The New York herald., 1879-10-25
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Oct. "a, 1879.
REPORT OF GENERAL ALBERT J. MYER, CHIEF
SIGNAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE SER
VICE DURING THE YEAR.
Brigadier General Albert j. Myer, Chief Sipnal
Officer of the army, has completed his annual report
to the Secretary Of War. 1t shows that during the
past year the urseof drill and instruction in mil
itary signalling and teegraphy. meteorology and
other signal service duties at the school Of nstruc
tion and practice at Fort whipple Va. has been i'm
proved by useful additions. During the .year 100
have been instructed assistant observers and
nine for promotion to the grade Of SER
geant. The whole active force of the signal
corps, officers and enlisted men, is prac-
tced at this post in the general drills
with orms and with telegraphic equipments. The
act of Congress providing 100 sergeans, 80 corporas
and 270 privates has, it is said been productive of
good results and has opened the to the best
class Of young American citizens. The office files
arc crowded with applications for enlistment. The
clause in the act providing that two sergeants may
in each year be appointed to be second heutenants"
gives by assurance OF permanent service and prom
ised reward. that stimulus to exertion long and
earnestly sought for. One hundred and seventy
stations have been maintained during the year
to fill the system Of stations OF observation
from which reports arc deemed necessary to enable
proper warnings to be given of the approach and
force Of storms and OF other meteorc changes for
the beoeft of agricultural and commercial interests.
Twenty Ave stations of q second class, hitherto
described "sunset stations" have been tinued
In operation. The series of daily teleqraphic
ports from stations in the West Indies extending
from Cuba by Jamaica to Barbados and the Wind
ward Islands. has. in view of the small amount Of
appropriation available, remained suspended ex-
cept in Of especial danger when special re-
ports have been called for. These reports are at
times of importance for the preannouncement Of
cyclones approaching the Gulf of Mexico threat
ening the coast of the United States.
An examination of the daily forecast indications
to the accuracy of the preannouncements Of the
state of the weather shows average percentage
90.7 per cent verified. A minute analysis OF the
same forecast and u careful comparison with the
weather and the instrumental changes afterward
occurring within the time and within the district to
which each forecast has had reference given an
average percentage of accuracy of s66 per cent An
average 90 per cent to follow this comparison is
also believed to be attainabie.
Since tho date of the last annual report
railway bulletin service railways
has been established in cooperation with
the Signal Office. The different railway COM
panies receive ut the time of the midnight report
and by telegraph copy of the report which is dis
tributed under supervision of the superintendents
Of the railway tclegraphs to designated stations
along the lines. Thirty-six railways. with total of
1212 stations cooperating in this service.
The reports when received are bulletined. The dis
play of cautionary day and night signals by aags
and lights upon the lakes and the great ports the
United States, upon the Atlantic ana Cult coasts
has been made systematically occasions OF sup.
posed especial danger at ninetyfour different sea
aud lake ports and cities. There added on
January l. 1878. to the display of day aud night sig
nails at tho ports which had been "cautionary"
alone up to that date tho display by day or
night of the "cautonary of shore signal" indicat-
ing that while winds might bo high and there might
bo dan ger, the winds to follow were expected to
blow "on shore" 1t is of important utility in tho
and for the safety of vessels to be thus
preadvised to coming winds. The adopting of
this signal-nrst made, far is known, at tho
ports of the United States-has much increased the
usefulness of tho service. OF the total number of
cautonary signals thus displayed SOL per cent have
afterward been reported as justified. In the cases
reported as failures of justification following tho
display tho wind did attain at the place of dis
play violence held to justify It, No great storm
has swept over any considerable number of tho
ports OF the United States without
BY arrangement with the Post Once Depart
ment G,142 printed Farmers bulletins" on which
appear daily the forecasts of this Office have been
distributed and displayed in frames daily ut as many
different post Offices. Tho telegraph lines OF the
Signal and Lite Saving Service on the immediate
coast and In positions to command view of the
sea. and in reach of disasters to ship
wreck. The reports of weather conditions and tho
state Of tho had by them. and attainablc in
any other way. necessary. Vessels passing in
view can be ut warned by signals Of coming
danger be aided II in distress. The watch
kept by the service and the prompt transmission
of few messages have in times of danger
saved property amounting to more than the cost
of the lines There has been added TO the sea coast
line during the year. as an auxiliary. telephone
| limo, extending from Kitty Hawk to Cape Henry