174 
FESSENDEN. 
problem, inasmuch as it worked as well, or slightly better, on 
a single-phase circuit, giving the necessary starting torque, 
etc., than the polyphase motors worked on the polyphase 
circuits. This notable achievement of Steinmitz removes 
the last important disability from the alternating current 
system. 
In addition, the invention of this motor is destined to 
have a very important influence upon long distance traction 
by electric current, as it will now not be necessary to have 
three or even two conductors, one being sufficient, thus sim¬ 
plifying matters considerably; and whilst, as will be seen 
from the facts mentioned above, there is no present possibil¬ 
ity of running long lines from one central plant, since the 
stations can hardly be more than 200 miles apart, for econom¬ 
ical working, yet it may well be that in the near future we 
shall see such lines as those between Philadelphia and New 
York worked entirely by electricity. 
TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH. 
In telegraphic work the chief feature recently has been 
the interest taken by the companies in multiplex systems. 
Ten years ago there was no demand for such systems, and 
the writer remembers, when he had invented, in 1891, the 
system of multiplex telegraphy by sine waves of varying 
periodicities, received by properly tuned circuits, the advice 
he received on asking a prominent telegraphic official in 
regard to placing it before the company with which the 
latter was connected. It was more forcible than printable. 
Two reasons have combined to change this: first, the in¬ 
creasing volume of business, and, secondly, the now gener¬ 
ally admitted need for stronger, and therefore more expen¬ 
sive, construction of the lines. At present there are a number 
of very interesting systems being put into more or less prac¬ 
ticable use. Amongst these is Professor Rowland’s printing 
telegraph, which is operated by a typewriter at the sending 
end and operates a typewriter at the receiving end, being 
also capable of multiplexing. Numerous writing telegraphs 
