Connecticut western news., 1922-04-20
WARNED BY PHONE
Telephone TranSmitters Give
 Alarm of Breaking Dam.
Disaster May Be Averted by Spoken Word That Travels Faster
 Than the Flood.

Terrible disasters have been caused by the irresistible swirl of rushing floods, in which unsuspecting persons were caught without warning. Tn one instance, years ago, a gay party on four-horse tallyho was enthusiastical- ly exploring the wonders and beauties of Turkey Creek canon, near Golden, Colo. Gathering rainclouds failed to cast shadow upon their high spirits, and no serious thought was given to danger from the rapidly approaching storm, because the tourists were not familiar with the characteristics of the local tempests, nor with the topog- raphy of the surrounding country.
 The storm suddenly burst with great fury upon the unprepared pleasure seekers and the deluge of water caused them quickly to abandon the tallyho and hunt for shelter. Closely huddled against the towering sides of the canon, they soon realized, with anxiety, that they had not reckoned with the forces of nature. The ter rife rush of water down the canon sides swept them from their feet, and down to the bed of the canon, where a torrent of water now ragged. Despite their struggles, many of the party lost their lives, and those surviving were seriously injured.
 Another instance was the great flood at Johnstown, Pa, and the more recent was the disastrous flood at Pueblo, Colo, where the toll of lives, and property damage, reached enor- nous proportions.
 AS protection against such ter rible events as these, a system of huge telephone transmitters and am- plifiers has been produced which will throw the human voice distance of four miles. Extensive tests have been made with this apparatus, which have proved the practicability and success of the endeavor. These tests were conducted in the Catskill mountains by a specially trained group of op- orators. A tower, thirty feet high, was erected to hold the gigantic amplifers and the immense projectors which measured fifteen feet in length and four feet in height ..r.. ..... #=
 To determine just how far the hu- man voice could be heard with these aids, was accomplished in rather weird manner, because the time se- lected was at night. Four men took up previously agreed-upon stations, at distances of one, two, three, and four miles from the tower. As the time drew near for the experiments, the four men applied matches to specially prepared torches, which gave large flaring flames. !
 Meanwhile at the tower were gath cred a party of men chosen to observe the tests, and who interestedly watched the tiny flickering torches in the distance. When the 'zero hour," or time set for tests, arrived the oper- ator at the tower took his place be- fore the transmitter of the apparatus, and in natural tone of voice, ordered the far-off men to wave their torches.
 Breathlessly the watchers at the tower peered through the inky black ness at the fiickering points of fire, and the nearest torch was seen to de- scribe vigorous circles In the air. Fix clamations of satisfaction came from the watchers, which rose to a shout, as the second, then the third, and finally the fourth torch was seen to dip and wave wildly in the darkness, thus showing plainly that all the men had heard the command. The operator at the transmitter then spoke to the men again, in reply to their ready signals, and bade them wait for fur ther instructions.-H. A. Lane in Pop ular Mechanics Magazine.