Clarence Hansell
https://patents.google.com/?inventor=Clarence+W+Hansell&oq=inventor:(Clarence+W+Hansell)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Hansell
Take a look at Hansell's patents. He has almost as many patents as Edison, most stemming from his work at RCA in 1930s-1950s. In particular take a look at "Communication system by pulses through the earth"
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2389432A/en