Gilpin observer., 1915-01-28
THE WONDER OF THE AGE

in the scientific world was reached
Monday afternoon when telephone
conversations were carried on be-
tween Washington, New York, Bos-
ton and San Francisco, with as much
ease as though those conversing were
only a few miles apart. This re-
markable achievement was enjoyed
by President Wilson of the United
States, Professor Alexander Graham
Bell, the inventor of the telephone;
Thomas A. Watson, the first man to
whom Mr.. Bell ever talked over the
telephone: President Moore of the
Panama-racific Exposition, and many
others 1t was the inauguration of the
transcont1nental commercial tele-
phone system and it required over 81
400 miles of wire to connect the east
ern with the western coast. 1t was
as though the Atlantic had reached
over in its mighty splendor and shak-
The conversations occurred about a
o'clock eastern time, and l 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
n
impressive manner, to President
Moore of the Panama and Pacific En-
position ut appeals to the imag-
inaticn to speak across the CONT
nent. 1t is a fine omen for the eX-
position that the first thing it has
done is to send it's voice from sea to
sea. / congratulate you on the fine
prospects for a successful exposition.
am confidently hoping to take part
| in it after the adjournment of con-
gress. May 1 not send my greet
ings 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 you?"
AS the president finished, Presi-
/ dent Moore of the great exposition
responded: I'VE are looking for
ward to your coming here. / think
you will be well pleased with what
we have done. l assure you, Mr..
President, that you will never receive
welcome that will be more cordial
or more enthusiastic"
Thirty-four years ago. when Alex
ander Graf am Bell invented the tele-
phone, his first conversation was
with Mr.. Thomas A. Watson. They
talked over a line two miles long.
AT the close of President Wilson's
talk with President Moore, MIR. Bell
who was in New York, came in on
| the line. and Mr.. Watson, who was
in San Francisco, was also connect
versation, congratulating each otLe err
on the scientific achievement The
president said: Il consider it an
honor to be able to express my ad-
.
and scientific knowledge that has
made this possible. and my pride
that this vital cord should have been
stretched across America as new
symbol of our unity and our enter
prise. viii you not convey my ccr-
dial congratulations to MIR. Bell, and
! want to convey to you (meaning
Mr.. Watson) my personal congratu
lations."
1t is an interesting fact that DIR.
Bell and Mr.. Wtason used the same
instruments Monday in accomplishing
the transcontinertal 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 AID Telegraph
Company who was at Jekyll island,
off the coast of Georgia.
In each city frcm which tie con
versations were held, the greatest
preparations had been arraaged-pre-
paratiCrs that were never eXcelled in
the history of the cities. The city
officials, state officials and others
prominently connected with the pub
lie and comm ercial life Of each in
dividual community were present. and
all enjoyed the wonderful feat accom-
plished.