The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-09
Storm Signals by Means EOf the Tele-
graph and Cannon

WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, No
l45 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, August q, l867.--A,
Watson, Esq.-Dear Sir:-Numerous duties have
delayed reply to your favor of July %. When
any considerable number of cities or towns
shall order the reports of storms which you sug-
gest, they making their own arrangements for
firing signal guns according to the plan pro-
supplied. This company is always ready to
serve any great public good in any way consist
entwith It's business and purposes.
WILLIAM ORToN, President.
The storm signals, by means Of the telegraph
OF agriculture and commerce; to give warning
OF approaching storms during harvest in time
cover, or in situation to shut out the rain: and
at the same time to give warning to vessels on
our numerous bays rivers, and lakes, in time
TO seek places OF safety or prepare for the COM
The harvest having nearly passed 1t is there
fore proposed that the storm signals be tested
as to their benefit to commerce, and II proved
satisfactory the system can then be extended
over the whole country in time for the harvest
next year.
The plan is as sfollows:-When a storm COM
mences in any part of the country, and is ira
versing towards any city having arrangements
to fire signal guns, the first telegraph station
over which 1t passes will Immediately send the
news to such city, stating the kind OF storm
that is approaching. Three guns are to be fired
as a warning ofa coming storm; at intervals of
one minute II a hurricane, severe gale, or de.
structive storm is approaching; at Intervals of
three minutes If 1t is an ordinary storm, and is
moving rapidly, and atintervals OF five minutes
AS good-sized cannon can be heard dis
tincly from fifteen TO twenty miles in all direc-
tions, or over space OF from thirty TO forty
miles square, by firing signal guns, at the prin-
cipal 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 for
the coming storm.
The Western Union Telegraph Company,
with lines extending over the entire Union,
having offered to furnish telegrams OF ap-
preaching storms as soon as any considerable
number of cities and towns shall so order IL 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 means 1T Is be-
lieved that millions OF dollars in ships and
cargoes, and also numerous lives, will be saved
Where fort, navy yard, arsenal, or barracks
is near city or port, the War or Navy DEPART
ment will doubtless order signal guns to be
fired upon solicitation from its city authorities
or board of trade. If the firing here is at the
Navy Yard, the signals may be repeated at
Fort Washington, and at several seaports the
signals may be repeated at distant ports. In
this way these simple storm signals may be
tried at trifiing cost, If the press at seaports
will publish this article, and several cities shall
act in concert. A. WATSON.
Washington, August 10, 1867.