Inventor Marconi Arrives in New York

Will Examine Proposed Sites for Wireless Telegraphic Stations.

Confident that the System Will Ultimately Be Adopted Throughout the Civilized World.

William Marconi, the inventor of the wireless telegraphic system, was an arrival on the White Star liner Majestic from Liverpool yesterday morning. Mr. Marconi will spend one month in America, during which time he will visit the New England coast and other places, and consider the advisability of various sites as wireless telegraphic stations. Concerning his plans, Mr. Marconi said:

“One of the objects of my visit is the establishing of wireless telegraphic stations at points along the coast, so that incoming and outgoing vessels can communicate with the shore from the sea. Among the transatlantic steamship lines, the North German Lloyd will be the first to take advantage of my system. I cannot say what other lines will adopt it.”

Referring to the use of the wireless apparatus on board warships, Mr. Marconi said that plants had been instituted on vessels of the British, German, and Belgian navies. In the British Navy twenty-eight vessels are equipped with the system, in the German three, and in the Belgian four.

“From all these,” said Mr. Marconi, “messages can be transmitted successfully from a distance of 200 miles at sea.

“I am confident that the system will ultimately be adopted throughout the world,” he continued. “The fact that several steamship companies have adopted the system, but are unable to utilize it, owing to the absence of receiving stations on shore, has prompted me to attempt to establish stations, both in this country and abroad. You do not hear so much of the system in England for the simple reason that it has become established. It is used over there now as one would the telephone or telegraph. America, I think, has been somewhat backward in taking hold of the matter.

“Even the Boers attempted to use the apparatus. Forty instruments were seized by the Government authorities at Cape Town, but on trial they would not work. They were German imitations of the Marconi system.”

Mr. Marconi was asked if he expected to go to Washington in order to bring the system more clearly before the Navy Department.

“I have made no such arrangements,” he replied, “but I am ready to go there should the department so desire.”

“How about the Tesla system, by means of which he proposes to flash messages across the sea?” was another question Mr. Marconi was asked.

“All that I can say in regard to that,” he answered, “is that Mr. Tesla’s declarations are very interesting. I do not see why it cannot be accomplished in time. The possibilities are unlimited.”

Gustav Schwab of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company when seen yesterday afternoon in regard to the placing of wireless telegraphic plants on liners of that company said that tests had been conducted from the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. He gave his indorsement to the possibilities claimed for the system. A special room for a plant on the new liner Kronprinz Wilhelm, which will be ready for the service next Fall, is being constructed in that vessel. A station connected with the Nantucket Lightship, Mr. Schwab said, would be a great improvement on existing conditions, as then news of vessels could be had ten hours before their arrival. Mr. Schwab’s opinions were shared by other steamship managers who were spoken to on the question.