The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-01-01
WHAT A RECRUIT MUST
LEARN.
The Intelligence eth. signal Service Corps.


TO serve in the signal service is to
receive thorough and valuable edu-
cation, no matter if the man who has
enlisted takes advantage of the earliest
opportunity to obtain his discharge.
He has acquired methodical business
habits; he has become g 'od telegraph
operator and a good mathematician.
Before i man can enlist in the service
he NUT satisfactorily pass an exan>na-
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 a man is accepted in the service
he is ordered to duty al Fort Myer.
where he undergoes Il thorough train
ing to fit him for the duties he has 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
various meteorological instruments.
the modes of observation, and the form
and duties required at stations OF OBJ
secvation. The term of duty at Fort
Myer is six months, aud by that time
he is pretty we'll yersed in the duties
he has 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. his
chances for promotion rest on the man
ner in which he performs his duties
and the record he makes. No further
examination is required up to the rank
of sergeant. For promotion to lieu-
tenancy. however. it is necessary to
/ undergo very thorough examination.
The chief signal officer annually selects
Il number OF sergeants who shall CON-
i pete for the two positions in the grade
! of lieutenant created annually. The
examinations are held in this city, un-
less it is impossible fer candidate to
| come here. when he is examined at his
| station. The new lieutenants are al
| once transferred to Fort Myer, where
they are instructed in the higher
branches of meteorology. Even aftel
that they must serve a year or two in
the signal office in this city before they
are competent for indication work.
This indication work is very wear
| ing One officer is on this duty for s
month. He is obliged to be at the of
flee until 1890 or o'clock at night
and he must be at his desk again at
o'clock the next morning. His morn
ing work keeps him at the office until
l O'Clock. and he is again on duty a
5 o'clock in the afternoon.
There are $50 stations in all, bu
there are only $50 first-class meteor
illogical stations from which daily tele
graph reports are received. Observa
tions are taken precisely at the SAM
minute OF Washington time-at Z a
m.. 3 p. m.. and IL p. m. ut all th'
stations. Two additional observations
not for telegraphing except in speeia
eases. are taken at II a. nj. ana p
nj. These simultaneous reports fur
nish the data upon which the weathe
charts are formed. The government
owns and operates through the chic
signal service officer several -thonsan,
miles of telegraph lines, and this, to
gether with other lines, the use G
which is secured when necessary, form
chain which connects all parts c
this broad continent with the sigma
Office at Washington, where all tk
weather information is concentrate
simultaneously, and then sent broad
cast over the land for the benefit OF tn
public. Washington Star.