Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-11-20
part of the route which they have to pass

part of the route which they have to pass
over.
The carrier pigeon is known by a large
wart-like excrescence under each eye,
which increases in size as it grows older;
At certain age these must be pared
down, or the bird cannot see directly
ahead. In color they are blue. A true
blooded carrier pigeon should not nave a
single white feather about him. nave
heard some talk of training pigeons 1or
the transmission of naval messages, SO
that In the event of war, ships OH the
coast would have ready and almost sure
communication with the shore. Hence,
Tor example, cruiser On our coast could
have pigeons trained for Washington 1or
the Navy Department dispatches, others
for Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Hampton roads, and by this means the OIL
shore squadron or cruiser could give time
~ notice OF the approach OF an enemy or
send for reinforcements or aid IN one-hun-
dredth of the time it would take II the
vessel herself@was obliged to go in. They
might be great auxiliary on our passen-
ger steamers, and in event OF an accldent
how readily the news might be sent and
the location pointed out so that succor
could be sent quickly and to the exact
spot. 1t is certainly practicable and by no
means costly. Suppose the emma was
disabled in lat 44:20, lon. 37:29 West. A
carrier-pigeon could be sent, one to New
York and one to Liverpool. Of course
the papers would be apprised OF the TACT,
| and all the outgoing steamers from both
| sides the Atlantic would be steered as near
to this spot as possible, and thus probably
available cargoef life and property would
be rescued inside of four days. Whereas
under the present system we should walt
for days or even weeks in great anxiety to
hear from the vessel
In other cases it might be so that the YES
sci could only survive her injuries for a
limited period, a time too short to admit
of relief by the ordinary course of things.
The carrier would here be worth his
weight in diamonds. l throw out this
suggestion not as a greenhorn in nautical
things, but as one who firmly believes that
the carrier-pigeon would be of great prac-
teal value, and especially to avert many
of the horrors which so often thrill the
hearts of the people on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Hundreds of vessels are now afoat on
whose Lighthouses may be seen the little
houses of pet dogs, pet monkeys, parrots,
and even pigeons. / have seen whalemen
tame boobys" and sea gulls. There are
dozen tame gulls in the exhibition here.
IF there is room for this kind of pets, then
there is for pet carrier-pigeons Who will
take the first step? He who will, will do his
fellow beings and humanity great benefit,
and might be the humble instrument of
saving thousands of lives upon the cean.
Now then, fact or two. First. We
give an instance where pigeon has flown
1000 miles. That's two thirds of the way
from New York to Liverpool; say at the
rate of so miles per hour, which the car
rier would fly, it would take only 80 hours
to deliver message from that point, that
is, to send it to New York, and as Liver
pool is only 1000 miles distant it would
take only 1917 hours to deliver the mes
sage in that port. Second. AS hawks are
rarely, if ever, seen at sea, it is not at all
likely the carrier would be interfered with.
Third. The cost of them, and feeding, is
but mere trifle. They would increaee
on shipboard and would pay for them
selves million times over.
LIE VOYAGEUR.