Evening star., 1877-11-22
The signal Service.


and telegraphy, meteorology, and the signal
service duties at stations OF observation aud
report, together with the drills Of the sig1sl
service with arms, has continu n at the
school OF instruction and practice al Fort
WbipPle, Va. There has been adicd during
the year form OF instruction aud drlil for
the rapid erection OF ladder towers. There
have been Instructed during the year fifty
men as assistant observers, ami thirteen for
promotton 10 the grade or sergeant. The re-
duced strength OF the service has rendered II
impossible 10 keep at the posi- the full force
required for all the exercises.
II is recomm, nded that All officers OF the
army intended To be instructed a acting
signal officers, or 10 be temporarily instruct
ors In geographical military dep Irtments for
the field duties OF the signal service. be here
instructed before being put upon detached
duty. The force L. now too thinly scattered
over the great area. OF the whole interior ami
part OF the coasts OF the lit,i States. iOY the
meteorological work in which II is by its
duties responsible.
One hundred and hfty-nine stations have
been maintained during the year 10 Ill the
system of stations OF observation from which
reports are deemed necessary TO enable
proper warnings 10 be given OF the approach
and force of storms, and OF other meteoric
changes, for the benefit of agricultural and
commercial interests. The series of daily
Geographic reports from stations in the West
Indies, extending from Cuba by Jamaica to
Barbadoes and the Wind ward Islands, mas.
In view of the small amount of approp-is-
tiOn available, been suspended, except for
from August Isl TO October LIST
There has been no failure of the delivery of
any report of synopsis and indications 10 the
press during the year: The total number Of
reports thus furnished AZ the hours or a. m,
1880 a. m. and 80 p. m. daily, has been one
thousand and ninety-five. The average time
elapsing from the time at which the readings
nave been mad AT the stations TO that at
which the reports have en- telegraphed Il
the press and 10 the distri buting stations, has
been one hour and forty minutes.
a careful analysis of the forecasts or .'in-
dications" has given the average percentage
OF So aid 10 l0Oths, as verified. An average OF
80 per cert. is believed To be attainable. A
careful comparison of these percentages with
the percentages of the previous years, eX-
hibits falling off of accuracy in the ''indi
cations" 10 the extent OF and II l00ths per
cent, and an increase OF accuracy in the
proper display of cautioEary signals TO the
amount of and -l0thS per cent. The dis
play of cautionary day and night signals,
by fsgs and lights, upon the lakes and at
the great ports of the United States upon the
Atlantic and gulf coasts mas been made sys-
tematically on occasions OF supposed eSpe
pecial danger at u different lea and LAKE
ports and cities. No great storm has swept
over any considerable number OF the ports
OF the U nited States without pre- announce
ment.
BY an arrangement with the Post Office
department 26I printed Farmers Rulle-
tins on which ap pear daily the forecasts OF
this office, have been distributed aud dis
played in frames daily, at as MANY different
post offices in different cities, villages and
hamlets In different states, for the Use OF the
agricultural population throughout the
United States
By the great diffusion given the reports of
the Cffice through the press, the display OF
the different Office bulletins and forms OF re
port, the maps and regular publications, II is
estimated that the statements, based upDn
the information gathered upon The files of the
office and issued daily for the public use.
reach daily not less than one third or all the
households in the United States.
Ine data 10 be preserved nave become very
numerous. By the change OF the system VI
observations formerly under the direction OF
the Smithsonian Institute and those fur
nished by the Medical department Of the
army and navy, together with the reports OF
the signal service stations, total of9lI daily
weather observations, from as many differ
ent places, are entered daily upon the files as
the regular system OF observation of the
ffice.
The people OF the United States are the first
nation whose army and navy cooperate, as
all armies and navies should, under official
orders, in the taking of simultaneous obser-
vations wherever the forces may be
with the courteous co operation OF scientists
and chiefs of meteorological services repre-
sentipg the different countries, q record OF
observations taken daily, simultaneously
with the observations taken throughout the
United States and the adjacent islands, is
exchanged semi-monthly. These reports
STe 10 cover the territorial extent Of Algers,
Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, China,
Central America Denmark, France, Ger
many. Greece, East Indies, Italy, Japan.
Mexieo, The Netherlands, Norway, Portu-
Turkey, British North America, the Unitet
States, Sandwich Islands, West Iudies. and
eOuth America. The daily issue of a printed
bulletin, exhibiting these International sim
ultaneOus reports. commenced at this Office
in 1875, has been since maintained.
II is hoped that by systems of observation
longer periods in advar ce may become prac-
ticable. The sea- coast service of the Signal
service, in connection with the life saving
service has been continued during the year.
Messages have been transmitted for weeks
together over extensive breaks of wire lines
reaching past inlets, by day and night Sig
nails with flags and torches. The year has
been marked by instances OF the usefulness
of these stations. The watch kept by the
service, and the prompt transmission of a
few messages have, in times OF danger, saved
the lines. The lines in Arizona, New Mexico.
and upon the Texan frontier are nearly com
pie ted. Aside from the benefits resulting
ON the connection OF military posts, aud
the incidental projections the stations al
frontier Wills sges upon the lines give the
country through which they pass, thus aid
ing its development and advancing the COM
mercial interests, the meteorological Inform
alton such lines make available, is useful
for other duiies OF the Sigi.al service. The
existence of the lines in the interior of Texas,
permit warnings TO be exhibited on the coast
II that state, where they were before imprac-
t.cable.
Inc scanty force Oh Inc Slgnal Service Will
not permit IL 10 successfully occupy the lines
already contemplated in existing legisla-
tion, Without additional details. The Chief
Signal Officer earnestly recommends legis-
lation for a more complete organization of
the Signal Service. With duties now as ex-
tensive, as important, and reaching directly
more interests of the people of the Unitei
States than those of any other bureau of the
War Department., ii exists without laws pro-
viding for the permanent employment and
grades of its officers, or the promotion or its
enlisted men. This condition is found TO
seriously embarrass the work of the Office.
The subject OF such organization received
last ear and In the year preceding careful
attention, and was favorably recommended
by the President to Congress. The experience
Of the year has demonstrated the need of il.
IL the service is 10 advance TO greater success
II cannot be too safely guarded against posi-
BILE hamperiDgs, or offer too certain rewards
for faithful service.
PHILADELPHIA's CHIEF OF PoLIcs IN
TROUBLE BLE-keDnard II. Jones, chief OF DO
lice OF Philadelphia, was yesterday held for
trial on q charge of assault preferred by
private detective. The case has grown out OF
The arrest OF one Of the men who rob bed the