Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-08
Storm Signals by Means Of the Telegraph
and Cannon

WESTERN UNION TEL KGRAPH Coap ANY. l45
Broadtoay, Nste Yark. August 9th, 1871. VA
son. ESg.-Dear Sir:-N umerous duties have
delayed reply To your favor of July 2Sth.
when any considerable number of cities or
towns shall order the reports OF storms which
you suggest they making their own arrange
ments Tor nrlng signal guns according TO the
plan proposed by yon, will take m msasures to
see these supplied. This company is always
ready 10 serve any great public good in any
way consistent with its business and purposes.
.fsra WILLIAM ORION. President.
The storm signals, bv means of the telegraph
and cannon. are intended mainly for the bene-
ft Of agriculture and commerce. TO give warn
ing OF approaching storms during harvest in
time for farmers 70 get their gram or hay un-
der cover. or In a situation TO shut ont the rain;
and al the same time TO give warning 10 yes
sells on our numerous bays, rivers and lakes,
in time TO seek places of safety or prepare for
the coming storm. NJ.
The harvest having nearly passed, it is
therefore proposed that the storm signals be
tested "a to their benefit to commerce, and If
proved satisfactory the sy stem can then be ex-
tended over the whole country in time for the
harvest next year.
The plan is as follows: When a storm com
mences in any part of the country aud is
travelling towards any city having arrange
ments to fire signal guns, the first telegraph
station over which it passes will imrn ediately
send the news to such city, stating the kind of
storm that is approaching. Three guns are to
be fired a warning OF a coming storm; a
gale, or destructive storm is approaching: at
intervals of three minutes If it is an ordinary
storm and is moving rapidly, and at inter-
walls OF hve m nutes il it is moving slo WY.
As good sized cannon can be heard distinct
ly from fifteen to twenty miles in all dirac-
tions, or over space OF from thirty to forty
miles square, by firing signal guns at the
principal cities and towns situated on bays
rivers, or lakes, vessels Of all kinds will thus
be warned in time TO seek places of safety or
prepare tor the coming storm.
The Western Union Telegraph Company,
with lines extending over the entire Union,
having offered 10 furnish kilograms OF ap-
preaching storms as soon as any considerable
number OF cities and towns shall SO order. it Is
therefore proposed to the boards of trade or city
authorities OF all seaports situated on bays,
rivers or lakes, that they make arrangements
at once TO fire signal guns to give warning of
approaching storms by which m cans it Is be-
lieved that millions Of dollars in ships and
cargoes. aud also numerous lives, will be
saved.
Where fort, navy yard, arsenal or barracks
is near city or port, the War or Navy De-
partment will doubtless order signal guns TO
be fired upon solicitation from its city author
tiles or board Of trade. II the firing here is at
the Navy Yard the signals may be repeated at
Fort Washington, and at several eeaports the
signals may be repeated at distant ports. In
this way these simple storm signals may be
tried at trifing cost If the press at seaports
will publish this article and several CITIES shall
act in concert A. WATSON
Washington, Aug. 10, 1867.