LARGEST IN THE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 7

LARGEST IN THE WORLD

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SCHEME.

South Africa is to have the largest wireless station in the world, states a Capetown correspondent. The Government having accepted the scheme put forward by the Marconi. Company, it only remains for the sanction of the Union Parliament to be given for work to be begun at once. South Africa will then take its place in the great Imperial wireless chain that is being linked around, the British Empire. The engineer who is in charge of the construction of the station arrived in Capetown in December. He said that he was quite satisfied from the reports of the experts who had previously examined many prospective sites throughout South Africa that the possibilities for long-range wireless at the Cape were illimitable. The vicinity of Capetown as a site had been very thoroughly examined and reported upon most favourably. There was no reason why it should not be suitable. The prevalent idea that the mountains round the city contained large deposits of manganese or other minerals inimical to satisfactory operating was quite without foundation. No such drawbacks existed. In addition to the consideration of its geographical advantages,, exhaustive experiments were made with th© wave lengths of American and European "stations, and the results of these indicated that Capetown was the best site from the reception point of view.

"The installation," said the engineer, "will be the biggest in the world, and will give direct services to practically every part of the world." He expected to have the station in communication in about eighteen months from the beginning of the work.

The essence of the Marconi scheme as accepted by the Government is the formation of a South African Wireless Company for the purpose of erecting and working a high-power station capable of direct communication with Great Britain, Australia, and other parts of the world. Kour-fifths of the capital required (which will total half a million sterling) ■will be found by the Marconi Company, of London. The' remaining £100,000 will, be open to public subscription in South. Africa. The rates from the Union to England are in no case to exceed-the following: Full-rate messages Is 4d per word, deferred and Government messages 8d per word, Press messages 2£d per word. The aerial will be supported by 24 lattice steel masts. These will be tendered for locally. Hundreds of men will be employed locally, and all possible material is to be purchased in South Africa.