The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-13
A Telephone Line to the Two Lights

To the Editor Of the Press:
Semi-occasionally an item will appear in
the local newspapers in advocacy of tele-
phone line to the Two Lights. These para
graphs usually appear Immediately follow
ing some shipping disaster or narrow escape
from one in this dangerous locality. The
late distressed condition of the brig Hyperi-
on, off the Cape, so closely followed by the
perilous situation Of the three-masted
schooner A. r. Weeks, again reviyes the
much mooted question of a telephone.
There is no doubt whatever that the pro-
jected line would be of incalculable benefit
to all concerned. During perfectly clear
weather. the observatory on Munjoy Hill,
with its powerful telescope, sweeping nearly
the whole sea horizon, sufices to warn those
interested, of the approach of shipping to
the adjacent coast and harbor. In this re-
spect it is a most useful institution. But
when the winds 'howl with horrid note" I"
and the atmosphere is thick with vapor, fly
ing snow, driving rain or dense fogs, it is
then that vessels, in their efforts to gain
safe harbor, are often placed in jeopardy !;
and it is then that the ship owners of Port
land may vainly ask of the lookout on Nun
Joy. "What dost thou see, lone watcher on
the tower2" At such times as these, a tele-
phone to the end of the Cape, manipulated
by some person whose knowledge of sea
craft would enable him to make an intelli-
gent report, the presence Of vessels, their
class, situation, and such assistance as was
asked for, or seemed to be needed, would at
once be conveyed to the CITY,. Ii it accom-
plished no other result than the prevention
of sensational newspaper reports. which
harass shin owners and distress the families
and friends of those falsely reported wrecked
a telephone line should be established. Al
ready the wires extend down the Cape as
far as some of the cottages at Pond Cove,
only about three miles away, as the crow
flies, from the Cape Lights. The cost of ex-
tending the line SO short a distance, when
weighed against the benefits that would re-
suit seems too trivial for serious considera-
tion. Neither talk nor itful newspaper par
agraphs will beget the needed telephone
energetic citizen will accomplish more in half
a day by going among the merchants and
ship owners of Portland and soliciting their
aid, than If all the people in the land simply
declared there ought to be telephoneV
In the language of the immortal Greedy,
'the way to resume is to resume" and not
forever talk about it..
There would doubtless be no life-saving
station at the Cape today had not some per-
son been found TO take the initial step, draw
up the proper petition, and then stalk from
house to house soliciting signatures. Hav-
ing no other interest in the matter than a
lively desire to see every facility for relief
extended to distressed seamen, that same
person stands ready to aid in every proper
manner in his power, the establishment and
management of the much-talked OF telephone
line. But it is the people OF Portland who
are to reap all the benefits of this project.
Are they interested enough to help them
selves? M. A. ID.