Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-11
THE SIGNAL CORPS.
The Organization and Operation Of the
Weather BuReaus.

The Organization and Operation Of the
Weather Bureaus.
COMPOSITION or THE CONGRATULATIONS RE-
QUIRED OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR PRO-
MOTIONS TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sENTINELS
WHO WATCH FOR COMING sTORMs-THE ORIGIN
OF THE METEOROLOGICAL WORK OF THE CORPS
The duties Of the signal service are two fold
providing an efficient corps for maintaining
communication with the front In time of war by
means OF o thorough system Of signals, and of
noting the development and progress of storms
and other meteorological phenomena and re-
porting the same to the public with predictions
Of the weather Of the immediate future. The
work done by the signal corps during the war
was very valuable, and gave an impetus to the
art Of signaling the world over. signal
corps Is now considered an absolute necessity to
an army operating in the field for maintaining
communication by visual signals, and for con-
structing military telegraph lines. When the
war was over Congress continued the
corps. which. though crude was valuable
To maintain its efficiency it was necessary to
keep the men who composed 1t constantly
employed upon the labors they would be called
upon to perform In case of necessity. Stations
were formed in different parts of the country
and the practices Of the service were continued
Meteorological observations materially aided
telegraphy. BY the former notice could be
given on the northern lakes and the sea coast by
magnetic telegraph and marine signals of the
approach of storms. 1t was this discovery
which led to the creation in 1870 Of
THE WEATHER BUREAU
as branch Of the signal service. 1t was soon
seen that storms might be foretold throughout
the whole country, and In 1872 the research OF
the service was extended for the benefit ofagrcul-
ture. The weather bureau has been so constantly
improved that it has practically exceeded in
Importance, in the eyes Of the public, the original
object for which the corps was intended. The
signal service is now considered simply nam.
moth weather bureau. Yet the very means used
to perfect it IN this respect maintain and even
improve the efficiency of the corps in the art Of
signaling, 80 that in case of war there would be
an intelligent and trained force OF men ready to
take the field without delay, and the weather
branch OF the service would come to
standstill. The two-fold duties of the
service. therefore, do not conflict, but in
reality the one depends upon the other
Although the weather bureau was created in
1870, it was not until 1874 that it had attained
such degree of Importance and efficiency as to
be considered public necessity. From the
latter year the records Of the weather observa-
tions date. All the predictions ofthe signal Office
nave, from its beginning until now, been made
from the observations taken simultaneously in
different parts OF the country. The theory is to
gain frequent views of the atmospheric Condi-
dition and movements over the country as they
actually are. From these simultaneous reports
the great success of the weather bureau re-
suited. The signal corps is of necessity an in
telligent body of men, and this fact. together
with the military discipline which is enforced
has contributed largely to its present efficient
condition.
COMPOSITION OF THE CORPS.
The service is a branch Of the regular army.
II is composed Of five hundred men. OF these
there are at present chief signal officer,
Gen. W. B. HazeI; a captain and five lieuten-
ants from the regular army who are detailed
for signal service duty; sixteen lieutenants, who
have been promoted from serseants; $50 ser
geants, 80 corporals, and the rest regularly en-
listed men. There are but two grades of officers
belonging to the corps-chief signal officer, with
the rank of brigadier general. and second lieu
tenant. The latter grade is filed by promotion
from the rank OF sergeant, under the provisions
OF law passed several years ago allowing two
such promotions annually. These annual adj
ditions to the number Of officers have had
the effect of decreasing the number of reg
ular army officers who were detailed
for signal service work, necessitating
their being sent back to their respective
regiments. There are now but six such officers.
The senior OF these is Capt. S. NJ. Mills, 9Th
artillery. who has charge of the property and
money division OF the service, and is always de-
tailed acting signal officer during Gen. Hazen's
absence The Others are First Lieut. H. c.
Dunwoody, 4th artillery; First Lieut.. Robert
Craig. 4th artillery; First Lieut.. p. H. Ray Sth
infantry; First Lieut.. 7. NJ. Woodruff. 5th in
fantry, and First Lieut.. James Allen, Sd cavalry
In addition to these. however. there is Lieut.
A. w. Greedy. 9Th cavalry, who is still attached
to the signal service. AS he was on duty in the
arctic stations he is not included this wear in
the six line officers who are allowed to be as
signed on signal duty. Next year however,
one OF the officers mentioned above will proba-
bly, be returned to his regiment to make room
for Lieut.. Greedy. The officers who have game
the rank of lieutenant in the service by their
own eXertions are deserving Of the highest
credit, for they have earned their honors. Yet
there is nothing for them beyond the rank of a
second lieutenant, unless Congress shall recog-
nize the Importance of the corps having
full complement of It's own officers.
and create the grades Of first lieu
tenant, captain and major. 1t is harsh
law that forbids faithful and efficient man of
the signal corps from rising above the grade of
second lieutenant He may be the best officer
in the service, he may make Invaluable contri-
buttons to science. he may be the means of
saving millions of dollars to the commerce of
the country. but he cannot reach a higher posi-
ton than second lieutenant. Those on duty
here who have attained that rank are Lieuts
Sebree, Swift, Powell and GIassford. The SER
vice is military throughout, but question has
been raised OF Late years whether it is best that
the weather bureau should remain a part of the
army. Those who oppose change from a mill
tary to civil organization claim that the ser
vice cannot be maintained in its present eff
cheney without military discipline; that civil
bureau would cost twice as much as the present
service, and that as it is a success under its
present management no change should even be
contemplated which would entanger ITS life
WHAT A RECRUIT HAS TO LEARN
To serve in the signal service is to receive a
thorough and valuable education, no matter If
the man who has enlisted takes advantage of
the earliest opportunity to obtain his discharge
He has acquired methodical business habits; has
become good telegraph operator, and good
mat hematician. Before man can enlist in the
service he must satisfactorily pass an examine
tion, which requires that his education has not
been neglected. Indeed, some of the applicants
for enlistment have been graduates of colleges
As regards intelligence in the ranks, the corps
man is accepted In the service he is ordered to
duty at Fl. Myer, where he undergoes Thorough
training to fit him for the duties he is to perform
in the future. There he is drilled in the usual
duties of soldiers, and in addition is taught
signaling in all its branches telegraphy. the use
Of the various meteorological instruments, the
modes of observation and the form and duties
required at stations of observation. The term
of duty at Fort Myer is six months, and by that
time he is pretty well versed in the duties he is
to perform. He Is generally sent to some one
of the many stations for duty. His course here
Is watched and his record is kept accurately.