Graham guardian., 1915-02-05
TALKED 3,4OO MILES
President Wilson Converse|
Over Telephone, Washing
tCa to San Francisco

Perhaps the highest achievement
in the scientific world was reached
Monday afternoon. January 25th,
when telephone conversations were
carried on between Washington,
New York, Boston and San Fran
cisco, with as much ease as though
those cOnversing were only a few
miles apart. This very remarkable
achievement was enjoyed by Presi-
dent Wilson of the United States;
Professor Alexander Graham Bell,
the inventor of the telephone; Thos.
A. Watson, the first man to whom
Mr.. Bell ever talked over the tele-
phone; President Moore of the Pan
ama-Pacitic Exposition, and many
others.
1t was the Inauguration of the
transcontinental commercial tele-
phone 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 splendor
and shaken hands with the peaceful
Pacific. The conversations occurred
about 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 human voice over 9,400
miles Of wire. He stepped to the
telephone, and, placing the receiver
to his ear, said, in a very clear and
impressive manner, to President
Moore of the Panama and Pacific
Exposition: 1t appeals to the i'm
agination to speak across the conti-
nent. 1t is a fine omen for the ex-
position that the first thing it has
done is to send-its voice from sea to
sea. | congratulate you on the fine
prospects for successful exposition
| am confidently hoping to take part
in it after the adjournment of con-
gress 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 personal
congratulations to your
AS the president finished, Presi-
dent Moore of the great exposition
responded: We are looking for
ward to your coming here. | think
you will be well pleased with what
we have done. | assure you, Mr..
President, that you will never re-
ceive welcome that will be more
cordial or more enthusiastic"
Thirty-four years ago, when Alex
ander Graham Bell invented the
telephone, his first conversation was
with Thomas A. Watson. They
talked over a, line two miles long.
At the close of President Wilson q
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 connc cted,
and the three held a short conversa-
ton, congratulating each other on
the scientific achievement. The
president said: Il consider it an
honor to be able to express my ad-
miration for the inventive genius
and scientific knowledge tnat has
made this possible, and my pride
that this vital cord should have been
strel ched across America as a new
symbol Of our unity and oar enter
prise. Will you not convey my
crrdiaI c0npraluInti"ns to Nh Bell,
nd | want to convey To you (neHn-
l@g M. Watson) my personal con-
gratulations."
1t is an interesting facl that Dr.
Bell and Mr.. Watson used the same
instruments Monday in accomplish
! ing the transcontinental 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 JekyII Island,
eff the coast of Georgia.
In each city from which the con-
versations were held, the greatest
preparations had been arranged
preparations that were nrver ex-
celied in the history of the cities.
! The city officials, state officials and
others nrnminpntlN cnnnpctpn vii h