Evening star., 1924-10-08
SUPERPOWER SEEN
AS RADIO SOLUTION
Would Cut Through Static
and Obnoxious Signals,
Conference Is Told.

important subject yet injected into
TIE third national radio conference.
again doomed to the forefront at the
second general session today, when
ro"eil crosley of the Crosley Radio
corporation, operators of station
WI" IN Cincinnati, described it as
the only solution to the majority OF
the perplexing problems confronting
the radio industry.
The superpower station. Mr. Cros
ley pointed out, will cut through
static and the obnoxious signals Of the
snip spark stations and give the
BROADCAST listener 100 per cent re-
Iiaole service throughout the year.
me farmer and rural communities, he
SAID, Will be the greatest benehciaries
OF the superpower stations
Fearing that the proposal of the
Eadlo Corporation of America to erect
tne nrst superpower station outside
OF New York. City. is a bold step to-
ward a monopoly of the ether. hun
dreos OF persons in all sections Of the
country, broadcast listeners as well as
L. inc. smali broadcasters, have deluged
Secretary Of Commerce Hoover with
kilograms protesting. against any
monopoly in the industry. Sporadic
outoursts OF disapproyal against the
piah also have been heard in the con-
ference itself.
No Air Monopoly.
Secretary Hoover. however. re-
iterateo at the second general session
To-Day that a monopoly of the air
would never be allowed. Mr..
mowers statement was taken in
some quarters as the death kneil of
lhe Superpower proposition.
There is just one cardinal prin-
ciple IN the attitude of the Depart
ment OF Commerce in it's relation TO
the government of radio" said Mr.
Hoover. I'VE intend to encourage
wherever it lies in our power. the
development of this art in every di-
rectloh TO Its maximum of service
70 the American people. 1t cannot
go develop IL there is any monopoly
in it, With so broadcasting stations
operating today, and with four or
hNe alternative methods Of inter
connections, there is no monopoly IN
radio today nor would a monopoly
ever be allowed
Active opposition to the superpower
plan came at meeting of the subcom-
mittee on power limitations yesterday
afternoon, when c. f. Erbstein. opera,
tor OF 0tion in Elgin. Ill, charge
that the erection of great statioi
which would blanket the country was
not in the public interest but in the
interest of the radio concerns propos-
ing them. The building of such power
ful stations, Erbstein declared, would
force smaller operators to increase the
power of their equipment.
Newspaper Representative Protests.
waiter y. Strong, renresenting the
American Newspaper Publishers As
Sociation. also voiced strong onnosi
tion to the super power plan on the
ground that there is no proof that
present powCa cannot be utilized TO
reach the distances desired by the
higher powered stations. lie urged
that the development of present
equipment be awaited.
1t is mostly upon the contention
that the high powered stations would
cut out the lesser ones. that oppos-
ton TO their construction is being ad-
vanced. The objection also was made
that the operation on wave lengths to
prevent interference would make IL
impossible to receive their signals on
the present ordinary receiving set,
Floor Discussions Open.
With the convening of the second
general session today, the floor was
thrown open to any one for proposals
to solve the numerous problems Of
the radio industry. Detailed study OF
the problems as they are developed
in discussion is being left TO the seven
I
posed of experts and representatives
of all phases of the industry.
The conference, which was called
by Secretary of Commerce Hoover
was said today already to have ex-
ceeded the hopes of the Secretary i'll
both attendance and work accomplish
ed, about half of the questions pre-
sented to it having been considered
and definite policies outlined
Chief among the AZ hc
subcommittee sessions yesterday af-
ternoon concerned the Limitation OF
power to be placed on broadcastinE
stations, discussion that promises to
continue for two days-possibly until
the conference is adjourned.
Suggests Short Wave Plan.
Short wave transmitting and relay
ing through booster stations was sug-
gested by c. W. Horn of the West
inghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company as one solution of inter
ference problem. Considerable expert
menting has been done with short
wave transmission. using a regular
broadcasting station as a relay, Mr..
Horn pointed out, but explained that
a booster station similar to boosters
on telephone circuits could be utilized
instead of broadca sting stations.
Thus, a radio program could be re-
use of additional broadcasting sta
| tions.
Mr.. Horn referred to the success OF
the short-wave system in relaying the
account of the recent Wills-Firpo fight
to Buenos Aires, where il was rebroad
cast for the Argentine people.
George S. Davis, representing the
American Steamship Owners Associa
ton and the Maritime Association of
the Boston Chamber of Commerce, told
the delegates that while interference
from ship stations was undesirable, 1t
was not practical to suggest legislation
that would require all ship owners to
install continuous wave apparatus.
C. Francis Jenkins, Washington in
ventor. explained the theory of his
latest invention-transmiss of pic
lures by radio-and predicted that
the time was not far distant when
broadcasting stations would be trans
mitting the scenes at which their
programs originate. Radio listeners
are now using their ears, he said
but soon they will be using their
eyes as well in Snatching radio
tertainment from the air. The:s -
thousands of wave bands above the
frequency audibility which can be
used for such purpose, MIR. Jenkins
explained.