The New York herald., 1873-11-17
g stations established at Sandy Hook

the iife-saving stanons established at Sandy Hook
Long Long Branch sarnegat. Atlantic City, Pecks
/ proposes the establishment OF signal stations az
| hle-saylng stations and light houses along the
Cape May, at distances or rs niles from
each other A line Is IN process OF erection from
me me :, Village & Of hoekport Mass to Thatcners
half OF which one mile and half will be cable.
line connectng the stations at life-saving sta
tions and lignthoBes along the coast from Norfolk,
Va, TO Cape Harteras, n O., distance OF 1877
miles, and on one OF the most dangerour coasts OF
the United States, IN Ia construction. II is ex-
pected that the above mentioned lines will be
completed during the present year. Attention is
invited to the fact thas the whole work now done
Ia the erectionof these lines. and TO be done here
alter in operating them, has been done and Ia to
be done by the dnicers aud men oi the signal SER
vice OF the army. BY no other agency could so
large amount af line so situated be constructed
with the small appropriation provided.
result from the work OF the stations thCs provided
for. Not only viii the meteorc Information regularly
received be greatly increased in amount and value
py that taken on the sea coast and AZ tne actuaI
sea level, but storm warnings visible az sulncient
distance from shore TO allow often OF the proper
means TO be taken tor safety can be gwen 10 YES
sells approaching dangerous COASTS, WINE on tne
occurrence OF inevitable disaster assistance can
be summoned at once from the nelgnboring ne
saving stations, and information regarding the
occurrence be transmitted to Underwriters and
others interested Communication can readily be
held by signai and telegraph with vessels OF the
naval and merchant marine from washington
aud from other cities and the coast VIII be pro-
vded with vedette system invaluable In time OF
possible war. The expense Of securing these ad-
vantages to the country Is comparatively trining.
the observer sergeant the Signal Service At eacn
station being charged with the telegraphic opera
tions and the necessary lines being constructed,
the Chief Signal Onlcer, by enlisted men Of the
Signal Service 1t is to be hoped that Congress
oil this special work on the lake and sea coasts
where the life-saving and lighthouse system are
coast service unparalleled in the o world ''''' "
During the year cautionary signals have been
ordered to be displayed In anticipation Of 50 prob
able storms. In 10 cases the storms anticipated
manifested their effect at some OF the stations at
whlcn the signals were ordered. The signals thus
giving warning to shipping and other interests
which would otherwise perhaps have been danger
onsly exposed; Forty special csgtionary kilograms
were sent to the Meteorological Bureau OF Canada.
As IN preceding years where there has been error
Of Of display It has been on the side Of caution.
have proved unnecessary and are SO re-
ported unverlned, on the other hand no
IN ,ss has as
nails without warnings OF its approach having been
displayed IN at least part Of its course The pub
lie confidence exhibited in the heed given 10 the
warnings when they are shown has evidenced
their general utility.
deductions from reports, styled probabilities"
has been more clearly presented in this than in
has been mstsematcaRIIy R compSted ed s lor % eacn Of
the geographical districts mentioned In the re-
ports. The annual average OF verifcations has
been as follows Ior the following named DISTRICTS
New England, sl.5O; Middle States SLIT; South
Atlantic, 1892; Lower Lakes, 1890; Eastern Gulf
77.16; Ohio Valley, 1912; Western Gulf, 74.4O; Up
per Lakes, 1926; Northwest, 74.o0.
With q more rigid and scrutinizing mode OF cal
cuation than was before adopted the percentage
OF verifcatons has improved. The analysts OF the
years WORK indicates clearly at once the wisdom
OF judiciously increasing the number OF stations
and the general regions in which they should be
established.
The percentage of verifcations for each district
exhibits y regular proportion to the number OF
stations from which reports having reference to
the atmospheric conditions in the district under
consideration have been received. 1t Is thus to
certain extent mathematically demonstrated that
the rules applied ior the announcement OF the de-
quo, o one are corpeco ana
verlhcations can be annually Increased 1t is not
known that demonstration oil this character
has been before attained.
The once has still to regret that its teegraphic
facilities are not as complete as the best discharge
is entertained that this source OF difficulty will be
removed.
The Chief Signal Onicer refers to the proceedings
OF the Meteorological Congress OF Vienna, held IN
pursuance OF invitations officially issued by the
Austrian government for convention of persons
charged with meteorological duties in different
| countries.
The adoption by the unanimous vote OF the Con-
gress OF proposition to the eect that 1t Is desira
BILE, with view to their exchange that at least one
uniform observation OF such character as TO be
suitable Tor the preparation OF synoptic charts
should be taken and recorded daily and simulta-
neously at as many stations practicable through
out the world, Is regarded as OF special importance
In reference to works OF this kind now undertaken
by tie United states This formal announcement
with such sanction TENDS directly the
ment OF systems Of signals and weather reports
common among civilized nations.
1t Is mentioned In connection with this subject
that arrangements have already been made with
Russia and Turkey to commence on January l.
1874, the exchange with the United States Of our
daily report, taken simultaneously at the different
stations throughout the great territorial extent OF
the Russian and Turkish empires and the United
States. The cooperation Of the systems OF other
nations is expected,
In conclusion, the Chief Signal Onicer acknowl-
edges as in preceding years. the general support
press and Of the War Department. without this
aid the work achieved would have been impossible.
Whenever have occurred 1t has
been recognized as inevitable that
must occur in the present condition OF science.
Success has been generously commended. The
evidence OF interest and progress in similar duties
is extending in all countries. Their utility is no
longer questioned, and effort at home and abroad
turns only toward their development. The field
becomes world wide with the promise OF results
few years ago hardly to be hoped ior. There will
be needed time and labor; there must often be
disannnintmant. hut the nnhllc good To follow Is