before I give it you cannot reach
the table until four or five days later"
Colonel Higgnson Talks.
Col. Henry Higginson spoke to Mr..
Thomas A. Watson in San Francisco
and was followed by Mayor James M.
Curley and Mr. Elmer J. Bliss, Presi-
dent of the Boston Chamber of Com
merce
Mr.. P L. Spaulding, President of
the New England Telephone and Tele-
graph Company and George E. Nc
Farland, President of the Pacific Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company ex-
| changed greetings.
In New York it was 4 o'clock when
Doctor Bell sent his 'ahoy'' across
the continent, and one of the
first of the guests to speak af-
ter him asked the time in San
Francisco. Each one looked at his
watch as the answer came back: Zone
o'clock" This started a furry of fig
uring. Those who know sound waves
and the rate they travel said that it
would take four hours for a mans
voice unaided granted the possibility