The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-11
IN THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
What a Recruit Must Learn Before He Is
Fit for Duty.
Washington Star.


TO serve in the signal service is to receive
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 methodicsl business habits has be-
come a good telegraph operator and a good
mathematician, Before a man enlist in the
service he must satisfactorily pass an examina
ton 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 is
far superior to the rest of the army. When
man is accepted in the service he is ordered to
duty at Fort Myer, where he undergoes thor
ough 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, teleg-
raphy, the use OF the various meteorological
instruments, the modes of observation and the
form and duties required at stations of observa-
ton. 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 of the many stations
for duty His course here is watched and his
record is kept accurately. His chances for
promotion rest on the manner in which he per-
forms his duties and the record he makes. No
further examination is required up to the rank
of sergeant. For promotion to lieutenancy,
however, it is necessary to undergo a very
thorough examination. The chief signal officer
annually selects number Of sergeants who
shall compete for the two positions in the grade
lions are held in this city, unless it is impossible
for a candidate to come here, when he is exam
ined at his station. The new ieutenants are at
once transferred to Fort Myer, where they are
instructed in the higher branches of meteorology.
Even after that they must serve year or two
in the signal Office in this city before they are
competent for indication work.
This indication work is very wearing. Ono
officer is on this duty for month. He is
obliged to be at the Office until 1890 l o'clock
at night and he must be at his desk again at 9
o'clock the next morning. His morning work
keeps him at the Office until l o'clock and he is
again on duty at o'clock in the afternoon.
There are $50 stations in all, but there are
only $50 first-class meteorological stations from
which daily Geographic report are received Oh
servations are taken precisely at the same min
ute of Washington time at A. M, P NJ. and
IL P. NJ. These simultaneous reports furnish
the data upon which the weather charts are
| formed. The government owns and operates
through the Chief Signal officer several thousand
miles of telegraph line, and this, together with
other lines, the use Of which is secured when
necessary, forms chain which connects all
parts of this broad continent with the Signal
Office at Washington, where all the weather in
| formation is concentrated simultaneously, and
then sent broadcast over the land for the benefit
of the nublic