"In compliance with an invitation, the Dom proceeded yesterday morning to witness the workings of Robinson's Wireless Signal System, now in operation on a portion of the Lowell railroad. The Emperor and several members of his suit took passage on board a special train on the Lowell railroad soon after 8 o'clock yesterday morning and arrived at the West Somerville station about 8:30, where they were met by Professor Robinson, who at once began to explain to the royal party his system. At Elm street a large visual signal is placed which is controlled by the current from a single cell of a battery connected with the rail sections at North avenue, no line wires whatever being used. While the Emperor watched the signal at Elm street trains were run over the whole length of the signal section in both directions. As soon as the train entered upon the section at either end, the signal, without a moment's delay, showed the track "blocked," and when the train passed off the section it instantly changed the signal to "all clear." Then a rail was torn up, and almost instantly thereafter the signal denoted "danger" and remained so until the rail was restored and properly coupled up, when it as quickly changed to "all right." Mr. Robinson gave various other demonstrations illustrating the working of the system. To all the tests the signal instantly responded. His Majesty was much interested, and entered into a somewhat lengthy discussion with Professor Robinson in regard to the operations which he had witnessed. The Emperor's questions displayed profound scientific knowledge, and he fully comprehended the system. At the conclusion of the experiment Dom Pedro thanked Professor Robinson for his kindness in explaining and illustrating his system, and invited him to communicate with the Brazilian government with a view to introducing the system in Brazil. On the return of the party to the Lowell depot in Boston, the Emperor was received with great applause, which he politely acknowledged by waving his hat." It will be interesting to note that on June 14, 1876, the day the Emperor inspected the Robinson Signal System at West Somerville, the battery had been in operation exactly 180 days without any attention whatever except that on two occasions a little water had been added to make up for evaporation, the signal working perfectly all that time and the battery with full strength. [Illustration: Fig. 4. Robinson's Electro-Mechanical Signal in Operation at West Somerville when Inspected by the Emperor of Brazil in 1876.] The following is from a report on the above signal by the station agent at Elm street, dated June 2, 1877, eighteen months after it had been installed: