Herbert Wells about Tesla. Radio and tower on Long Island. The world system. The blue sky ... Manifest Nikola Tesla

The night under the new one, 1900 was unusual. The twentieth century began - a century in which humanity was finally to take full advantage of the tremendous successes of science and technology achieved in the century past. It was no longer about the great power of electricity, firmly embedded in industrial practice and prepared the impending technical revolution. It was about more. The twentieth century was to be the century of fundamental social changes, bringing the further development of science and technology, the century of radio, automatics, new types of energy, the tremendous growth of productive forces.

Tesla met this year on top of another "bliss of success". Morgan's money gave him the opportunity to embark on a grandiose plan for the creation of the "World Energy Transfer," although this money was clearly lacking for its complete completion.

On the island of Long Island, stretching from the center of New York far to the north, in the county of Shafrok, Tesla purchased a plot of land of 200 acres. The choice of the place was very successful - 60 kilometers from New York, at the railway station of Shorham, the extensive possessions of Charles Varden were empty and around the acquired site called Vardenklif, for many miles there was not a single structure. This was exactly what you need to create a new laboratory.

20 acres were cleared under the laboratory building, the rest of the site was supposed to create a town with a population of at least 2 thousand people invited to build complex structures. Then, as the work was completed, the town was to be inhabited by thousands of laboratory workers and the most powerful radio station in the world.

"Vardencliffe will be the radio technical capital of the world," Tesla thought, leading the work on creating a powerful radio station designed not only for transmitting on all sorts of waves any messages, but also for many applications of radio technology known only in our time: telecontrol, location and other ¹⁶ . The second station for transmission to all points of the globe of electric power for power needs and lighting, he intended to build near Niagara Falls. Hardly anyone other than the inventor himself, firmly believed in the feasibility of this grandiose project. The fantasy of his dreams amazed everyone who knew them ¹⁷ .

Once in the autumn evening of 1901 in the laboratory of Tesla on Houston Street, 46 a cheerful laugh came from Catherine Johnson.

- You can see the famous American electrician Nicolas Tesla? Or is he busy with receiving signals from Mars?

Tesla looked at her in bewilderment, not deciding yet how to treat Katharin's words. He invited her into the office and said discontentedly:

"Is there another newspaper sensation about my work?"

"No, dear Tesla, no. This time more seriously. Robert received a new novel by Herbert Wells "The First Men on the Moon". We did not expect to find your name in it. But read it, "and she held out the fagot of Wells' novel.

"The reader, of course, remembers what interest in the beginning of the new century caused the message of Mr. Nikola Tesla, the famous American electrician, that he had received a message from Mars." His message drew attention to the fact that for a long time already known to the entire learned world, Then an unknown source in the world space reaches the Earth electromagnetic waves, "- read Tesla.

- Here's how! So, my experiments are so unusual that they even amazed such a fictionist as Wells. It is a great honor for a scientist to be mentioned in a fantastic novel. But how the dream of a flight to the moon will ever come true, so that what Wells predicts in this novel will come true. Radio signals from outer space, although they do not originate from Martians, will be studied and their sources established by mankind. Moreover, we ourselves can send signals to Venus or to Mars, even at their greatest distance, and if we do not inform our planet's earthly news about the inhabitants of these planets, then, in any case, watch these rays and wait for their reflections to return to Earth.

I believe in it. Thank you, Catharine, you brought me good news!

But no matter how fantastic Tesla's projects were, his numerous friends tried to do everything possible to implement the grandiose plan. One of Tesla's loyal friends was the famous architect of hospitals in the US, V. Grou, who first offered his help in designing an unprecedented structure.

Radio Tesla was supposed to represent a wooden frame tower 57 meters high, on top of which was a huge flattened copper ball. The technique of that time did not know the cases of construction of similar buildings made of wood. It was extremely difficult to stabilize such a tower; Because the whole gravity was concentrated in the upper part, and besides the wind load on it would be very great. But Grou solved this difficult problem, not overlooking the external architectural design of the grand structure. When the project was completed, a new difficulty arose: no one took up the construction of the tower. Hardly, after much persuasion, Grou persuaded one of the construction companies, which had the best in the US engineers in wireframe structures, to assume the construction of the tower, even without guarantee for its stability.

"It is unlikely that it will stand in the winter winds," said engineer Norcros Braz, who built many frame buildings.

"Nothing," Tesla and Groau answered, "we are sure of our calculations." It never happened that they turned out to be wrong.

