Evening star., 1925-12-06
An Electrician
of New jersey

1hOIlaS "A. LdlSon was but SlshtIE
~. -, known in this
AL LlectIlcldH country, and in
of New jersey ID rnT ero rb 10 VIII wing
ed in The Star Of December ?. 1875.
he is referred to as IAN electrician Of
New Jersey:
THE Good Book is authority for
the statement that there is nothing
new under the sun, and yet we are
continually having inventions, dis
coverieS, etc. which to all appear
anCes possess the merit OF novelty.
An electrician of New jersey now
claims TO have discovered a hitherto
unknown natural force in connection
with electricity and by actual expert
ment has demonstrated the possibility
of sending messages over cables or
wires not insulated. Poles and glass
inSulators are done away with by
this new discovery and it is only
necessary to make an attachment to
! the railroad track, or to a wire laid
on the earth. and the message can
be as readily transmitted as by the
present process. Should the entire
practicability of the new process be
established much of the cumbrous
and expensive apparatus now in use
in connection with telegraphy can be
dispensed with.
In a subsequent issue, December 4.
1875. is more on the subject. with the
name of the electrician of New Jer-
Sey" disclosed:
THE discovery of the new 'etheric
force, referred to in Thursdays Star,
is attracting much attention, for the
reason, first. that the experiments
already made have been, to appear
ances, entirely successful and prom
ise important results, and. second, be
cause of the character of the discov-
erer. Mr.. T. \. Edison, who is a
practical telegrapher and the inventor
of the quadrupleX system by which
four messages may he transmitted
simultaneously through the same
wire. Unlike the Kelley motor man,
he does not hide his light under a
bushel, but he makes his experiments
before any who may desire to witness
them and be convinced of the novelty
of his discovery. As stated. the new
force is not affected by the contact
with the earth, but performs its oper-
ations Independent of insulators. and
herein consists its immense practical
value.
ITO give an idea of the remarkable
character Of the experiments, it may
be stated that on Sunday. last. mes
sages were sent from the laboratory
at Mr.. Edison's house over the street
| gas pipes. the only means of com
munication, the wires being attached
to the burners at each end. and there
being no circuit. Messages We're also
sent, by attaching wires to the West
ern Union lines, to New Brunswick
thence to New York and back to
Newark, over 20 miles and an in
complete circuit. the spark being as
strong as that shown by the battery
circuit. If the wire on which the
etheric current Is conducted be at
tached to a gas fixture every other
fixture in the house is instantly
charged and enlits bright, peculiar
sparks on the application of a knife
blade or other metallic substance.
| Experiments also demonstrate the
singular fact that the human body
is a good conductor of this mysterious
force and that the person through
whom the current passes experiences
no unusual sensation as in the case of
electric shock. 1t is further asserted
and those who witnessed the ex-
periments seem to believe it-that by
this force messages can he sent
under the Atlantic on q single unin-
Sulated wire, or, to put it more
strongly, messages can be sent over
| the iron wire sheathing of the pres
ent cables, and that without the
knowledge of the operators of the
cable.
Should all that is claimed for this
discovery prove true, messages, it is
! thought. could be sent to Europe at
| a cost of less than a cent a word, for
| a single wire would be all that is
necessary to transmit them. Presi-
dent Orton of the Western Union
| Telegraph Co., on being approached
| on the subject, is said to have dis
missed 1t with, oh, yes; 1 guess Mr..