National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-01

the Central Office to be displayed at certain desig
mated ports whenever winds reaching velocity Of
twenty miles or more per hour are anticipated at
those points The signal consists of square red
flag with black centre, and the night signal
red light displayed at the office of the observer
and other prominent places.
Cautionary signals are displayed at forty eight
stations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from East
port Me- to Indianola, Tex. Atthe Texan stations
special fag-white, with red centre-is issued to
| indicate the approach of "northers," class of
storms peculiar to that section.
Warning signals for Canadian ports are also fur-
nished from the Signal Office in Washington
whenever considered necessary.
| TELEGRAPH WORK ON sEA-CoAsT LINES.
Five hundred miles of telegraph have been
built and are operated by the Signal Service on
the sea coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May, n. j.,
and from Norfolk, Va, to Smithville, n. c., which
includes the dreaded Capes Henry, Hatteras, and
! Lookout. These lines connect directly with the
Central Office, with which the stations upon them
are in constant telegraphic communication. There
eleven stations these lines, from all of which
/ full meteorological reports are required, and Ut
which cautionary signals are displayed.
The enlisted men of the Signal Service operate
and maintain the lines When storms wash out
! the cables across inlets, or sweep away the
shore line by displaying constantly flag and torch
signals On the of which each man instructed)
it serves to keep up communication until the
breaks are repaired
By this means delays are guarded against and
communication constantly maintained.
INTERIOR TELEGRAPH LINES.
In Texas and the Indian Territory the Signal
Service has built and now operates and keeps in
! repair 1900 miles of telegraph line, upon which
are located twenty-four offices. At each one OF
these offices the operator is an enlisted man, who,
besides attending to his Geographic duties makes
records and reports of regular meteorological OBJ
servations In California, Arizona, and New
Mexico the Signal Service has built 1000 miles OF
line, and now operates and maintains 400 miles,
upon which are located fifteen stations, alsosin
charge of enlisted men. Every mile of these lines
has been built through region of country hitherto
| considered impracticable.
! what is the method of ascertaining the ap-
proach of a storm so long in advance as this last
one?"
There is no method-it is purely problematical
| Mr.. Vennor is not connected with the weather
bureau of Canada. The realization of one of those
| storms creates considerable talk but no one ap-
pears to heed the numberless failures. Our duties
and aims are TO give the approach of any storm as
soon as it comes within range of our stations, to
point out its course and power that every one can
provide against disaster. To attempt anything
| else would be more worthy of credulity than
! fortune telling"
! In conclusion he said it was valuable institu-
! ton, the property saved annually was variously
estimated up in the millions and that it should be
| built up and encouraged i'll every way.