The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14
UNITED STATES SIGNAL SERVICE
From the Report of Gen. Siyer, the Chl'
af tha taard AZ

UNITED STATES SldNAh shhIAVh
From the Report of Gen. Nyer, the Chief
Of the Hoard. ~
An extremely important feature Of
the United States Signal Service opera
tlons during the past year, says Gen.
Myer, has been its connection with the
Life Saving Service. II may be re.
membered that Congress has authorized
the establishment OF a certain number
OF life.saying stations at different points
ON the coast, whero crews are to be
placed permanently foZ the relief Of
yeSsels In distress. With each such
stations there is combined telegraph
station supplied by an observer ot the
corps, not only for the purpose of 'Slv..
inR the meteorological Indications At
the station, but also to furnish infor-
nation In reference 10 threatened or
actual wrecks, and the measure, neces-
sary for their relief. AT present these
stations extend from Sandy Hook to
Barnegat, and from Norfolk 70 Cape
Hatteras, and others are being con-
structed as rapidly as possible. Com
nected with tfIis system Is q series OF
telegraphic signals by which passing
vessels can report at any point on the
coast and have information conveyed
from the station 10 their owners,
The men engaged in this are all
skilled telegraphic operators, and are
familiar with the system OF interna-
fiona, codes, so as 70 telegraph proper
iy the vessels Of any nationality. The
cautionary sigEalS are also displayed at
ali Of tllese stations, SO that o vessel
approaching the coast Is hrst warned o.
q storm, il one is Impending within the
scope Of the observation Of the central
Office II shipwrcck is imminent, !Sssls'
tance can DO summoned TO come on
steamers from ports far and near, pei.
hans in time to avert the disaster. II
aid fails and the ship must strike, the
lile.saying service can be concentrated
from other stations and in any force
needed, II the vessel Is actually
wrecked, notice can go to all parties,
interested, while lists OF the passengers
or crew saved OF lost can be made
known and provision sought ior the
necessities. Throughout al the course
OF the occurrence the central eaiee can
be constantly informed. A naval YES
sel appearing OF one OF the signal Sta
tions eau transmit q communication 70
Washington or receive orders In cipher
or by signal. In time Of war, with the
system completed, no part Of the coast
could bo menaced without knowledge
al the great centers, and. ut headquaf-
terra, along the coast, or throughout the
country, Il need be, Of the character Of
tho menace and the locality. In time
al peace, II desirable for commerce, q
record can be kept Of passing vessels,
showing their signals, or brief mes
saees eau be signaled to or from them.
Il d contemplated to equip each station
with semaphore for uses OF this kind
when flags may fail, and tar the pur'
pose Of enabling them better 20 COM
municate with foreign vessels.
Another subject in charge Of the
Signal Service has been the building
Of United States lines OF telegraph In
Texas and Arizona, the first mentioned
being about 1900 miles IN length.
Much progress has already been made
in this enterprise, tho entire work be.
ina performed by the enlisted men oi
the army, under the direction oi the
Signal Service. II Is proposed Lih-
mstely to connect all tue military posts
by lines Of telegraph, and thus greatly,
10 enlarge tho efficiency Of our small
army, and to reduce the cost Of us
operations. .I..sl
tention Of Congress to the Importance
Of providing for more permanent OF
paniEation OF the corps, especially in
the way Of promotion within the ser
vice, 50 that as soon as thoroughly
trained an officer. may be continually
carrying his experience and abilities
| into higher and higher position. 4,
The duties Of this branch Of the
army are equally important both IN
peace and war, and Gen. Myer sees no
impropriety in providing that these
duties shall be continuous, as IN the
engineer corps, the ordnance, and the
artillery, and that Il thought expedient
the Signal Bureau may be added as Q
permanent branch OF service, ID the
same manner. He also asks that the
President be authorized to detail or mp;
point as assistants to the Chief Signal
Officer eight officers, with the rank and
nav Of captains, and eight with the
rank and pay OF first -lieutenants, while
30 serving. The additional expense
would be- but q few hundred dollars I;
the benefits to result to the service
would be worth many times the expen-
ditnra