1908.] 



on Transatlantic Wireless Telegraphy. 



113 



which wrecked the masts and aerial at Poldhu on September 18, 1901, 

 but by the end of November the aerial was sufficiently restored to 

 enable me to complete the preliminary tests which I considered 

 necessary prior to making the first experiment across the Atlantic. 



Another accident to the masts at Cape Cod seemed likely to post- 

 pone the tests for several months more. I therefore decided that in 

 the meantime I would use a purely temporary receiving installation 

 in Newfoundland for the purpose of testing how far the arrangements 

 in Cornwall had been conducted on right lines. 



The transmitting elevated conductor employed at Poldhu during 

 the experiments with Newfoundland consisted of 50 almost vertical 

 copper wires supported at the top by a horizontal wire stretched 

 between two masts 48 metres high and 60 metres apart. These 



FIC.G 



wires converged together at the lower end in the shape of a large fan, 

 and were connected to the transmitting instruments situated in a 

 building (Fig. 6). _ .,.,.^ 



The transmitting condenser used with this aerial had a capacity 

 of -SQ^h of a microfarad, and was charged to a potential sufficient to 

 produce a suitable spark discharge between spheres 3 inches in 

 diameter, Ij inch apart, the wave-length being 1200 feet. 



The actual power employed for the production of the waves was 

 about 15 kilowatts. 



I left for Newfoundland on November 27, 1901, with two assis- 

 tants. As it was impossible at that time of the year to set up a 

 permanent installation with poles, I decided to carry out the experi- 

 ments by means of receivers connected to elevated wires supported 

 by balloons or kites — a system which I had previously used when 



Vol. XIX. (No. 102) T 



