Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-06
SIGNAL SERVICE OF the ARMY.
PoRr TOWNSEND

PoRT TOWNSEND, Sept. 4.
lied in 1865, with General Myers at its
head. The present chief signal officer
Is BrieadIer General VIM. b. Hazen,
assisted by ten second lieutenants, who
belong 10 the signal service and were
promoted TO that rank from signal ser
Rsants and oorporals, and who have
been especially educated for and have
acquired skill in meteorological obsefv-
ations. The signal service is divided
into four branches, viz: The school of
instruction, the signal corps proper,
military teleoraphs and sea coast ser.
vice, and the meteorological. The school
Of Instruction 10 situated at Fort Whip
portion of the Arlington estate. This is
a school whore the practical duty OF
soldier 10 taught, as we'll a. the mansa-
telegraph construction, management OF
all signal apparatus used In the field.
use OF instruments for making meteor
oloaical observations, and practical
telegraphy. In the signal corps proper
officers and enlisted men skilled IN all
the uses of the appliances for signal
duty are with the army, but It Is during
var, when actual caDpaien n and military
operations are In progress. that this
corps is most valuable. In time of
peace their services are made useful IN
several ways. The uses Of the military
telegraph and sea coast service are made
most valuable on the Atlantic coast, as
IL is connected with all lighthouses and
life saving stations from Maine TO hey
West, Florida, 9 distance Of two thou
sand miles, giving aid to vessels and
warning them Of coming storms, and
bringing aid from the life saving stations
in case of wrecks.
The meteorological or weather bureau,
of which there will be q branch at this
place. Seattle, Port Angeles and Tatoosh
Island. conducts the observations taken
at over 176 signal stations throughout
the United States, Canada and the West
ladies BY Q system OF sele9raphs and
marine signals, daily gives intelligence
Of the approach of storms and Of fresh
cts in the principal rivers in the United
States.
The signal service bureau publishes a
large number Of charts. bulletins, ves-
ther reviews and chronicles. At every
port on the Atlantic coast and the great
lakes are signal stations in charge OF
signal sfiicefa, who receive instructions
from the chief signal officer in WASH
ington by telegraph when to hoist.
change and lover, cautionarv and dan
ger signals, 90 that all mariners in that
harber, or coast and headland in Its
vicinity, may, when within signal dis
tanoe, by day or night be warned OF the
state of the weather for the coming
tveuty- -four hours, whether il 10 TO be
fair, stormy, or the wind on shore or on
shore; and when the danger signal Ii
displayed they may, II they vish, seek a
harbor or gain q good offing from the
land, 90 that they may not be in danger
Of being driven on shore BY the fofcs OF
the gale. Though this coast 10 not vis-
tied by such fSquent and fiercs stsrDs
A the Atlantic coast, the signal station
here viii be OF great valse TO vessels
about 10 sail. a. they may Be warned by
signals displayed during the day Of the
aSproach of heavy winds, and their
dirS>slou; IL shead for vessel outward
bound, she may - veil remain IN OUT
harbor fos another day or tvo as 10 go
out and meet its force, causing her per
haps TO be driven on Vancouver's rock
bound coast.
The telesraphic stations connected
With the signal stations will also give
immsd dlate intelligence throuehoas the
Sound and coast of the strandinG OF
vesssae, 90 that aid may be sent them
The present system Is altogether IN the
hands of few tuaboat agents Who, or
the receipt of the news. send one or too
tugs which charge exorbissnt prices 10
render assistance, "a in the case OF the
HavaiiAn bark Augusta, stranded al
Freshvsser Bay lass sammer, which va
charged 5000 10 be towed od-mors
IN an the vessel was worth. With the
future system revenue cutters as ihese
different stations on the Pacias ooas'
v,l have an opportunity 20 receive IN
telIiesnee Of wrecks and go 70 tneai
ssslstapoe, thus aiding 10 sAstnR tf'
and property.