The Race of the Century

On Feb. 14 of the year 1901 THE SUN announced that NIKOLA TESLA had perfected his plans for machinery to telegraph without wires across the ocean, and it was estimated that eight months would be required before it would be at the public's service. The accidents customary to such new enterprises have prevented the realization of this prediction, though Mr. TESLA, we understand, says that it is a case of postponement only.

Yesterday GUGLIELMO MARCONI, whose system of wireless telegraphy over minor distances has been in practical use for many months, announced that he would be ready to telegraph over the ocean within a year.

We can imagine no grander competition than that for the beginning of the well-nigh miraculous business. But the question who will do it first has another and a bigger one behind it.

As yet, wireless telegraphy has not been developed to the degree of commercial use at which it becomes a financial prize to be fought for. The patents underlying it are of course without number. Whose patents are to prevail? Whose name is finally to stand as that of the inventor of wireless telegraphy?

In the case of every great invention some one of the claimants finally gets his name stamped upon it. BELL'S is identified with the telephone, EDISON'S with the incandescent light and TESLA'S with the transmission of electrical power. Is Marconi, or some other, to be the name of wireless telegraphy?

The world will watch the determination of this absorbing question with intense interest.