Evening star., 1919-01-26

DtHeF ana tNat neither OF these can
get permanent benefit out of the sac
rifice of either or both OF the other
two.
The development of the telephone
and telegraph art has demonstrated
that the telephone system is the meas
ure or the wire system needed In the
future. over one single network of
wires at the same time can be trans
mitted both telephone and telegraph
communications over wires contain
ing half the weight of copper. ten or
twelve times the amount of business
can be done that could be done a
decade or so ago.
there should be unification of both
the International and international
electrical communication systems,
protective of the public and Of the
liked investment and tending to de-
yelop the service.
Inventions and improvements
brought into existence during recent
years greatly have increased the pos
sibilities of continuous and stimuli
taneous transmission of multiplex
telephone and telegraph signals. The
capacity of wires and the distance
to which transmission is possible now
are practically unlimited.
< y
!t NOW iS possible 10 teIepIlOHe TO
any distance through wire and cable;
a telegraphc signal may be sent
around the world without relay by
any human agency. Wireless tele-
phony is now possibility, having
played large part in overcoming
the German submarine peril and hav-
ing greatly increased the efficiency
OF airplanes by making it possible for
flying men to communicate with each
other and ground stations.
''One pair of wires will carry many
communications, both telephone and
telegraphic. simultaneously, using a
moiety of the copper now required
for single transmission.
THE economic and efficient utiliza-
tion of all these new arts Is only
possible over a unified system, CO.
extensive with the territory to be
served.
The United States. partly as a re-
suit of the world war. is now enter
ing into worldwide competition in
all lines. The question of foreign
entanglements has been set aside for
all time. If We are to compete with
the world we must do SO on a footing
equal to that of any other country in
the world, as far as facilities for
transportation and for quick and re-
liable international communication
are concerned.
prior to the outbreak of the war,
with commercial ton
practically all electrically done, near
ly all the worlds communication IA
cllities centered in the British chan
mel. This condition had been modi-
fed somewhat by German develop
-ment of business at British expense
and not always by nice methods. and
this may have moved the commercial
center of the world some what toward
the North sea, but the financial center
remained in the Straits of Dover,
where the cables conferred.
Commerce follows the development
of facilities of communication. If the
United States expects to take that
position she has won and is strong
enough to hold and better. it must not
be dependent upon center OF inter-
communication facilities located in
Europe
Il have said that the answer to the
question as to whether commerce Is
regular and speculative depends en-
tirely upon the time, difficulty and
expense involved in the interchange
of ideas between buyer and seller
Obviously facilities govern this, anG
availability of facilities is affected by
speed, ease and cost. Therefore, If we
expect to take advantage of existing
opportunities for the development of
our trade, communication between the
United States and foreign markets
must be abundant and cheap.
The situation now is most unsat-
isfactory. Communications with South
America must go through several in
dependent countries; communications
between the Atlantic coast of North
America and the Atlantic coast or
South America must cross either two
continents or two oceans. While we
have one cable between the Pacific
coast of America and the Pacific coast
OF Asa---one cable for such a distance
and the volume of business must
necessarily be uncertain and more or
less indirect.
This must be corrected in some
way, In International transportation,
which is virtually all done in ships,
conditions can be met rapidly by the
shifting of vessels from place to place.
We now have ships. If they cannot
operate profitably under the Ameri-
cause of regulation and control
which make competition with boats
under foreign flags impossible, there
will be enough foreign bottoms to
take care of our companies and the
loss will be all ours. But the CONNER
cial development will come in any
event-if we have the means OF COM
munication which will make 1t pos
sible. Granted the means of COM
munication, not even n merchant ma
rine which would be imperative be-
cause Of high cost of maintenance
would stop it.
But mail communication Is far too
slow In these days; wireless communi-