New-York tribune., 1878-07-23
ECONOMY IN A NEW PLACE,
MT. WASHINGTON SIGNAL STATION

| AN EXAMPLE or GOVERNMENT PARsiMOXY-Nru
SUFFERING FOR ORDINARY COMFORTS or LyR--
IMPROVE THE STATION or ABANDON II.
TO the EdtIor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Samuel J. Randll', Speaker Of
the House of Representatives. recealf said viii that
elegance Of dIcton which would naturally Le ,xDeced
from tho occupant OF exated positions waca the
iron rule Of stern necessity darens every housch Ii
the land extravaganza the part Of The peopls SER
wants is an unpard0nahle crime.v Row as I have bv
personal observation become acquainted with an iu-
stance Of the economy OF tie peoples seryanfs"
will, with your kind permission, draw the attention OF
your readers to IT, les in these DAYS Of local improve
ment bills and high Congressional salaries il might be
supposed that they were inclined to unnecessary prod
igalIty.
On recent visit to the White Mountains tooa
occasion to investigate the facts respecting the Signal
Service Station on the summit OF Mount Washington
am sorry Obliged n candor say that any gen
tenn in this city who should provide for his domestic
ANIMALS in the manner in which the United States oi
America provides its officers hat mountain would
be very sure TO orcby reminded Of his neglect by
our kind friend, Mr.. Bergh.
1t must be borne in mind that when man deyOtes
himself TO army service his first duty is implicit obe-
dience. He 20 where he is sent and II be place
where he will be likely to be frozen to death. he stll
cannot decline to 20 without sacrificing his profession
and probably his livelihood. The more imperative
therefore the duty of the peoples servants" TO con-
tnue the generous euphemsm OF Mr.. Randall 10 pro-
vide for his accommodation. Let then how this
is done Mount Washington.
This station of the Signal Service Corps is $3.50 feet
above the sea- The thermometer ranged last from
TO above to 47o below For good part Of the
time you are ineOsed In clouds, rain and snow. The
wind sharp and piercing and attained last Winter the
extraordinary velocity of 1856 miles to the hour The
power of such hurricane, and the intense cold which
accompanies it, hardly be appreciated by those who
bars and chains, passing over the ROOFS afford only
inadequate security against their being blown down.
Here stands the small building in which and
sometimes three nOn-cOmmissoned officers pass their
lonely hours II is about twelve by twenty feet ia size,
and built Of wood, though stone would appear 10 be
material ready at hand small room running
end Of the structure contains the scientific instruments
Adjoining is an apartment which the purpose Of
kitchen and parOr the small windows With singu-
lar peFyersity fronting the east At the SIDE small
bedroom and a stOrerOOm Such is the edifce ITSELF
II Is much to be sure. but might be endurable II
the whole structure sunk feet below the
face the walls and first floor hled in heavily with CO
ment. tan-bark sawdust, and the windows made 10
open the SOUTH and thoroughly protected What the
actual condition Of things Is however, the recital Of
few facts viii show.
Two large stoves stand in the middle Of the main room
about three feet apart Sometimes apal Of water win
freeze solid standing between these stoves when they
are both at red-heat.
The carpet rent into strips by the gusts that sweep
under the unprotected floor. Not unfrequenuy the
wind will raise it foot from the floor, tearing it from
the nails
You often cannot touch the metal Of the instruments
without the thckest Of gloves, or the skin would be toFu
from your hands
Sometimes it is impossible to sleep in that house for
fOrty-eight hours without freezing Life
only DO preserved by walking up and down before tho
red-bOt stoves clothed I'm the thickest furs
The experience OF OF these officers eighteen
months AGO should not be kept secret His companion
had gone down to the valley and furious gale found
him the top alone. The ice which they had been ae-
custOmed TO cut with from the rocks to melt into
drinking water, stripped of by the power of the
Wind and hurled about like a SNOWFALL While be was
keeping up his lonely walk for life before tho stoves in
night, while the peoples servants" let hope,
were enjoying the repOse that good eOuscences bring,
the railroad depot, within few feet Of him, was
prostrated to the ground by the fury Of tho
gale It's beams were sFewn around like feathers, and
one of them hurled several feet endwise into the
side Of another building what is exraOrdin-
airy the noise Of the fall OF the depot added
porccptibe way whatever TO the eOmmOtOn caused by
the fury Of the elements. Tie watcher was not con-
sciOus OF any such destruction. He waited for long
hours in mOmenary expectation OF being hurled into
destruction He could tell his situation the world
below, for the telegraph wire broken. Perhapsit
made difference. for he was beyond the reach OF
earthly aid No human being was ever moro utterly
alone, but " the peoples servants" GOD the
mark put him there His VIII be there the
coming Winter, exposed TO precisely the dangers
The house still the same, and tear excepted
Who shall sag that we DO not practise eeOROmyl
At least died there. His companion watched
HIM through the days and nights till all over, and
then exhausted yielded. lie lay down and slept
ul morning BY the side Of the corpse!
In view OF horrors such these it almost tr-
fling 20 speak OF the effect the constitution Of tho
rarited air without, The of ventilation
Within in ordinary weather TO nothing OF the dreary
loneliness OF the place for ten months Of the
year. Yet that these no imaginary dangers
is evident from the palud, delicate appearance
place q few days ago. The Monks OF ST. Bernard remain
I'm their grand old EOspce lnhaltDg the rared ar Ouy
believe, Tor two years, but one man at least was IN
Mount Washington for twice as long period.
Personally, am . stranger 10 the brave men WHO
occupy and have hitherto occupied this post OF danger
the midst of bOasted civilization. Nor Is TINS
letter written with the knowledge of any one Of
them, Ia other interest than that Of Ordinary
humanity, mingled with not li5tle indignation anu
shame this National disgrace. IL needless 10 wu-
tply words visit TO this wreicbed b1t
commit 10 laper half It's discomfOrts. Army
officers the Lass TO complain, and It Is only y
persistent questioning that have obtained any state
ment OF the personal experience Of these men. But ts
with suitable ana safe dwelling for the men, and tbs
needless sacrifice OF life be stopped the station should
abandoned That at eJst DO done for t3e cre1t
OF our National civilization.
BY the way did not tho peoples servants reduce
the appropriation for the signal Service Corps Last
Wintera HERBERT B TURNER
No 30 Hassaust Eetr- YORK July Is, 1873.