The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-08
Capital Banqueters
Hear Pacifc's Roar
Marvels of Telephone and Wireless Displayed Be.
fore Members and Guests of National Geograph-
ic Society-Tribute Paid DR.. Alexander Bell.

The roar OF the Pacific. as the surf
brooks over Seal Islands. at the Golden
Gate. was transmitted 800 miles last
night to the Willard, where 800 men,
hers and guests of the National Geo.
graphic Society received this fresh tes-
timony OF the conquest OF the air.
The occasion was the annual banquet
OF the society, held this year in COM
memoration OF the completion OF the
first direct transcontinenta telephone
line one year ago.
DIR. Alexander Graham Bell. inven-
tor OF the telephone: Theodore n. Vail.
president OF the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company; John J. Carly,
chief or the engineering stan OF the
company; Franklin X. Lane, secretary
OF the Interior; Josephus DanielL Sec
rotary of the Navy; members OF the
Diplomatic Corps. and prominent scien-
lists were among the guests OF honor
Tribute To DR.. Bell.
A tribute was paid to DIR. Alexander
Graham Bell when Secretary Lane. act
ing as toastmastsr. introduced him M
the Father "a Telephony The en-
tire assemblage arose and applauded.
During the course OF the evening Mr..
Carly established long-distance connec-
tons with a score of cities. while the
guests, through individual receivers
heard Good night" from the Pacific
coast. Canada, Denver, Salt Lake CITY
pittsburgh, New York, and the Mexi-
can border.
Secretary Daniels asked q naval oni-
Ger in San Francisco. Flows the navy
On the Pacihc?" "All right" came the
reply. ~.
gress?' asked the Secretary. R1stinct-
~ came the rejoinder. Tell them TO
keen hustiing for preparedness" The
connection was maintained while MT.
and Mrs. Lawrence Harris spoke with
their two small sons In San Francisco.
Hello. mamma: how's papa were the
first words heard.
A Wireless Demonstration.
Mr.. Carly then connected the guests
with the naval radio station at Airing
ten. and Secretary Lane, taking the
phone. made his voice heard In the ban
ouet room, after It haG Travelled by
wireless to New York and back by Ions
distance wire. There was a lapse Of a
brief moment before the words OF the
Secretary returned to the room. The
guests then stood and sang the Star
Spangled Banner to music transmitted
over the same route.
Secretary Lane said no nation could
rival the inventive genius OF the Amer
lean mind. He paid glowing tribute
to tho real makers of the country
the men who work In the Laboratories
and the workshops" ITO such mer
should our monuments be given" said
Mr. Lane, for It is they who conquer
the world
Secretary Daniels spoke of the in.
estima BILE value radio telephony would
be to the navy when the Secretary
can sit at his desk and direct the move
ments of the Asiatic fleet"
John ]. Carly declared he was fortu'
nate IN being at the head of the mos
brilliant stan OF electrical engineers &c
be found in the world. They are all
he said, graduates of American univer'
stiles. Declaring that the telephone
was distinctly an American achieve
ment. Mr.. Carly said every substan
tial Improvement had been made ir
this country.
Tells Of First Conversation.
L. N. Bethel of the American Tele
phone and Telegraph Company made
some Interesting comparisons. He de
clared the United States. with one
eighteenth OF the worlds population
has "a per cent of the worlds tele
phones. New York City, he said. hal
as many telephones as all OF the cap
itals of all of the warning nations com
bined. The city has twice as manJ
phones as the whole OF France and one
| half as many as the German Empire.
Two hundred and nifty thousand en-
ployes. operating 9.0o0.00 telephones
connected with 100000 miles OF wires