Human Interest

"Today's History Lesson...communications

August 20th is a record day in communications with two important messages being sent 66 years apart! The first message circumnavigated the globe but not by automobile, plane, train or ship, while the second skyrocketed into outer space via spacecraft.

This Day in History: August 20, 1911

Over a century ago, someone with the New York Times decided to find out how long it would take a regular commercial telegram, non-priority status, to circle the globe. An undertaking of a similar nature had already taken place in 1903 but under different circumstances. At that time, celebrations were in order as a result of the completion of the Commercial Pacific Cable. The message was sent by then President Franklin Roosevelt and traveled the globe in only 9 minutes having been given priority status. In 1911, the Times wanted to see how long a regular message would take -- and what route it would follow. Reading simply, “This message sent around the world”, it traveled over 28,000 miles and was relayed by 16 different operators."