Radiotelegraphic Center at Rome (San Paolo)

The radiotelegraphic station at San Paolo constitutes the first and largest continuous wave radiotelegraphic installation (Poulsen arc of 250 kilowatts) constructed in Italy in 1917. The service with the Poulsen arc, which has been completely satisfactory, reached its greatest development in 1922, in which year there were transmitted 2,175,000 paid words directly to stations in East Africa, United States, England, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Roumania, and ships and stations in Egypt. The decrease in the number of transmitted words in 1923 resulted from the repairing of the Poulsen arcs and the complete replacement of the towers, for which reasons the station of San Paolo was inactive for six months, during which time the service went through the new Coltano station temporarily. The complete reconstruction of the 218-meter wooden towers which had been standing for only six years was a necessary consequence of the rapid war-time construction for the purpose of establishing more direct communication with America and with the colonies. After repairing the towers it was possible to erect two or more of the same type with some of the remaining timber, still in good condition; one to wer 124 meters in height, used as an anchor tower for the tail of the antenna, allowing less sag; the other 86 meters in height, used as a support for the auxiliary antennas. The reconstruction was quickly accomplished and at a low cost.