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Show HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENTIFIC WORLD Telephone Conversations Carried on Between New York, Washington and San Franctsco. Perhaps the highest achievement in the scientific world was reached Monday afternoon when telephone conversations were carried on between be-tween Washington, New York, Eos-ton Eos-ton and San Francisco with as much ease as though those conversing were only a few miles -apart. This remarkable re-markable achievement was enjoyed by Pesident Wilson of ' the United States, Professor Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone; Thomas A. Watson, the first man to whom Mr. Bell ever talked over the telephone; President-Moore of .the Panama-Pacific exposition, and many others. It was the inauguration of the transcontinental commercial telephone tele-phone system and it required over '3,400 miles of wire to connect th.; eastern with the western coast. It was as though the Atlantic had reached over in its mighty splendor arid shaken hands with the peaceful Pacific. The. conversations occured about 4 o'clock eastern time, and 1 o'clock San Francisco tiuiv. President Wilson was the first per son not connected with the telephone company to enjoy the privilege of hearing a human voice over 3,400 ,'miles of wire. He stepped to the telephone, tel-ephone, and, placing the receiver to 'his ear.said in a very clear and impressive im-pressive manner, to President Moore of the Panama and Pacific Exposition: Exposi-tion: "It appeals to the imagination to speak across the continent. It is a fine omen for the exposition that the first thing it has done is to send its voice from sea to sea. I congratulate you on the fine prospects for a successful suc-cessful exposition. I am confidently hoping to take part in it after the adjourment of Congress. May I not send my greetings to the management and to all whose work has made it possible and has made it the great event it promises to be, and to convey my personal congratulations to you." As the President finished, President Presi-dent Moore of the great exposition responded: "We are looking forward for-ward to your coming here. I think you will be well pleased wit.h what we have done. I assure you, Mr. President, that you will never receive re-ceive a welcome that will be more cordial or mor enthusiastic." Thirty four years ago, when Alex ander Graham Bell invented the telephone, tel-ephone, his first conversation was with Mr. Thomas A. Watson. They talked over a lino two miles long. At the close of President Wilson's talk with President Moore, Mr. Bell, who was in New York, came in on the line, and Mr. Watson, who was in San Francisco, was also connected, and the three held a short conversation, conversa-tion, congratulating each other on the scientific achievement. The president pres-ident said: "I consider it an honor to be able to express my admiration for the inventive genius and scientific scienti-fic knowledge that has made this possible, and my pride that this vital cord should have been stretched across America, as a new symbol of our energy and our enterprise. Will you not convey my cordial congratulations congratu-lations to Mr. Bell,, and I want to convey to you (meaning Mr. Watson) my personal congratulations." It is an interesting fact that Dr. Bell and Mr. Watson used the same instruments Monday in accomplish 'ng the transcontinental conversation that they used thirty-four years ago in accomplishing their two-mile conversation. con-versation. They also used a part of the same wire used then. President Wilson also talked with Theodore N. Vail, president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, who was at Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia. In each city from which the conversations con-versations were held, the greatest preparations had been arranged prenarations that were never excelled excell-ed in the history of the cities. The pity officials, state officials and others prominently connected with the public pub-lic and commercial life of each individual indi-vidual community were present, and nil enjoyed the wonderful feat accomplished. |