The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-01-01
WHAT A RECRUIT MUST
LEARN.
The Intelligence of the Signal Service Corps.

To serve in the signal service is to
receive a thorough and valuable edu-
cation, no matter if the man who has
enlisted takes advantage of the earliest
opportunity to obtain his discharge.
lie has acquired methodical business
habits: he has become good telegraph
operator and good mathematician.
Before man can 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
beer 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 thorough train
ing to fit him for the duties he has to
perform in the future. There he Is
draled 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
servation. The term of duty at Fort
Myer is six months, and by that time
he is pretty well versed 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 a lieu
tenancy, however, it is necessary to
undergo a very thorough examination.
The chief signal officer annually selects
a number OF sergeants who shall COM
pete for the two positions in the grade
OF lieutenant created annually. The
examinations are held in this city, un-
less it is impossible for candidate to
come here, when he is examined at his
station. The new Geutenants 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 wear
ing. One officer is on this duty for a
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 9
O'Clock the next morning. His morn
ing work keeps him at the office until
l o'clock, and he is again on duty at
5 o'clock in the afternoon.
There are $50 stations in all, but
there are onH $50 first-class meteor
illogical stations from which daily tele-
graph reports are received. Observa-
tions are taken precisely at the same
minute of Washington time-at a.
M, 3 p. M, and II p. m. at all the
stations. Two additional observations,
not for telegraphing except in special
cases, are taken at IL a. N. and D.
m ne eds Data UPON Whe6 he heooTSs Weaher
charts are formed. The government
owns and operates through the chief
signal service officer several thousand
miles of telegraph lines, and this, to-
gether 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 information is concentrated
simultaneously, and then sent broad
cast over the land for the benefit of the
public. Washington Star.