"Well, if the company has withdrawn its responsibility and will not suffer losses, we will wait for the first winter storms, especially ferocious in these parts," Braz retorted, but did not refuse construction. By the way, the tower built by him stood not for a year or two, but more than ten years, and for its destruction, considerable amounts of dynamite were required.

And then she did not fall apart, but just collapsed to one side and lay for a long time.

While the tower was being built and the laboratory building was being built, Tesla came almost daily from New York to Shorham. Exactly at eleven o'clock he appeared at the construction and followed with extraordinary care its progress. When, in 1902, the tower was completed, Tesla moved there to a small cottage, where he lived in the following years.

The laboratory equipment transferred from Houston Street, 46, was installed in a very short time, but the installation of new powerful generators and other electrical equipment of the station itself was very difficult.

It was especially difficult to produce glass tubes with electrodes, the shape of which was known only to Tesla. These tubes were intended for the dispatch station and, judging by the notes in Tesla's notebooks, they represented something like the prototype of modern tube generators.

Tesla hurried to finish all work on the station, hurried the workers and paid well for those who agreed to work at least a little more normal working day. He himself was still indefatigable during these years (he was forty-six years old). Once, in an effort to speed up the installation of the long-awaited device, he worked with electricians for 24 hours in a row, then again as much, only briefly coming off for a meal. Gradually fatigued people one by one went to bed in different places in the big hall, but Tesla spent the third day without sleep, and then, when the apparatus was ready, he sat down for his tests. He went to sleep after 90 hours, spent almost without rest.

To explain to the whole world the significance of the station being built, Tesla published a brochure entitled "The World System". In it he gave a description of all his plans, told what to expect when fully implemented.

The plan he outlined was broadened-he covered almost everything that radio engineering had been able to achieve only in our day. It was not only a well-founded science fiction, but also a clear foresight of the ways of development of radio engineering.

What could be expected in the creation and development of the "World System"? Radiocommunications, covering the whole globe, will provide a lively exchange of signals, messages, telegrams, telephone conversations, and the transmission of images over a distance. Radiotelephone receivers, cheap and portable - no more than wristwatches - will allow you to listen to messages transmitted by stations of the "World System" anywhere in the world. It will be impossible to drown out the radio towers.

Describing his discoveries and inventions on which the operation of the "World System" is based, Tesla called his resonant transformer, an oscillator for obtaining high frequency currents, amplifying a transformer to excite standing waves in the earth and other instruments and apparatus. Tesla considered one of his most important discoveries of great practical value, the detection of standing waves during the Colorado experiments. The invention of selective transmission, that is, the possibility of simultaneous transmission of an infinite number of different signals without mutual interference and their impact on various receiving devices or parts thereof, was to ensure the development of "teleautomatics", the meaning of which Tesla had repeatedly shown in previous articles.

All these and many other of his inventions, described in the brochure on the "World System", provided, according to Tesla, the wireless transmission of free electricity in any quantity to anywhere in the world.

Tesla set such grandiose tasks for himself, having as his main goal the rapprochement of peoples, the creation of conditions for a long and lasting peace. But how far was it before the realization of this dream! On the political horizon, the leaden clouds of a close war were already gathering. And Tesla, an ardent opponent of wars, did everything in his power to prevent this storm from bursting. He made calls to help develop radio communications, believing that many misunderstandings and disputes provoking wars will be resolved if the peoples of all countries of the world can receive truthful information through his radio center. Would rather finish building the tower! ..

In one of the articles published in 1904, Tesla wrote about the tremendous opportunities open to humanity as a result of the application of his inventions. In an article entitled "Transmission of electric power without wires as a means of establishing universal peace," Tesla continued to develop his idea of ​​ensuring peace by creating a power-controlled, powerful weapon whose destructive power should alert war and violent supporters. In the same article, he drew a picture of the establishment of strong ties between peoples, the rapid growth of productive forces, the development of science and technology. For this, according to Tesla, an early completion of the first installation of the "World System" is necessary.

But he vainly called Tesla to the whole world.

It's been about five years (instead of the planned one year), and construction can not be completed because of the lack of required funds.

