Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-02-03
TO COAST
TELEPHONE EPIC
DR.. Alexander G. Bell Realizes
Life's Ambition When He
Talks From New York to
San Francisco.

The marvellous dream of DIR. Alex
ander Graham BELL, inventor of the
telephone, has come true, for he has
had the personal satisfaction of talk
ing to his co-laborer, Tinomas A. Waits
son. over a stretch of 3.400 miles OF
wire. II was only IS years ago that
Mr.. Bell first talked to Mr.. Watson
on the first telephone. The wire at
that time was only 80 feet long and
was strung in his little workshop In
Boston. The wire used last night
reached from New York to San Fran
cisco, and was but one of millions that
reach THEM steel ana copper tcrtacles
TO every part of the United States.
Thirty eight years ago there was but
one telephone in the world. Today
there are more than ?,OO0,OOO In the
United States.
1t is not often that an inventor lives
to see the accomplishment Oh his life's
goal. MIR. Bell is one of the few who
nave had that pleasure. He also has
had the pleasure of profiting financial
ly by the child of his brain. More mar
velous still, the instrument used yes
terday differed in no essential from
the one used on that first 60 feet OF
wire.
Message Sent 1000 Miles.
The original message to San Fran
cisco was followed by one to an even
longer distance. After Mr.. Bell had
called MIR. Watson in San Francisco.
President Vail. of the telephone COM
pany. was called up at Jekyl island,
Florida. This conversation was over
a wire distance of more tina 1000
miles. The regular rate across the
continent will be SCI for three min
uteS.
President Wilson used this new long
distance line after Mr.. Bell had talked.
He was called up at the White House
by Mr.. Bell n then sent messages
to President Moore. of the Panama
Pacific exposition.
The transcontinental line. which has
two complete circuits across the con-
tinent from New York to San Fran
cisco. is 3,4O0 miles long. The wire in
this line weight about 5000. 900 pounds
and could not be transported in less
than 200 cars. 1t ook 10000 poles,
set about 40 to the mile. on which to
string the big No. S copper wires. 1t
would take 20 trains of so cars ZACH to
transport these poles. The opening of
this transcontinental line is the latest
and greatest achievement of the Bell
system in uniting 65 per cent of all the
telephones in the world to give q truly
comprehensive and nation wide serv-
ice to the people of the United States.
OF this great achievement, o j.
Carly, chief engineer of the Bell Tele-
tAAoiAS yStSiIls titlVO QUAY
This greatest of telephone lines,
which today has beer dedicated to the
service OF tho public. must always be
distinguished because through it's cop
per wires the voice of the chief magis-
trate of this nation has for the first
time in our history been transmitted
from the seat of government at Wash
ington westward 5000 miles to the
shores of the Pacific"
Longest on Record.
Owe this line the voice of President
Wilson was carried with magic speed
across river and plains and mountains.
instantly reaching San Francisco,
where in clear tones it spoke his mes
sage of co~ngratulation to men of
achievement.
unable to be present with us in per-
SON. Theodore n. Vail has taken part
In these ceremonies.
B using the wonderful Bell sys-
tenn OF organized men and organized
wires he has talked to us here at New
York from an island LOO miles off the
southern coast of Florida. From there
ne mas spoken thrOug the length and
nreadth OF our land to the state of CAL
ifornia 4.4OO miles away, thus attaining
the longest distance ever achieved by
the voice of man. We are filled with
grateful feelings that Alexander Ora
nam Bell n Thona A. Watson have
today talked to each other over this
now historical line. Mr.. Bell was the
first to conceive the true method and
apparatus for transmitting speech cleo
t1ically. and Mr. Watson. following ex-
actly the directions given to him by
DR.. Bell. constructed with his own
hands III first telephone. Bell was the
flrst among men to talk over the cleo
trio telephone and Watson was the first
to hear:
There is before us an exact repro-
dtction OF this electric speaking tele-
phone employed by Bell and Watson
when first they talked to each other by
wire through this instrument. DR..
Bell has again talked to Mr.. Watson.
but this time how vast is the distance
and how great the triumph. OF course
he was not heard by any means so we'll
as when he used our standard trans
mltter. but Well enough to be under
stooo ana we may be sure. loud enough
TO excite most pleasing sentiment. This
original type Of telephone talking over
one OF modern lines spoke across
the continent more distinctly than 1t
ever did from one room to another Over
the best line of former days. Thus does
TINS nOrneiy first instrument give testi-
money. to the marvellous improvements
made in its plant by the Bell
durlng these intense intervening years.
telephone line is from New York to
~Pitssburgh. thence to Chicago, Dayen-
port. Des MOines and Omaha To Don-
ver. from Denver the line bends north
70 avoid ! attitudes and then runs
directly westward to Salt Lake CITY n
to San Francisco. 49,"
Talking the Nation Into Trouble.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Thoughts are the seeds of words. and
words are parental to deeds. Germany.
GuKl&0O. france Austria Qua D,,..}.