New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-12
TO IMPROVE THE SIGNAL SERVICE.


WASHINGTON Feb lit is exp ,cted that the
subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs, having in charge Senator Maxey's bill to
increase the ciciencp of the Signal Service, will re-
port next week 10 the full committee and the
friends of the measure express confidence that tae
report will he favOrabl, One The measure pro-
vides That the officers of the Signal Service snail
hereafter be assigned permanently to that service,
which is to be made distinct corps of the Army
instead OF being detailed from the line at present.
The argument in favor of the bill is a strong one.
Tho Signal Service has become one of the most
valued of the publ institutions, and anything
which giv,s it 4 character of greater sta bity com
mends itself TO all who are interested in
commerce agriculture. 1t requires
about two years for officer to fit
himself for practical scientific work in the bureau
and then every years experience adds to the value
of his services A detailed officer is subject to recall
at any moment, and th, re are always at work nfu-
enccs tending to draw hm back to his regiment and
substitute new and inexperienced officer in its
place This is manifestiy wrong.
Every reason which can be cited to warrant the
existence of the Engineer Corps is an argument in
favor If this measure. Some facts showing in q for
chile manner the practical benefits of the Signal
Service to commerce have been laid before the
committee. The total number of disasters upon the
lakes by the sirandng and foundeIing of vessels in
the four years preceding the establishment of the
cautonary display system-frOm 1SGS to 1871 in
clusive-was 751, and the net loss of
property amounted to S6,714G43. In the
succeeding four years, hc the system was in pro-
cess of perfection, the number of disasters 535,
with q total loss of property amounting to
81, ,696,571. In the next four years-from 1876 to
1870 incusive-the total number of disasters was
373, with loss of property amounting to only
80, S13.330.
But the shpOwner is not alone conspicuous
beneficiary of the Signal Service. Every year The
benefits conferred upon the farmer and indirectly
upon mankind through him incr asing. The
forecastng by two or three days of killing frosts is
invaluable TO the sugar planters of Louisiana. A
comprehensive system for gathering information of
interest to cotton growers and dealers, and for
its dissemination by mail and post from
a large number of designated centres has
been devised and is already in operation
with encourag ging results. The orange growers of
Fl rida are Informed two or three days IN advance
of the probable advent of damaging frosts, and are
thus enabled TO gather III their ripened crops and
save them. The Tanchmen of IeXas are Informed of
the coming "nOrthers" and "bliZZarls." The
TEN OF special reports of interest TO Darrcular
branches of agriculture is soon to he EXTENDED to the
tobacco grow ers of Virginia and the neighbOrng
Tobacco States. Ii Is desirable to leave the crop
standing long possible but necessary to gather
il before il rs npped by frost. The wheat growing
interests of the Northwest are soon to receive the
especial attention of the Signal Service. 1t is pro-
Osed to place an officer Win one or two assistants
at cen raj point in the NOrthwesI, perhaps at
Chicago to make arrangements Tor frequent ana
regular reports from all paris of ne wheat region,
giving full informal on regarding the condition of
the crops 10 be tabulated and, III cOnnec ION with
the wea' her reports, compared with the indications
of previous years. From such comparisons it is he
lieved that the yield of wle It may he more accur-
atey foretOld than by any system ever yet revised