A Network Minimization Problem [Letter to the Editor]

Abstract

The principal result of this paper is the proof that there is one and only one point for the centewrh ich gives a minimal network when all of the stations are to be connected directly to the center. Thus one can use any search procedure to find the coordinates of the center. Although this treatment is only a solution of a special case of the problem of obtaining the optimal network, we have found by calculation on a real network that substantial savings of line costs can be realized. The optimal network problem is extremely complicated. However, efforts are under way to use and extend the methods described here to devise means for its treatment. The simple nature of the analog procedure suggests that clever use of this technique may be extremely useful in complex problems of this type.