To Prevent Collisions

A New York electrlcian has invented a compa88 whlch, if it will do all he claims for it, will be of valué to the mariners of inland watera as well as to those who salí the trackless salt wastes. It will, he says, avert all dangers of collisions between ships, and he is trylng to interest the navy department In hls device. Being an Instrument for the good of mankind the Inventor will no doubt release all pecuniary claim to it and make it free to the world. The compass is about two and one-half lnches in diameter and three Anches high,. Under the needie is a strip of metal. Underneath the face of the compass Is a saucer in which a chemical is placed. The whole is connected electrically with an enlarged borseshoe magnet, ten feet long, made of soft iron bars. The poles of the magnet are connected by wire with thfe ship's dynamo, thus giving the electrical power. The moment a ship enters the magnetic field of the vessel which carries this compass, which the inventor says he.calculates at six miles, the needie of the compass is directed in the direction of the ship. In turning it passes over the metal píate on the face, and as it does so it closes an electric circuit which sets alarm bells ringing, telling of the approach of the other vessel. "I was on the steamer La Gascogne six years ago," said he, "looking it the compass. Suddenly I noticed the needie shake and turn half way around. The captain pointed to a steamer four nües off. 'That steamer,' said he, 'is oaded either with steel rails or canned e;oods. It has deflected our needie by inagneti." ttraction.' That set me to thinking, and my magnet is the result. ! esperlmented in the bay two weeks go with the magnet and it worked perectly. I shall soon experiment on some eraft furnished by the navy desartillen!. "