The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-03

: sential loss Of energy. In this respect
it differs from other materials or
substances. bscause in such other ma
terials or substances work has TO be
done in the process of reducing the
resistance whereby a loss Of energy
is caused and the time element be-
comes a considerable factor. while in
my apparatus the mount Of material
~ affected is SO small that h energy
required to produce the result may
be practically neglected
The action Of the mercury vapor
arc receiver Is such that II IL sensi-
tive to these faint electrical impulses.
and the infinitesimal molecules OF gas
In the tube. according to the theory
of %ioniZation, bear their effect to the
other terminal of the are in a way
that yields similar but amplified i'm
pulses for passage inward. This, OF
course, is putting the phenomena in
popular terms. 1t is also because of
this simplifying function Of the mer-
curry vapor arc that the initial trans
hitting energy need be relatively low.
When the mercury vapor are is
used at the sending end its peculiar
fitness for the work is again CYL
denced. For instance. assuming me
Poulsen flaming arc to have an eff
cheney at the antcnng Of 80 per cert.
Of the energy input, my o%scillator.
which is "A development of the mer-
curry vapor arc, has to-day an etii-
cheney OF SO per cent, ard ] am salts
fled that this a he increased.
This means that for II gi, en-
reach or span the mercury vapor arc
will be just that much better in per-
Torrance and a great deal cheaper
than its Danish rival. Indeed, Tor
domestic use. that is within our own
country, the ~eenerative units can he
put inside of a box Is inches square
and the source of energy can he the
ordinary household lighting circuit!
The greatest use will be found in
spanning short distances, the longest
not over fifteen Or twenty miles.
"To-day. when a river Ia reached,
unless there is a bridge that car he
Used navigable waters are negoti-
ated by going under them. and there
we are face to face with insulated
cables and the handicap they place
upon the passage Of the electrical
current. Besides, there are lots of
ways in which they may be injured
and their repair and laying are apt
to be veXatious, slow and expensive
depending upon the season and the
conditions. Instead Of diving under
a river to continue the physical cir
cult the line could end at opposite
sides of the waterway. and there the
wireless auxiliary would do the work
of jumping the river by an invisible
path.
Again, wide stretches Of marshy
country, in which It Is difficult to
plant poles and to maintain them at
the intervals required for the ordi-
nary overhead lines, could be spanned
by wireless and this more economi-
cally and with better transmission.
The natural outcome' Of this side
stepping OF Typographical difficulties
would he the establishment Of n chain
OF wireless stations acting automati-
cally In the r%evivifying and forward
Ing of arriving messages.
For instance, the overs and anten-
nae Of stations placed at intervals OF
ten or fifteen miles would cost ON
sidcrably less than wires and poles
placed along that route for ar ordi-
nary telephone circuit. To Just this
measure the chances Of injury by
storms would be reduced and the time
roeded for repairs II harm were so
done greatly shortened.
"Inasmuch as the effective radius Of
each of these wireless centres would
not exceed fifteen or twenty miles,
then it would be entirely feasible to
run a ianking line on either side Just
outside Of this range, and the fear Of
int, ference would thus be effectually
done away with. In my minds eye I
see transmission systems of this sort
reaching from coast to coast and from
Canada to Mexico,
at has been said that any n could
listen in who might have n private
aerial and that wlreless' telephony