56 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



so far as 1 have learned, is in the wireless telegraph system of Signor 

 Marconi, in which the collectors at the poles are kites of thin copper, 



these being connected 

 by small copper wires 

 to either the receiver 

 or the transmitter, on 

 the ground. Though 

 Marconi claimed to 

 have sent readable sig- 

 nals twelve miles. Su- 

 perintendent Preece, 

 of the English Govern- 

 ment Telegraph Sys- 

 tem, in endeavoring to 

 duplicate these suc- 

 cesses, was unable to 

 obtain a satisfactory 

 result at a greater dis- 

 tance than two or three 

 miles. 



The experiments at 

 Blue Hill have shown 

 a difference in elec- 

 trical conditions at dif- 

 ferent heights, and in 

 different conditions of 

 the atmosphere in re- 

 movement; and there seem 



Showing ring at the upper end of the wire line to whieli are 

 attached the strings of two kites, also the cord bearing 

 the meteorograph. The two round objects at tlie bottom 

 represent the two round cups of the anemometer. 



spect to temj^erature, humidity, and 



good reasons for confidence that ultimately this element will yield 



valuable results in more than one direction. 



It is not improbable that if metallic kites could be sent up to the 

 verge of some higher stratum of the atmosphere, where the con- 

 tact of the diversely moving strata sometimes evolves noticeable 

 auroras, some considerable electric charge might be obtained for 

 telegraphic or telephonic transmission, and, possibly, by storage, 

 for light and power. 



In considering the various phenomena of kite-flying, however, 

 we must not neglect the kites themselves. The effort of the scien- 

 tists has from the first been to find a form which would give readi- 

 ness of ascent, steadiness in flight, lifting power, and capacity of 

 reaching great altitudes, together, of course, with mechanical stabil- 

 ity and endurance under all conditions. Because of their necessary 

 slenderness, and their delicacy of adjustment for balance and pull, 

 all flat kites have been found precarious; consequently, not meeting 



