Evening star., 1927-04-20
ONE SET TO EVERY
| 1SPERSONS |NU. S.
America Leads World With
| $500, 1000 Receivers in
Use for Radio.

Unofficial estimates place the num-
ber of radio sets in use in the United
States at 6,500,000, or about one to
every IS persons. This country thus
leads the world in the per capita en-
joyment of radio, but not by a very
large margin. The British, who claim
to have perfected radio as far as and
even beyond the point attained by
American manufacturers, say they
have one set to every 20 inhabitants.
England leads Europe in the num-
ber of radio sets in use. Latest fig
ures from abroad, however, show that
the United Kingdom, where radio sta
tions are government operated, does
not lead in the number of stations.
There are 20 in the British Isles.
while Sweden has 81, Germany 23 and
Russia I9.
Sweden follows England with one
set to every 25 persons and after
Sweden comes Austria with one to 20.
Denmark follows with one to IS. Ger
many is next on the unofficial list with
one to 42. Norway. CZechoslovakia,
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium
and Finland follow with diminishing
radio population.
It is significant that radio is chiefly
popular in the countries of high liV-
ing standards and fairly high purchas-
ing power, although the comparative
standing of nations in several in
stances bellies this statement. SwitZer-
land for example, is a continental
radio center and has at least six good
stations, yet has only one set to about
so persons.
Germany is supposed to have made
rapid strides in radio. but lags behind
four European nations of considerably
smaller population. In Germany
crystal and small tube sets predomi-
nate. and this is the case in most
European countries with the exception
of the United Kingdom.
Admiral Billiards. official debut be-
fore the microphone will be made Sat
urday night at the National Press
Club. Although he spoke over the
radio on the Pacific Coast recently,
this will mark the formal introduc-
ton of the chairman of the radio COM
mission. A hook-up of stations with
WRC will broadcast his talk and sew
eral entertainment features.
Anticipating adverse reception con-
ditions, DIX dialers were given quite
a surprise last night when they dis
covered that the wave lengths would
yield their signals with fair volume
and clarity, and there was little inter
ference from static and heterodyning.
Fading, however, continued to be a
source of annoyance, although not as
prevalent as on the preceding night.
Stations in all sections could be
tuned with ease, but those in the
North seemed to have superior
strength. Several seldom-heard broad
casters in this section also were
picked up, one of them WSON, Wood
haven, n. Y, which was found close
to WSM, Nashville, Tenn.
The outstanding radio event tonight
will be the first 'Round-the-W World Din
ner" of Yale University, which viii be
broadcast through a chain of 81 sta.
tions, including WRC. Chief Justice
William Howard Taft will be the prin-
cipal speaker, although far from the
scene of the chief festivities in New
York, From his home in Washington
MIR. Taft will address the gathering in
New York, as well as groups of Yale
alumni in 200 other cities in the
country.
The program will be broadcast from
$50 to 1890 O'Clock Besides Mr.
Taft the speakers will be DIR. James
Rowland Angel, president of Yale;
DIR. George E. Vincent, president of
the Rockefeller Foundation, both of
whom will speak from New York;
Richard f. Grant, who will speak
from Cleveland; Harry B. Wallace,
who will speak from st. Louis; Hamil-
ton Holt, president of Rollins Col
lege, who will speak from Orlando,
Fla, and George 3. Cutten, president
of Colgate University, who will speak
from Utica, N. Y.
WRC also has scheduled its usual
array of Wednesday night attractions,
which include the Ipana Troubadours,
the Davis Saxophone Octet, the United
States Army band, the Perfect Dia-
mond' entertainers, and the National
Light Opera Co., which will sing
princess Ida"