Evening star., 1923-08-05
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

An epoch making event in the radio
cation Wednesday night of the giant
broadcasting station WRC Of the
Radio Corporation of America in the
Riggs National Bank building at 14th
street and Park road. This station
and WCAP, the Chesapeake and Po-
powered station, undoubtedly will
serve to stimulate more interest in
radio in the District and surround
ing country than all other broadcast
ing stations in this section combined.
Conservative estimates place. the
local radio audience at 10000. 1t is
safe to predict that when winter
comes and radio interest is~at it's
peak this number will be doubled,
providing. of course. the high-clas
programs now broadcast by WRC and
WCAP are continued.
All the officials of the corporation
who could possibly get to Washing
ton for the opening were here.
Among them was David Sarnoff, vice
Alfred n. Goldsmith, director of re-
search, and J. l.. Bernard, manager
of the information bureau. They re-
ceived the large throngs of guests
and conducted them through the mag
nificent headquarters. answering vol
leys of questions regarding the ap-
paratus, etc.
WRC, correctly termed the voice
of Washington" did not just happen.
1t is the product of unremitting toll
on the part of multitude. The
equipment was built in three of the
largest electrical factories in the
world and many special parts were
constructed in two additional model
shops. The design of the station
equipment was comparatively carried
out by the engineers OF the radio
corporation and the General Electric
Company, with much valuable help
from the engineers of the Westing-
house company.
Some brief statistics will give a
general idea of the amount of ma
terial which has been included in the
station. stretched over the Riggs
building is a great antenna system,
supported on 1l5-foot permanent steel
towers more than 200 feet apart
There are two transmitters in the
station, to make sure that the service
shall be entirely reliable. There is
complete oscillograph installation.
can watch the delicate sound waves
being traced in lines OF light on a
spinning mirror and detect the ex-
lstence OF any faults in the repro
duction which might detract from
the enjoyment of the audience
The studio has been carefully ar
ranged for high quality production
Many dozens of huge rolls of felt and
other special materials went into the
walls of the studio to prevent rever-
beration and TO keep the music clear
and distinct II then took the inte-
rior decorators months to complete
the decorataions and install all furni-
ture and fixtures.
Considerably more than 10000 feet
of wire went into the station instru-
ments and wiring. The station occu-
pies suite of five rooms. There are
several separate and distinct tele-
phone systems within the station
One is the usual Bell system, another
is special accommodating sys-
tenn between all parts of the station,
and the last is the broadcast an
nouncer's system. whereby announce
ments may be broadcast from various
points in the station if desired. At
least eight principal voltages. rang
ing from s volts to 1000 volts, are
necessary TO run the station, and
steady sources of. supply for each of
these have been provided.
The drawings of the general assem-
bly, OF the station look like veritable
spider webs of hundreds of interest
ing connections. The radio engineers.
who have done this work unobtru-
sIvely and willingly. will find their
great reward in the letter of appro-
baton which ii is hoped WRC will
receive from its vast audience.
WAY shuts Down,
Co1ncidently with the opening of
WRC. the Woodward G. Lothrop sta
tion WAY sent its voice over the
loo