Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-20

A-S ASpOEG vi 00us w. d. hdZcu, Cuici
signal officer, to- the Secretary of War was
made public to-day. Gen. HaZen states that
the theoretical and practical instruction Of the
ofncers and enlisted men in the duties required
OF the signal corps in time of war, and for the
meteorological service, was continued at Fort
Myer during the year. One of the chief advan-
tases OF maintaining Fort Myer as a school OF
instruction. he says. has been that men were
being constantly instructed in military Sig
mailing, and although these men may not re-
main in the public service they are fully quail
ned TO enter the military service as officers in
case OF war. He refers to the satisfactory re-
suits OF sending three small detachments for
against the Apaches. He is convinced that
thorough instruction cannot be given at any
post IN the army where signaling is not the
chief feature of instruction, and earnestly rec
ommends that the full force of the signal corps
authOrized by law be maintained, and that of
this force company of at least three officers
ana nIty men be stationed at Fort Myer, or at
some other military post. and provided with q
section of fully equipped field telegraph trains,
lor instruction and experiment.
HE REGRETS TIL CHANGE AT FORT MYER.
he expresses the opinion that the action of
the joint commission of Congress in securing
the removal of Fort Myer from the charge of
the signal service was done under q misconcep-
tlon oi the facts, and he is confident that il is
IN connlct with the best interests of the gov
ernnent. 1t is presumed that the action was
taken upon W hat was supposed would effect
economy and efficiency" Fort Myer, he says,
was the most inexpensive feature Of the signal
service, and source of actual saving of many
thousands OF dollars to the government.
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION CRITICISED.
The maintenance of that post will cost the
same in either case, he says, and adds:
"The fifty men (Which is less than the average
that has been kept there the past twelve years,
"a small per cent at the depot of instruction at
any military establishment) cost no more than
common soldiers anywhere or 81 900 a year
III SSOO each. But now these
receive Communication for fuel, ioOd and quar-
tiers, indispensable allowances when soldiers
average to SS12 year each, or $4,000 before
they have learned their duties, or can return
any service to offset this cost. Besides, by en-
tering in classes semi-annualy, as formerly, the
az eruge strength OF the corps was 4S5, saving
SI2,loo. making total in these two items
several Thousand dollars a year saved by the
old plan, which cannot be done now. To offset
this the commission reduced the corps thirty
men, equalins In money S24, 1850. Thus while
deprivlng the service OF thirty men, it really
added S1S.36O to the cost OF the service; which
sion. . The action of this commission
tenus to stop instruction in military signaling
ALSO"
THE STATEMENT IN THE SENATE,
that the action was based upon the testimony
OF the lieutenant general, that the army was
doing this sufficiently well without the signal
corps was, he says either enormously made or the
testimony was not exhaustive and he refers to
the tact that Gen. Miles and other commanders
In the field earnestly called for detachments OF
signal service men, because the line OF the
army could not furnish them. ''The law, both
presumably and by mandate, makes the CHIEF
signal officer responsible for the efficiency OF
tins branch OF the military service. and it
would seem that this action is not in harmony
win that tact, but has largely deprived ~ of
the facilities for dong what the law redGDfes."
INDICATIONS.
"The weather forecasts and cold wave and
storm warnings have been regularly issued
during tho yesss.r The oftica Il unahla, com.
ply with the numerous requests received rom
Warnings, owing to the limited appropriation
Ior tuis Drancn of the service. The manner of
making these predictions has been improved
by substituting the names OF states in place OF
the names Oh arbitrary districts previously
used by this service. This plan removes All
DOUBT as to the territory TO which the preaic-
tion applies. The instructions governing the
work In the indications division have been re-
vised and new and more rigid rules for de-
dIcatlons have been adopted. The weather in.
ulcatiuns and Storm warnings OF this service
would become more va,uabte ii regular stations
were established in the Wes. Indies and the
number OF stations increased in the west and
in British America Reports received from the
seacotSt telegraph lines in Some Cases. are OF
special value In the issue OF storm warnings
aud securing aid Tor stranded vessels. Valu-
able carsoeS have been saved and sailors re-
scued by the prompt Information com III unc ca
ted over this line by the Signal service observers,
and IL should no. only Ue maintained out eX-
tehded along Inc more dangerous portions OF
the coast"
COLD WAVE SIGNALS.
"The progress made in this important branch
OF meteorological work has been highly salts
factory, not only as regards the accuracy OF pre-
dcLions but also in the greatly increased taclli-
prOacn of cold waves. Many applications Tor
extension Q. this system ior the protection OF
perlshabe goods, and the sugar aud truit
re- 5ions OF the south nave been received. The
cold wave signal is now displayed, by orders
from The central office. at Two hundred and
ninety cities and towns in the United States,
anu from these points distributed Uy Telephone
anu railways to about twenty Thousand Sta
tlons. Many citizens have slgnified their will
tnelr own expense, provided the signal service
would telegraph the warnings" and he recon-
mends that the sum OF $4,000, to be expended
tor the extension OF this system, be added 10 the
estimates iOr the fiscal year ending June 80.
1887. OF the 1,u65 cold wave signals displayed
during Lne year, oil, or s5.5 per cent were JUS
tined. The numDer OF stations in operation
June 80. 1855, in the United States Was 452.
WEATHER SIGNALS.
ssThe system of flags to indicate the probable
conditions of weather and temperature re-
Gently adopted by this service has been uni
versully commended by the public, and the
region over which they displayed has
greatly increased during the year, and the
office, for want OF funds mas not been aOie to
supply the demands" More than two hundred
aud fifty replies were received To a circular let
ter addressed to those In charge OF these sta
tons commencing In the highest terms this
new feature OF Tie signal service, which gives to
many cities and towns the advantages OF o Sig
nal service station without expense to the gov.
These are volunteer stations, and
the flags are purchased by individuals, and u
single Lelesrain costing not more than twenty.
nve cents may serve Lo give The Weather inui-
cations 10 many stations. In addition to the
system OF flag signals, a system OF symbols is
uSeu by q humber OF railroad companies, these
ymbois being displayed Oh moving trains. He
thinks the service should be prepared to fur
nsh flags and transmit daily teiegranlS to all
Casts, and recommends that $4,000 be added
70 tile eStimat teS for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1883, ior this purpose.
VALUABLE PROPERTY SAVED BY FLOOD SIG
NAILS.
He refers at length to the value of flood warn
ings, and states that property valued at $12S,-
600 was saved at q single station (Nashville,
Tenn.,) during March and April, at an expense
to the government OF only $27.SO.
THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR EXPEDITION.
Gen. HaZen states that ''sOnie substantial re-
ward should be given to the members OF the
international polar expedition, and it is hoped
that Congress al its next session Will recognize
The successful work performed Dy Lieut.. Greely
and his party by providing promotions OF the
survivors and support tor the families Of those
who lost their lives while serving with this
expedition"
A NEW SIGNAL SERVICE BUILDING NEEDED.
The work of the bureau In this city now neces-
sarily occupies ten buildings, SO located as to
require . larger force OF messengers and labor
ers than would be required were this work
brought into single convenient building. The
rent now paid for these buildings Is $6,379. .96
per year. A suitable building Ior the work OF
this service Ii located on the corner OF oath and
M streets northwest, with about %, 600 square