"Alas," Tesla wrote, "to this day, my installation of" wireless power transmission "has not been built, its construction has progressed too slowly over the past two years." The installation I'm currently building is just a toy. 10 million horsepower can only make a light shaking of the planet with a sign and a word - a telegraph and a telephone.When will I see completed this first installation, this large generator that I am currently developing, an installation from which a current of 100 million volts will pour through the earth? The installation, which will give an energy of the order of one thousand million horsepower, equal to the power of a hundred Niagara waterfalls, will shake the universe with such blows that the most sleepy electricians wake up from the sweet slumber, wherever they are - on Venus or on Mars ... This is not a dream, It is simply the achievement of scientific electrical engineering, requiring only high costs, a blind, cowardly, distrustful world! .. Mankind has not yet reached such a stage of development that it is voluntary to follow the sharp instinct of the inventor.

But who knows? Perhaps for the better, in this world any revolutionary idea or invention, instead of help and support, encounters obstacles and obstacles in its very inception, suffering from lack of funds, pedantry, narrow-mindedness and ignorance that it stifles and suffocates that it is exposed Severe trials and tribulations, entering into a fight with the heartless world of commerce. That's how we got the light. It is in this way that everything that was brilliant in the past was rejected, ridiculed, attacked, suppressed - only so that, by transferring all these tests to become even more powerful and triumphant. "

What a precise description of the position of the inventor, the advanced scientist in the world of exploitation and profit!

Throughout the world, Tesla's article was read with attention. Many newspapers and magazines in America and Europe responded to it. In the Russian magazine "Electricity" in 1905, an article by the famous electrical engineer S. Maizel appeared under the same title as the article by Tesla. It was very figuratively depicted a hopeless situation, created on the globe as a result of the Russo-Japanese War.

The Russian engineer wrote: "Hopes for a long and lasting peace turned out to be false." There was a bitter disappointment, the impossible was accomplished, and it seems to people who are dejected by a terrible slaughter that they will always be on the ground of war, that neither superb weapons nor millions of armies will keep them , Neither the propaganda of the world, nor the unimaginable costs, that there is no means to eliminate the war from "international relations", that eternal peace is an empty utopia.

On this sad pessimistic background, a bright spot is an article by Nikola Tesla, like a scrap of blue sky between the heavy gray clouds surrounding the horizon. Perhaps, Tesla's thoughts are utopian, but this is a utopia of genius; Perhaps his hopes will never come true, but they pour in us a new faith in the future of mankind, in the power of the human mind, in the invincible power of light and knowledge. Gray clouds can temporarily close the flickering blue patch of clear sky, but eventually clouds will disappear, the blue space will expand and the infinite expanse of azure sky will open. Did not dozens and hundreds of utopias come true, but can you say anything about utopia after all the acquisitions of science and technology? And yet Tesla's extraordinarily bold thoughts and hopes are so enticing, in them the frenzy of genius or genius madness is so evident in the places that the soul is shrinking, afraid to believe, you are afraid to take the delirium of a genius madman for scientific prophecy. "

But Tesla's dreams, of course, are not a fantasy, not a utopia, not a raving madman. These were searches, a passionate search for ways to what he saw in the haze of time, the search for what is happening only in our years. Tesla saw the development of electrical and radio engineering in all their diversity and grandeur, understood their importance in the development of science and technology. He stepped through many intermediate stages and saw the result of this development when others did not even represent the nearest steps. Of course, Tesla's plans were unclear to him. The way he chose to transmit electricity through the Earth required serious theoretical justification. It was also possible that he could discover new phenomena when he tried to excite standing waves in the Earth and study them experimentally. For this, first and foremost, its installation was needed, the Warden Cliff Tower "World System".

Yes, Tesla saw only one task before him: more likely to complete the construction of the tower, rather go to the practical proof of the feasibility of his vast plans! However, the construction of the station "World System" was slower and slower. Money Morgan came to an end, but it was necessary to do much more. So the day came when the bailiff knocked at the door of Tesla's office. Yes, undoubtedly, the "World System" is a great idea, but no one is obliged to supply equipment for it for free.

The executor set a deadline for payment of debts and warned of the seriousness of the situation. Tesla and without his warning knew about the catastrophe that was threatening him.

Soon the copper shell of the ball, which was to be installed on top of the tower, returned to the factory that produced it. After it came back to the plant a generator of 300 horsepower and appliances for its maintenance. Every day people came to the WardenCliff to take out some kind of loan equipment.

