The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-11
IMPORTANT PROPOSED nu 70 HAvleAruss.
storm signals TO Protect Commerce On the
Atlantic and I'm the Gulf

storm Signals 10 Protect Commerce On the
Atlantic and In the Calf.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
cArs KArrzRAs LIGHTHOUSE, N. c., Sept q, 1861
A. wArsos, ESQ. -
Dean sIR--Your letter OF the 9th instant making in
qures relative 70 establishing system Of storm sig
nas a this Cape has been received In reply 70 the
several inquiries made therein am led to believe that
the plan Of storm signals mentioned your leitsrvz,
white light 10 indicate storm the north and red
Light storm to south white flag by day to indicate
storm to the north and red flag storm TO the south
Of the Cape DO the BEST except In nny or foggy
weather, when cannon might be superior. Newborn NJ
inc nearest telegraph station TO this lighthouse
distance OF one hundred miles As regards passing
vessels will that $40 vessels of different classes
passed this lighthouse In daytime during the
months and may be supposed that at least bali that
number have passed nighttime that have not been
seen from this lighthouse think your idea In esiab-
llshing system OF storm signals at this Cape and as
Key Wes 70 90 very good one and II you are success
fuI you will soon the benefits derived hercfron
any assistance that abba render you shall no
you may want Please to acknowledge the receipt Of
this letter and state when you think carry your plan
into elect Very respectfully yours, a.o,, :.
Principal Keeper Cape Hatterss Lighthouse.
II is well known to mariners that destructive storms
often on the Atlantic the morrill, wnen At the same
time ,here is mono to the south, and 1cc versa The
system referred to Is to establish storm sgnais at Cape
Haleras by which passing vessels will BE- warned when
storm Is on the Atlantic the north or TO the SOUTH
Vessels would then rup into port until tao storm had
had spent its fury. by which millions Of dollars ia
ships and cargoes would be saved annually together
scch storms 10 be furnished BY the elsgrph running
along the Atlantic coast by sailing TO the vari
Gus ports and by vessels INTO port 10 avoid the
storm, from which ports the Is to be tee2raphcd
10 Cape Hateras or course to mako this pan practical
bic telegraph line must be built from Newbern to Hat
ter This could be done by the board OF trade OF the
principal seaports, by marine insurance Companies, or
by the Western Union Telegraph Company, SO
as TO have the signals In operation winter storms
As this telegraph would only be useful tocommerce, an
appropriation would doubtless be made by Congress early
In the coming session " repay its costs and make II
government line But II this should be done. the
loss OF single vessel and cargo which night be saved
by the signals would moro than pay It's ere COST This
huo should be built ~
similar system Of storm signals but OF much greater
Importance on account OF the greater numer Of passing
vessels, may also be established at Key West and
Havana, by which vessels passing through the Florida
channel my DO warned when storm is onthe Atlantic
in the Gulf, rs TO into port until it 10
Tho news OF such storms Is to be Obtained the same
described, and despatched by telegraph to
Key West and Havana, when the signals will be exhb
ed In addition the news viii often be broght direct
by steamers sailing to or touching at these poEs.
The number OF vessels sailing 10 the Gulf Is very
great the loss Of vessels by storms in the Gulf and
especially the coast Of Florida IS also great Vessels
come out or the Gulf heavy laden with vatabe cargoes,
and when among the keys islands they into a
terrific gale or are struck by northeas storm, by
which they are driven 10 the keys the Florida
coast where ship aud cargo become total loss These
signals would prevent much or this disaster and
millions Of dollars In SHIPS and cargoes annually
well hundreds of lives The boards OF trad. and
marine insurance companies should that hess
signals established immediately, to be In use
IN time for the winter The signals could bt
exhibited on Fort Taylor Key West and So then Nc
once established Key West they would also soon
established Havana. The cost OF the plan would Il
triHng and the saving very great A. WATSON.
WASHINGTON, D. G.