Wire
a metallic rod, thread, or filament of small and uniform diameter. The largest size, numbered 0000, of the Birmingham wire-gauge, has a diameter of .454 inch; but smaller sizes even than this, except when drawn out to considerable lengths, are generally known as bars or rods. Lead wire for the manufacture of bullets may considerably exceed the above diameter. Wire is usually cylindrical, but it is also made of various other forms, as oval, half-round, square, and triangular, and of more complicated shapes for small pinions; for forming the pattern on blocks used in calico-printing, and for other purposes. Used absolutely for telegraph wire, and hence, colloquially, applied to the telegraph itself; as, to send a message by wire. Used in hunting language for wire-fencing. Wire of Lapland is a shining slender substance made from the sinews of the reindeer, soaked in water, beaten and spun into thread.
Being then coated with tin, it is used by the Laplanders to embroider their clothes.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY. A system of wireless telegraphy has been developed through three different methods, which may be classified as conduction, induction, and wave methods. By the method of conduction, currents are sent through the earth from one electrode to another, at the sending station. By the induction method, use is made of a property passed by alternating currents, of exciting similar currents in neighboring conductors with the aim of obtaining as intense a current as possible in the secondary circuit. The two methods were combined by W. H. Preece, of England. The third method is by the use of electromagnetic waves. This was introduced and developed by William Marconi, to whom is generally ascribed the invention of wireless telegraphy. After experiments were carried on through many years, practical use of wireless telegraphy was first demonstrated in the rescue of the steamship "Republic", in 1909, and of the survivors of the steamship "Titanic", in 1912. Both of these vessels were equipped with wireless telegraphy by which notification of disasters was given. Within a short period, all trans-Atlantic steamers and naval vessels were fitted with wireless telegraph apparatus, and wireless stations were erected in many parts of the United States, the British Isles, continental Europe, and other parts of the world. Service between the Eiffel Tower, Paris, and the United States was put into effect in 1911, and in 1913 wireless communication WIRT were marines, were equipped with wireless ap- practically all war vessels, including sub- Japan in 1915. During the World War lished between the United States and and Nauen, cation by wireless telegraphy was estaben, Germany. Direct communilished between the United States and Japan in 1915. During the World War practically all war vessels, including submarines, were equipped with wireless apparatus. equipped with wireless installations and Aeroplanes these proved an effective means of locating enemy troops and batteries. likewise Wireless telegraphy was developed to a high state of efficiency during the war.
It is also used for commercial purposes mercial matter. The United States has established a widespread system of aerial communication. Stations are established at Arlington, Va., Panama Canal Zone, San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in Samoa, and in the Philippine Islands. and in the transmission of news and Wireless Telephony. - A system of telephone one communication in which the action of the transmitter brings about fluctuations in electric waves which are radiated through space by a high frequency current. These fluctuations are reproduced at the distant station in the form of the original sounds. Wireless telephony differs from wireless telegraphy in that the transmission of waves is continuous instead of interrupted. Wireless telephony has become a practical method of communication between ships at sea and between moving railroad trains. The distance to which tween ships at sea and between moving sounds can be transmitted is practibetween New York and San Francisco, cally limitless. Communication is held sounds can be transmitted is practibetween New York and San Francisco, and between Arlington, Va., and Honolulu. The system was developed to a point of great efficiency in aeroplanes during the war. This use was especially notable in the great Meuse-Argonne campaign of 1918, when the American Signal Corps successfully directed operations beyond the lines by the use of wireless Corps successfully directed operations paign of 1918, when the American Signal notable in the great Meuse-Argonne camtelephony. an