Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-01

ground SAplOTdClOIlS, eIeCCrlC power
companies, which must keep their
dynamos humming during devastating
! storms that tear away wire lines-these
are some of the necessary private serv-
ices for which the precious channels
were provided during the year.
AS 1880 dawns the Universal Wire
less Communications Co., Inc, throws
open the first segment of its proposed
nationwide network for a domestic
communication service. A dozen cities,
largely in the East, are linked. BY the
end of 1881 it must tie up. without
wires. ITO cities throughout the country.
Universal obtained the bulk of fire.
quencies available for such service be-
cause it claimed. and proved to the
commissions satisfaction, that it could
do more with them from the engineer
ing standpoint. The others in the wild
scramble for frequencies were left in
the lurch. with only the Radio Corpor-
alton of America getting domestic fire.
quencies.
News dispatches from all corners of
the globe will come into the United
States via radio. to be redistributed
among domestic newspapers, again by
radio The continent itself should be
covered" like blanket, through radio
transmission of news. as one of 1925
contributions. Press Wireless, Inc, a
public utility organization which must
serve all press interests alike, was
formed during the year.
International Communications
In the international portion of the
short wave band, from the operations
end, there was little of moment. But
the threat of foreign domination of
communications grew more real as
British and other nations merged their
wire and cable holdings, while Amer
lean communications, blocked by the
statutes, were forced to go it alone, and,
withal, severely competitive among
themselves. A determined move to lift
the statutory barrier is being made as
Americas only hope of retaining her
high place in world communications.
A fusion of r. G. A. International Tele-
phone and Telegraph and Western
Union. the three competitive COM
panies, each safeguarding in itself, Is
sponsored by Owen D. Young. head Of
the former company. and by SostheneS
Behn, the I. T. & T. president.
International radio-telegraph and
radio-telephone services were in opera
ton full blast during the preceding
year. working with every continent.
In international negotiation as to the
use OF these freQuencieS, both in the
domestic and transoceanic portions,
there was activity. At a technical con-
ference held at The Hague in September,
the leading radio minds of the world
agreed upon reduction in the width of
these channels by one-half, because of
material progress made in apparatus
design, which permits operation on
narrower channel widths without in
reference. This had the effect virtual
~ of doubling the number Of fire.
Quencies available to the world.
Aviation in Radio.
After months of experiments, avia-
ton found its communications haven in
the low, intermediate and high frequen-
cies. Both radio-telephone and tele-
graph communications from planes in
fight to the ground were established,
and are being increased day by day.
Because aviation is entirely dependent
upon radio for communications, it was
given the pick of the ether.
In August plan for orderly alloca-
ton Of channels among the air trans
port lines and for the use Of taxi or
itinerant planes was worked out. The
SO channels were divided up, a portion
for use comparatively by the air trans
port companies, for telephone and code
contacts, and the other apportioned equi-
tably for specific uses. The Anyways
Division of the Commerce Department
supervised the distribution. Particular
precautions were taken to provide a
reservoir of frequencies in anticipation
of commercial aviation's growth.
Radio aids to air navigation, like
range beacons, were added to during
the year. The greatest Of the aviation
hazards, flying through fog and "Soupy'
weather, are being obliterated through
the use of radio "homing" devices. BY
the simple expedient of watching an
instrument on his dashboard the pilot
can tell when he Is on the right course.
The entire country is being charted with
directive beacons so that pilot can fly
to the exact location Of the beacon and
thereby locate the landing field without
ever seeing land.
The Industry.
A temporary recession at the years
flag end, brought about by the general
business hesitation after the stock mar
ket crash, did not deter the radio in
dustry from vaulting over its record Of
the preceding year. Although only
rough approximations are available, it
is estimated that the one-billion dollar
mark was reached in annual turnover.
There was material reduction in
prices of receiving sets, tubes and other
accessories during the year. Brought
about to some extent by mass produc-
ton and general sterilization of the
market, the predominating factor, how
ever was the intense competition which
developed.
The years new wrinkle in receiving
sets was the screen grid tube. heralded
as making possible extreme fidelity of
reproduction, and bringing to the lis
tener velvety depths Of tone never be-
fore achieved. Remote control opera
ton of receivers was doomed for 1929,
but did not win national listener &C
claim.
Radios 1928 turnover was estimated
at $3.50 900 900 by the trade. The in
creased activity in -telegraphy with
scores of new transmitters purchased,
a decided upturn in export trade. the
almost universal adoption Of installment
selling of sets, and the price decline
united in making 1929 radios banner
year, trade leaders declare.
A survey made by the Commerce De-
partment during the year concluded
that, in all its branches, from mes
sengers to magnates, some $50 900 per-
sons are provided livelihoods by radio.
The pay roll itself is estimated at about
$400 900 900 annually.
LIE SLupSloous SioWIu VI Eduio Slice
1921. when it had its advent. may be
| cleaned from other industrial figures
| In 1929 there are 800 manufacturers of
! sets and accessories $4,000 wholesalers,
| jobbers and distributors, and more than
| IS 900 retailers. In broadcasting it is
estimated that the 1872 commercial sta
lions have about 10000 local and ma
tional advertising accounts, which
translate themselves into expenditures
Of SIS 100000 annually for radio adver-
Using.
Some 62,0o0,0oo American people
more than half the Nations population
listen to radio programs, grouped
about 100000 receiving sets. This is