The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-12

sit e.. Throughout all the course of the
occurrence the central Office can be constantly
informed.
| A naval vessel appearing off one OF the sig.
nal stations can transmit Q communication to
Washir gton or receive orders in cipher or by
signal In time of war, with the system com
pleted. no part of the coast could be menaced
without knowledge at the great centers, al
headquarters, along the coast, or throughout
the country, if need be- OF the character Of
the menace and the locality. In time OF peace,
| if desirable for commerce, a record can be
kept of passing vessels. showing their signals,
brief messages can be signalled to or from
them 1t is contemplated to equip each sta
ton with ssmaphore for uses OF this kind
when flags may fail, and for the purpose OF
enabling them better to communicate with
foreign vessels.
Another subject in charge of the signal SER
vice has been the building of United States
lines of telegra ph in Texas and Arizona, the
first mentioned being about 1900 miles in
length. Much progress has already been made
IN this enterprise, the entire work being per-
formed by the enlisted men of the army. I'M
der the direction of the signal service. II is
proposed ultimately to connect all the mill
tary posts by lines of telegraph, and thus
greatly enlarge the efficiency of our small
army, and to reduce the cost of its operations.
The chief signal officer calls the attention
OF Congress to the importance of providing
for more permanent organization Of the
corps. especially in the way OF promotion
within the service, so that as soon rs thor
oughly trained an officer may be continually
carrying his experience and abilities into a
higher and higher position.
The duties of this branch of the army are
equally important both in peace and in war,
81 a., to-
viding that these duties shall be continuous.
as in the engineer corps. the ordnance, and
the artillery, and that if thought expedient
the signal bureau may be added as Il perma-
nent branch of the service, in the same man.
ner He also asks that the President be au-
thorized to detail or appoint us assistants to
the chief signal officer eight officers, with the
rank and pay Of captains, and eight with the
rank and pay of first lieutenants. while so
serving. The additional expense would be
but II few hundred dollars; the benefits to re-
suit to the service would be wor h many times
the expenditure.
Lieut. Hodgson.
We learn that this officer will be tried at a |
general court martial. to be assembled at
Monroe on the sth Gay of this month
Gen. Morrow, who was ordered to Vienna
by Gen. Emory to investigate the alleged |
of the Lieutenant, found suffi-
,ient evidence to justify him in preferring
charges.
We suppose he is tried for violation of |
the civil law for cutting the telegraph wire |
and also for violation of the military code, |
for the outrageous manner in which he treat
ed the gentlemen of this and Lincoln parish |
whom he had arrested under the directions of
the infamous Seelye.
49,
warranted arrests would have been imputed
10 Hodgson, had he demeaned himself to-
ward those in proper and becoming
His own excuse was that Seelye continually
Piled him with whisky, and kept him SO
intoxicated while engaged in the business
hat he was hardly concious of what he did.
He seems to regret very much the part he
las acted, and if he escapes being dismissed
rom the service. he has learned a | ;sson that
q will not soon forget.-Hon,er claiborne
)0rjSL1 16,Oc0tp