New-York tribune., 1884-12-14
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
GENERAL HAzEN ON THE SIGNAL sEkvlOh'
OPPOSED TO THE TRANSFER OF CIVIL bkANe"-
NHrps OF THE DEPARTMENT

crvpRAL HAZEN ON THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
OPPOSED TO THE TRANSFER OF CIVIL DhNNN
NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT
w,su1xGTON, Dec. 13.-General Hazen mas
49, ,o,ter 10 General Comstock. secretary OF
sr,,ce of the National Academy OF Sciences emood!
49, an argument against the transfer OF the weather scr
80 from, the military TO civil branch OF the Govern
~, which has been forwarded to the JOINT comssioh
~ CONGRESS. that is considering the organization in
VI s.,ontiAc bureaus Of the Government He says :
seNe .n honor TO express my decided opinions. based
ropc observation and careful study that no o,ner @
upon "n organization can secure that prompt ana
than res Of and reports which alone
HIGHEST value to forecasts of weather and other
give 'he ~ our meteorological work, ana sucn
branches testimony OF all foreign met.soroosl-
IS r,eor,ties rne whose opinion have learned
cal aulnh ~ duties known military stgnalling,which
Tue prshS indispensable in all armies. must, OF
has no" have military organization. Now the one one
orsan,ica rart TO be performed by civil one the
orsanization. its equivalent, would he needed
Tor tnS wholly additional The system now in use by
his government SURPRISING as docs ai otners ana
anp anl The Expenditure of millions OF money, would
he Wholly nnsted TO any plan but military N m ~ one ns:
~ .. ,be system and plan and long step backwaiu
:" Zen IL Il could finally succeed which without the opn
cations OF regular enlistment ana hi''"i' "s'iP"'' "
;sbelieved il cannot do. , - - ~, ,.s
In osr that the signal service shall carry on an lts
ph in nnnhrs or grade nor ought any of its work TO
Se abandoned and saving in money can he eneceu os
h. mot hDiS ~
.ay that i bv completing present partial orgahHa
,Ion As IS well known uhe signal corps so iar as Is
an organization at ALL has been built up sep ny sSp n
coriiug to regular plan VI now ~ ms m, aI % and
The latter of Second Lieutenant. the unhhshcu
pat being the intermediate grades These nave hot feI
been created but the time has fully arrived for makng
ihem These intermediate grades are now hied by TEN
norary details from the line or the Army,
aud before the officers detailed are fully fanlIlar
with their duties as signal officers thelr s coloneis
legn calling TO them to 20 BACK TO tnen a Mo-
which calls finally prevail. By this means large pro
rorton of the time of these officers consumed III getting
ready for duty, and when they have become lny IN in
srueted and useful tney win tner aos serce ~c IN
not not' only My of time which costs money
but in money itself because like the wors OF an %
enced mechanic. there is much waste OF material. u.
needs of the secret Service then make N Imperative l
the intermediate grades of field officers. captains anu
first stieuenants benOw made not only on me score o c
ieucy but economy. and this is especially necessary ~
This lime since Congress has adopted the pan OF s'hhs
two officers of experience back 10 their regiments Wnen
ever sergeaus of the signal Corps are pIomulcu
be second lieutenants Economies many times greater
than the additional cost for salaries can he enecteu D!
have no doubt but that had organized corps
with officer. of whose points fullY Know the
disaster that overlook the Greely Relief Expel o
l~s3 would not have occurred. The want OF snch corp
felt every day and IL is hoped Congress VIII no phIe
withhold lis benefits leaving alone. of all services II
The Army weakened and embarrassed ny lhe want VI VI
CNifation =, =. a.,
have here pointed out what appears to me 70 he th'
best organization of the signal service oasea upon a.
Ne experiences and observations OF this ana other Coy
ernmcnts I do not think II should h'
related I'm any way to other scienuhc hran'no'
f tho pnhlic service except in unity and courteous
entirely unuue aud separate while It's duties should h'
lust what they are now. mrcofopg.a .al anu ni'al Hk
mailing. cndcENoting In every l"sNn' way W u'.'t Wv
Tie former ana improve the latter This is enough worn