Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-06
STORM SIGNALS.
The Sea Coast LIue Of the Signal
Corps-HOVV and Where the sta
tions are RsIablished--The Mode
of Operating the Line.


The following is taken from letter re-
Gently written by officers of the Signal
Corps, to the London Lloyds, in reply to in
quiries from the latter regarding the Ameri-
can system of storm signalling:
On March Sd, 1873, Congress authorized
the establishment OF Signal Service sta
lions at lighthouses and hfe-ssving sta
tions on the lakes and sea coast, and
made provision for connecting the same
with telegraph lines or cables. Since
that date lines have been bdilt from
Sandy Hook, New Jersey, south along the
coast to Cape May, N. j.; from Delaware
Breakwater, Del, to Chincoteague, Va.
from Norfolk, Va, via Cape Henry, Va,
Kitty Hawk, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout,
and Wilmington to Smithville, N. c. The
total distance is about 4S0 miles. In order
to connect these with the Office Of the Chief
Sigaal officer, wires are leased from the
Western Union Telegraph Company, viz:
From Cape May, N. j., via Philadelphia,
Pa, Baltimore, Md, and Washington, D..
c., to Norfolk, Va, and from Delaware
Breakwater, Del, to Philadelphia. Pa.
The following have been built and are
operated by the Signal Service, but are
merely connected with the Western Union
telegraph Company, viz: From Narragan-
sett Pier, via Point Judith, to Block Island,
Rhode Island, and from RockpOrt to Thatch-
er's Island, Massachusetts. All are operated
on the Morse system.
The following are the stations where me-
neurological observations are taken and eau
tionary signals displayed on the above, viz
Thatcher's Island, Mass; Point Judith. New
Shoreham and Southeast Light, Block
Island, R. l.; Sandy Hook, Barnegat, At
lantic City and Cape May, n. j.; Delaware
Breakwater, Del ; Chincoteague, Norfolk
and Cape Henry, Va Kitty Hawk, Hatteras,
Portsmouth. Fort Macon, Wilmington and
Smithville, n. G. Repair stations are located
at Mauasquan and Little Egg Harbor (ife
saving station No. 23), n. J.; Ocean City,
Md, (life saving station No 6, near False
Cape); Cape Lookout, New River and Sloop
Point, n. G.
From Cape Henry to Kitty Hawk there is
a second line, which connects the eleven
intermediate life-saving stations with them
by telephone, thus bringing the two branches
of the government service (Treasury and
War into united relations to each other.
When the first sections Of the line were
built wooden poles were used, but they
having been washed out at places along the
beaches during heavy storms (the times
when lines are most needed), iron poles
have been partly substituted, the policy
being to use the latter kind exclusively
along the beaches.
The lire from Serves Delaware Break
water), Del, to Chincoteague, Va, has been
wholly built with iron poles. From the date
of building this particular line to this pres
ent time, not pole has washed out or been
blown down, nor has it given any trouble.
The iron poles stand admirably. In Sc
we're storms the line has at places been sub
merged, but, after the abatement of the
storm. it remained intact, and continued to
To-
which were easily Strengthened.
When the beach Is washed away gradual
~, the weight of the wire and pole causes
the latter to sink into the sand. The iron
pole is therefore admirably adapted to
places where wooden poles would be wash
ed out. The length is twenty feet; internal
diameter about two inches; weight seventy
five pounds; present cost 3d. wooden insu-
latOr screw plug is set In the top and held
by a nail driven into it through hole in the
pole. The cost of the plug is six cents.
The poles are drawn as for water pipes, ex
cept that as they are passing through the
final rolling process they are chilled as thev
leave the rollers; they are thus tempered,
which gives them more strength.
Where two wires are run on one line Of
poles a steel cross arm, which holds two
wooden insulator plugs, is clamped to the
top Of the pole. The cost of the cross arm
feet. Both wires must. however, be strung
at the same time, so as to prevent the poles
from turning in the ground.
The stations on the coast line are fully
equipped with meteorological instruments
for observation and signal apparatus for
communicating with vessels passing or In
distress. The practical result of the system
is-frst, to warn passing vessels Of ap-
preaching storms, so they may seek shelter;
in If hpfnU dfcfrQGc
to quickly summon the aid of the life saving
crews and the wrecking companies, and to
notify interested parties; third, Hatteras is q
valuable station for first feeling the effect
of a hurricane approaching the coast from
the south and southeast.
During the building OF the Cape Henry
Kitty Hawk section a vessel having a cargo
OF tea was stranded. The aid of the Nor
folk WTecking Company was at once sum-
mOned Both the vessel and cargo were
saved, IN advance OF a severe storm which
swept the coast. The value of the cargo
was more than three times the cost Of that
section.
In case Of vessels in distress temporary
stations are opened abreast the same on the
beach for the purpose of giving such per-
sOnal assistance as may be possible, and for
transmitting all information without delay
by wire to this office, to wrecking companies,
boards Of trade, chambers Of commerce, etc.
The average cost of building the line, the
labor having been done By troops, is about
$40 per mile. The average cost OF estab-
fishing the stations is 800 per station, the
yearly average cost OF maintaining station
is $500; yearly average cost of maintaining
a line is SO 604 for total of about $50 miles.
This is exclusive Of pay of troops and ope-
rators. No rent is paid at life-saving sta
tiona.
All Signal Service men ape instructed in
telegraphy, and the sea coast lines are ope-
rated on the Morse system, except the tele-
phone line from Cape Henry to Kitty Hawk.