Evening star., 1924-06-29
RADIO TIGHTENS GRIP
Communication by Air Srs Euen Greater Interest March
of Events
of Events.

legislation covers a number of feat :
ures not in existing law, and brings =
up new problems which might be,
difficult to solve. So the radio in
terests generally were rather wef1
satisfied that it was not rushed
through in the last session. 80
Under recent appropriation the
transfer OF international radio ac-
counting from the Navy Department
to the bureau of navigation is pro-
vtded for, to take effect on July r.
In 1912 the Navy Department ham,
died SO much Of the worlds radio com
munication that it seemed advisable
to leave the collection of information
al accounts to the communications
section. In recent years. however, so
many commercial stations and ships
of all nations are handling radio traf-
fic that the work has increased to
such an extent that it has now been
decided to transfer several of the
clerks most familiar with this work
from the Navy to the bureau of navi-
cation to augment the personnel of
the radio division.
Most Important Work.
The radio division considers its
most important work to be ship in
spection. because that had to do with
the safety of life. 1t has always held
to this as a prime duty-trying to
inspect every foreign and American
vessel which carries fifty or more
persons from our ports, and trying
to inspect these every time they clear
because the apparatus is so delicate.
AS far as the public interest is con-
cerned, however, the broadcasting
service comes first. This has had
a wonderful development in the
hrn 1oa ffrc
began to interest the whole country
and interference complaints came
pouring in. This multiplied the work
of the field inspectors.
now been charted into nine radio dis
tricts, each with supervisor in
charge, aided by twelve radio in
spectors and eight assistant in
spectors. During the fiscal year
beginning July l, next Tuesday, the
assistant inspectors and a few clerks.
This force has to inspect the sta
tions, issue licenses, assign wave
lengths, give them call letters, etc.
Character of Stations.
The scope of this work NAV be
better understood when it is known
that besides the $50 broadcasting
stations there are ~ stations en-
gagged In international communica-
ton, IS stations working with ships,
2,723 American ship stations (ex-
elusive of the stations on all foreign
shlps entering our ports carrying SO
or more paSsengers), III point-to-
point commercial stations, 3S4 ex-
perimental stations, SO technical and
training school stations. 2S2 special
amateur stations and 1900 general
m a fen CT D
SIDES examining and licensing the
operators for all these stations com
plants of interference have to be in
ses!lsateo' technical problems solved,
lations of the law prevented and ad-
vice and assistance given to every
one relative to the use of radio forr
commercial or private purposes.
Inc reailocation of wave lengths
which became effective May IS. 1929
based on the recommendation Of the
second radio conference. while it
greatly. increased the work of this
inspection service by requiring closer
1nspeetion mere ct n and and adjustment. has
general use of the air.
All this work heads up in the Office
Of Chief Radio Supervisor Terrell in
Washington. where he is assisted by
The nine field divisions are located
and in charge of supervisors as fol-
lows: % Boston, c. c. holster; (2J-
New York. Arthur Bachelor: (5}.
Ga, Walter Van Nostrand, jr.: (5)
New Orleans. La, r. G. De1ler; (6)
San Francisco, J. E. Dillon: (7l
Seattle. Wash, Q. r. Redfern; (s)
Detroit, Mich, S. w. Edwards, and
(9) Chicago. E. A Beane
While the inspection work extends
to Alaska, no federal inspector has
ever been sent there, because of in.
sufficient appropriations, nor is one
likely to go on that mission this
summer. The inspections have been
made, however, in Hawaii and Porto
Rico several times.
Largest Territory Covered.
The biggest territory covered is in
the ninth district, which includes
twelve states. besides the upper
peninsula of Michigan and work on
the Great Lakes. From the heaquar-
ters in Chicago, Supervisor Beane
with two assistants, covers the en-
tire stretch west, including Indiana
and Colorado and north to the Cana
dian boundary.
In the fifth district there are two
men with headquarters in St Louis.
who cover the entire stretch of eight
| STATES peI"cSH AldudiHd anu tNS"
Mexico and the Gulf ports.
In the fourth district there are four
states south from North Carolina
and Porto Rico.
The sixth district, with headquar-
ters in San Francisco, comprises four
|states-California, Nevada, Utah and
Arizona, besides Hawaii.
The jurisdiction of the seventh dis
trict includes Alaska, besides Mon
tana. Wyoming, Idaho, Washington
and Oregon.
The eighth district shares with the
ninth district work with the vessels
on the Great Lakes as well as cover
ing the southern peninsula of Mich
igan, Ohio, West Virginia and the
larger portion of Pennsylvania and
New York.
The third district includes part Of
New Jersey. part of Pennsylvania.
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia
The second district while the
smallest in area is the most impor-
tant, with headquarters in New
York 1t is important principally be-
cause it is the headquarters of ship.
ping and headquarters OF ths big
radio corporations. 1t includes por--
tions of New York, Pennsylvania and
a portion of New Jersey.
The first district includes the New
England states, with headquarters in
Boston. 80