Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-30
A signal Service station Needed at
zowa TuufRar E1a.

The following article from the New York
Martins ReoisseT viii be of interest to many
at this port aud to our readers generally;
"The Signal Service Is now indispensable
to commerce and navigation. Its benefits
are many and great, and far outweigh Its
cost to the country. But the service Is yet
far from reaching the full measure OF Its
usefulness. At first 1t was an experiment,
the success of which was doubted by many.
It's reports were, however, very soon appre'
ciated and extension Of its work was soon
demanded. But the few improvements
served not only to show the necessity OF
more, but also of extending its sphere of
usefulness until the service should give
the fullest advantages possible to the
commercial and agricultural inter
es's of the country. For this reason
the signal and reporting stations
along the coast were established. 1t Is
hardly necessary to state that storm warn
tngs and storm signals at these stations
have been of incalculable benefit to shipping.
These rep 0rts are snxiously watched for,
and ANYTHING that will make them fuller, or
give more stations, is heartily endorsed.
But there not vet enough signal and report
log stations. We know that these can not
be furnished all at once, and that the off,
GERS OF the service endeavor to make its
work more efficient, but It is Deces-
sarY that the additional stations should
be equipped and established as rap
idly as possible A point which should
he protected in this particular is
Fort Jupiter on the east coast of Florida.
There is a lighthouse at that point, and the
Signal Service could make arrangements
with the lighthouse board and establish a
station there. Nearly all our steamers run
ming from ports north Of Hstteras and
Cuba, the Gulf ports aud all ports south of
Fort Jupiter, and q large number of the
coastiDg craft, hug the Florida coast here
and pass within signalling distance of the
lighthouse. After leaving port now for a
long extent OF the coast they pass no signal
station. But IL there was one at Fort Jupiter
they would know az once whether hurricanes
or storms were approaching, and thus be
warned In time. 1t Is only necessary to
point to the fearful gales tha' sweep along
the Southern coast every season to appre-
ciate the advantages this would be. Indeed,
the whole sea borne trade between our
Southern ports aud the North and Europe
pass this point, aud the benefits that a
Signal Station there would confer on a
large part of our commerce is made evil
dent by the advantages conferred
by other stations. 1t must be remem-
bered that In one sense, or at least as
far as signal stations are concerned, this
would be a point OF departure for ocean
bound vessels, and it is certain that, had the
Signal Srvice a station here long ago,
many vessels now lost would have been
still afoat. In the cause Of humanity,
therefore. as well as of trade, great good
would follow the establishment of q station
at Fort Jupiter. We would call the atten
tion Of the Signal Service to this matter and
would urge upon its officers the propriety
of establishing such a station. They would
iud that it is much needed and would give
advantages which would amply compensate
for extending the signal wires to that
point"