CHAPTER IV | |
THE USES FOR THE BURLINGAME SYSTEM OF TELEGRAPHY | |
| IF Burlingame did nothing more than replace the Morse system in the sending of messages and press dispatches the world would owe him a debt of gratitude; but his invention opens up new fields which are beyond the achievements possible with all other telegraphic machines.
A cursory glance at the many practical uses for the telegraphing typewriter readily shows that Burlingame has reached a goal not only beyond his fondest hopes, but what might be expected in this progressive, quick-moving age of ours where we accomplish in minutes what required hours for our grandfathers to perform. Of all the uses described by Burlingame to the writer the most interesting and practical in utility and service to the public is what he terms "the news ticker service." | |
| The News Ticker News Day and Night |
Subsidiary companies using his machines will be formed in each city and town. There will be a central news station in each community run in connection with a newspaper, or the Associated Press. In the places of business and homes of subscribers will be little receiving instruments weighing only five pounds. Each instrument will be leased just as the telephone is, for a nominal sum monthly. Commencing early in the morning, and continuing all day long and into the hours of the evening, the news of the world will be sent to these business houses and homes all over the city. The little receiver or ticker will print the news in page form on a roll of paper that unreels from the instrument. The news will be very brief, just enough to give the gist of the matter. The detailed account will be given to the public in the usual manner through the newspapers. |
| News Crazy | For example, the machines will give the telegraphic news for two hours in the morning. Whatever happens anywhere, just as soon as the news is gathered, it will be sent on these machines. Imagine the satisfaction the subscriber will derive in getting the news so quickly and concisely. And we must admit that we Americans are "news crazy." |
| The financial news will then be given for two hours, followed by the sporting news and local news for an equal period. Then general news will be sent out the remainder of the evening and night.
Electrical experts, newspaper men and business men who have investigated Burlingame's invention say that there will be more "news tickers" in use within two years than there were telephones in the first fifteen years, and later there will be more news tickers installed than all the telephones combined. A moment's reflection on the wonderful achievements in the world of invention during the past few years quickly conveys to one the positive assurance that such will be the case. |