The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-01-30
The Signal Service
wuAr .'orD raoB" HAD TO SAY.

The report Of General Myer, the chief officer of
the signal service, contains much that is interest
ing regarding the vast extent Of the operations OF
the signal service, and the thoroughness and eta-
cheney with which they are presented, together
with the great economical and scientific value OF
the results attained. During the past year the
boundaries of the service have been much en-
larsed. Stations have been established on ST.
Paul Island, in BehrIng Sea. at St. Michel S IN
Norton Sound, not far from BehrIng Straits, at
Fort Yukon, and across the northernmost portion
of the Hudson's Bay territory, with the concur
renee Of the Hudson Bay Company. Even Green
land, Labrador, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and
Russia have combined 10 form a line of posts en-
circling the globe, az which observation are taken
at the same absolute moment OF time, correspond
ing as nearly as possible to I.S5 A. n, at Wash
IngtOn. Furthermore, the more southern obser-
vatories, in Europe and Asia are cooperating in
the same general plan of observations while, be-
sides the station Of the signal service in the West
Indies, not a few first class Establishments in
South America render their assistance also. Thus
the entire scientific resources of the world have
been called into play by General Myer, in his
plan of simultaneous observations, not merely for
the purpose Of advancing our knowledge of the
atmospheric physics Of the globe generally, but
with the very purpose OF making such generaliza-
tlons and deductions as will allow the prediction
of atmospheric changes far in advance Of what is
now possible from facts noted by telegraph with
in the immediate vicinity of the United States.
Furthermore, the satisfactory nature Of work now,
done by the signal service, in connection with the
department of meteorology, has induced Professor
Henry to relinquished into its hands the great
system of meteorological operations carried on for
so many years by the Smithsonian institution,
and its hundreds of observers, resident in nearly
every country in the Union, have been requested
TO transmit their communications TO the war de-
partment. A similar service, which has been
conducted satisfactorily by the medical depart
ment of the army, has also been transferred to the
signal Office, so that the establishment now con-
trolls the entire meteorological interest of the
United States. 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 200 miles in
length. 1t is proposed ultimately to connect all
the military posts by lines Of telegraph, and thus
greatly to enlarge the efficiency Of our small army,
and to reduce the cost of its operations.
The publication of the weather probabilities in
the newspapers of the country is but one item in
the catalogue of the useful purposes of the system,
thus involving a careful record several times a
day of variations of temperature, barOmetrical
pressure, the direction Of the winds, condition of
the sky, the rain and snow fall, &C., with obser-
vations of the meteorological phenomena, and
those recurring periodically in the animal and
vegetable kingdom. The system also embraces a
careful study of the condition of the waters in
our Western rivers, by means of which announce
ments of threatened rises in any part of their eX-
tent are transmitted to. their lower portions in due
time for the protection of property and life against
their dangers.
For the benefit of shipping, cautionary signals
are displayed at all important points on the lakes
and sea coast; and for the benefit of agricultural
communities, many of which are out of reach Of
daily newspapers, the q probabilities which are
sent at midnight from Washington to twenty
centres of distribution scattered all over the
country, where they are to be printed upon bulle-
tins, enveloped as rapidly as possible in wrappers
already stamped and addressed, to the different
post offices within such a radius as can be reached
by the swiftest conveyance by 2 P. N. of the cur
rent day. At these post Offices the bulletin is ex-
pected to be conspicuously posted. The average
time ~elapsing from the time the dispatch leaves
the Signal Office in Washington till it appears in
the interior towns and villages from Maine to
Louisiana is ten hours. During the past year
1926 bulletins have been distributed.
The system has been connected with the various
life saving stations upon the coasts, the double
those points, and also of giving warning of storms
in order that the humane objects of the station
may be aided. The men engaged in this branch
of the service are all skilled telegraph operators,
and are familiar with the system of international
codes. CautiOnary signals are displayed at all
these stations, so that approaching ships are
warned of danger, and when shipwreck is immi-
nent, aid can be summoned from other ports, while
the life-saying service can be concentrated from
other stations,
In closing his report Gen. Myers calls attention
to the Importance of placing the system of which
he at present has charge upon a more permanent
basis.