Evening star., 1922-09-17

using a S0-kilowatt arc continuous
wave transmitter in comparison with
100-kilowatt spark" interrupted
wave transmitter.
the satisfaction of the Navy officials
that the continuous wave type of
transmitter was far superior to the
interrupted wave type for transmit
ting over long distances.
Nevertheless. some difficulty was
this radical change into effect over
the opposition of the manufacturers
of the spark" apparatus.
That no mistake was made is >evi-
denced by the fact that Interrupted
wave or spark" transmitters are now
work. and continuous-wave transmit
ters of various types are In unlver-
sal use not only in the United States.
but throughout the world.
The Darien station bears the dis
tinction Of being the pioneer SUPER
mitting station in the world. Con-
tinuous wave transmitters of power
greater than 80 kilowatts had not
previously been developed. The 100
kilowatt transmitter was developed by
an American manufacturer for the
Darien station at the solicitation of
the Navy
The Darien station also bears the
distinction of having demonstrated
the fact that transocean communica-
tions by radio could be made satis-
factory and reliable by utilizing con-
t1nuous-wave transmitters except un-
der the worst atmospheric conditions.
1t is the station after which the
remainder of the Navy'S high-power
stations on shore were modelled. and
its satisfactory operation hastened
the establishment of the high-power
radio ofr
from the Philippines to Washington.
Benehts Extensions.
Aside from the valuable services
this station has rendered the govern
ment, it would be difficult to estimate
the beneficial effects It's establish
ment has had on the advancement of
the high-power radio art throughout
point in the development Of the radio
art for long-distance communications
by demonstrating that the continuous
wave type of transmitter was supe-
rlor to the interrupted-wave or spark
type.
The Darien station is the principal
radio unit in the Canal Zone. 1t
transmits to the high-power stations
at San Diego. Cal: Annapolis, Md,
and Cayey, Porto Rico. and also to
vessels Of the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets when far out at sea.
A medium-power radio station is
maintained at Colon, on the Atlantic
or Caribbean side of the canal, for
the especial purpose Of working with
ships when in that general area
low-power emergency transmit
ter is also maintained at Balboa, on
the Pacific side, but the Balboa sta
ton is used principally as a control
and receiving station for the high
power station at Darien.
Messages are received by operators
at Balboa from stations in the United
States while other messages are being
transmitted on different wave lengths
through the Darien station by other
operators also at Balboa
Radio facilities are available at the
canal to simultaneously exchange
communications with the United
States, with aircraft in flight, with
the vessels of our merchant marine
and with our fleets.
These facilities are used to daily
handle the messages exchanged be-
tween the Panama Canal, the Army
and the Navy and corresponding de-
partments in the United States.
They therefore constitute 4 valu-
able adjunct to the government for
use in time of pease. as well as al
ways being ready for military use in
the event OF war.