, 1881-04-15
STEAMSHIP G.. w. ELDER,

STEAASBIP W. '" ELDER,
San Francisco, Feb. II, 1881.
Col. John McCracken. President Of
Board of Trade, Portland:
My DEAR SIR:-Although ! am
not trading to your port for the pres.
ent, the Elder being chartered for
six months 10 the p. NJ. S. S. Co.. /
feel just as much interest as If was
running regular, in the welfare and
prosperity OF Oregon, and this feel
ing is the cause Of my now writing
10 you. You no doubt, are fully
aware that a sum has been placed
before congress for the extension of
the signal service TO Tilamook Rock,
and also a line from Cape Flattery
to Port Townsend. The estimates
have been fully endorsed by the chief
signal officer, Gen. Hazen. 1t is very
gratifying to me that my efforts in
this direction in agitating this mat
ter have been so far successful. /
had long interview with Senator
Booth and wrote that gentleman q
long letter, asking his advocacy of a
system of which | will give you now,
as briefly as can, an outline Of the
details. (This interview took place
last November) / requested Sena.
tor Booth to try sRd establish on this
coast a sub station, with q compe
tent officer or officers, under the con-
troll Of the chief signal officer, and
to enable that officer so esta blished
10 give indications both to this coast
particularly, and to the head Office at
Washington. more reliable data,
alike beneficial to the merchant,
Izrmer and seaman. showed that
10 do so intelligently, q system Of
signal stations should be established
Ms follows:
, 4 wire from Cape Flattery TO Port
Townsend, Tillamook Rcck TO Asto
ria; q wire from Cape Blanco, lat. AZ
deg. 90 min,, long. l2i deg. 80 min =,
to Roseburg, lat. 43 deg. 10 min,
long. 1913 deg. l6 min. These two
last named stations are 56i nautical
miles apart, and Rose6urg bears true
north SO deg. 10 min. 80 sec. east
from Cape Blsnco. Also a wire from
Cape Mendocino, in lat. 40 deg. 26
min., long. l24 deg. "a min. west, to
Red Bluff, LAT. 40 deg. 10 min, long.
long. l22 deg. l6 min. west. These
last two points are 90 $40 nautical
miles apart, and Red Bluff bears true
south so deg. 81 min. east from Men.
docinO. Again, another wire frcm
Point Arena 20 main wire in interior;
and again a wire from Point REYES,
also 10 main wire; aud again, a wire
from Point Conception to main wire.
None OF these last three are long
wires, as the main telegraph lines are
near the same. At San Diego there
is already = station. Now here we
have a coast line of nearly 500 miles.
Suppose the station | advocate, es-
tAblished, and a sub. center At any
point they please to designate, who
can say that IL would not be q great
aid to commerce and agriculture
These stations, making tri daily re-
port 10 q center on this coast, after
short time, enable the officers to
gain little experience, would give
unmistakable indication. Take Cape
Flattery in communication with Port
Townsend, for instance, besides
warning the lumber or coal laden
vessels that a gale was blowing out.
side, il would also scquaint the con-
Signee in the Sound that his vessel
was OF that point, and il he wished
he could send tug, and still the sta
Iion need never be ths less effira-
cious for the signal service. Shp-
pose = wire had been established al
Cape FiAttery at the time of the col
lissiun Of the Pacific aud Orpbcur,