From Morgan Tesla received a letter with a notification of the termination of funding. No, Morgan did not understand the depth of Tesla's intentions. He was a completely different person than Westinghouse, who risked believing in a young scientist. Morgan was interested only in profits, a reliable income. To Morgan Tesla's letter, he replied bitterly: "I knew that you would refuse me ... How could I hope at all to lead to the shore the monster of Wall Street, with only a spider's thread in my hands. Saint Nikola, my protector and the greatest patron of all, Saint Nicolas and I agreed that we will always help each other.Some time all went well, but for three years now, he has forgotten me just like you. Say that you have fulfilled your contract with me, no, you did not fulfill it. "

In another letter Tesla wrote that Morgan's refusal can not prevent him from fulfilling his plans: "The harder the conditions in which I have to work, the more productive my work." However, there was no money. In despair, Tesla opened an office in New York, Broadway 165, trying to draw the attention of the capitalists to his project, but rumors that Morgan stopped financing the Tesla venture led to a complete cessation of the loan: everyone was in a hurry to get their money from the inventor. Without thinking about the continuation of the work, Tesla tried to at least pay off his creditors.

To propagate his ideas and find at least some opportunities for continuing work, Tesla sent a document to one of the most widely circulated journals in America, which became known as the Manifesto of Nikola Tesla.

Here is what was written in this wonderful document:

"I want to announce that in connection with the commercialization of my inventions, I will provide professional services as a consultant - an electrician and an engineer." The near future, I am sure, will witness a revolutionary upheaval in the production, transformation and transmission of energy in the region Transport, lighting, manufacturing of chemical components, telegraph, telephone and other areas of industry and art.

In my opinion, these successes will have to follow due to the universal acceptance of high voltage and high frequency currents and new regenerative cooling processes at very low temperatures.

Many of the old apparatuses require improvement, many must be created again, and I think that by promoting my own inventions, I will be more useful in this development of science in that I will give others the knowledge and experience I have acquired. Particular attention will be paid to me solving problems that require experimental knowledge and ingenuity - work that is within the scope of my constant knowledge and to which I have an inclination.

I undertake to undertake experimental studies and improvements in theories, methods and applications, the invention of useful plans and, in particular, the design and construction of machines to achieve the desired results.

Every task set and adopted by me will be carefully and faithfully implemented. Nikola Tesla, Long Island Laboratory, New York.

Place of residence - Waldorf, New York City ".

On the back of this "Manifesto" Tesla cited a number of quotes from his works and a list of the 93 most important patents he received in the US, Russia, Germany, England, Japan and China.

It would seem that the previous well-known inventions and discoveries of Nikola Tesla, his perseverance, wit in experiments would have to draw attention to the published "Manifesto." But he waited in vain for the response to his call. He waited in vain for his experience and knowledge to be used for the development of electrical engineering. The Manifesto was not interested in large electrotechnical firms, whose technical bureaus were full of talented scientists, inventors, designers, who occasionally brought in small, but necessary improvements in various electrical equipment, which expanded the distribution of the products of these firms. The mind, like Tesla's mind, was not needed by capitalist firms. He failed to apply his knowledge to ensure that money was received to continue construction in the WardenCliff. Moreover, Tesla did not have the most minimal means for a normal existence.

True, there were two other friends of Tesla: well-known financier T.F. Ryan and sugar maker N.O. Havmeter, who last handed over to the inventor 15 thousand dollars. Of this money, Tesla did not spend a single penny on the laboratory, until he paid off his debts.

Faithful Sherf, secretary of Tesla and chief accountant of the World System, tried in every possible way to alleviate the situation, which they entered as a result of the scientist's complete inability to deal with commercial issues. Scherf demanded from Tesla that he engage in the development of any invention for the sale of patents, but each time received a refusal. The same refusal followed on the proposal to initiate lawsuits on the use of his patents - in case of luck it would have given huge sums.

"If I had received at least twenty-five percent of the royalties for my inventions, I would have been inexpressibly rich," Tesla himself said, but immediately added: "But I will not demand this money - I'm not a businessman, I'm a scientist." As for the development of inventions for money, I repeat - I can not deal with particulars, trifles. Wait, Sheriff, you will still see what inventions I will make, and we will get our millions.

When later, in about twenty-five years, Sherf reminded Tesla of this conversation, the scientist replied: "I was right. Do not radio corporations now receive huge profits by implementing my plans of 1904? Blame those who did not believe me at the time and did not want to give a little more money. Tesla remained convinced all his life that his proposal to use the Earth as an environment for the transmission of electromagnetic waves would give the same result, perhaps even more important, for practical purposes, as well as the current transfer through the air.