Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-20
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
Gen. Greedy Recommends Important
Changes I'm the Organization.

Brig Gen. oreely, chief signal onicer OF the
Army, has submitted his annual report OF the
operations OF the Signal Corps TO the Secretary OF
War. The changes In the personnel or the corps
and the organization have been important The
death OF Second Lieut. Leroy E Seoree on January
%, 1855, leaves the number Of second neutenants
at fourteen, while the reorganization OF the once
force has reduced the enlisted men from 40 70
500 For the nrst time in the history Of the corps
sne civilian assistants, who have performed for
years valuable scientific work under the disadvan-
tages OF temporary and uncert in tenure OF ONCE,
are now recognized as professors and assistant
professors and form q part OF the regular ONCE
force Gen Greedy Is OF the opinion that the corps
could De economically reduced
PROPOSED REORGANIZATION.
He says that an organization comprising, BE-
sides the Chief Signal Ofncer, one major, nve cap
talns' nve nrst lieutenant, two professors, and
three assistant professors would be sufficient,
provided the oficers were competent for all duties
not exist in tie corps and no ofcer should be re-
Ialned or promoted who is Incompetent The
corps should be l2s sergeants S25 nrst.class OBJ
servers. 90 corporals and SO pnvates. In such
latter case the appropriations for pay and allow
ana IN ~ lem ~ s,,c men could De reduced
$4,000 Tor the pay OF civilian assistants With
such proviso the assistants at observing stations
tnrouy nout the country could be economically re-
placed by civilian assistants as at many stations
the work Is such as TO require the aid OF an as
Slssans oaiy SIX months IN the year II Is recon-;
communications for quarters fuel rations and
Clothing q nxed sum shall be granted 10 every
man ID the corps not receiving allowances In kind
THE PAY INADEQUATE.
sit should be further recognized" continues the
report "that observers serving in great cities lex.
ceeding 100000 or as assistant directors Of state
weather services have most important duties, and
that those serving In isolated or yellow fever dis
mutation should amount to SIS. while to others an
allowance OF S55 would be reasonable. As rule
TO the southwark OF the Doth parallel or westward
OF the 9th meridian the character OF the climate
and the social conditions which obtain such as
q prevent this Office from procuring, at moderate
Salaries suitable civilian assistants Ii Is prooa-
within the regions named would quit this service
II they were not held by their enlistment. The
rates paid to unskilled Labor eyen are greater in
these regions than those now allowed by the Gov
eminent TO men in this service. In consequence
pecuniary temptations ana other kindred causes
lmpel observers serving In such places 70 Quit the
corps as soon AS possible"
INSTRUCTION IN ARMY SIGNALING.
The report again invites attention to the made
Quacy OF the present methods to insure proper In
struction in military signaling at Army posts.
The records show that less than one line Army
Omcer out OF nine has received any instruction In
signaling during the year. Out OF ala posts, 81
have neglected Instruction one or more months:
20, or more months. and at posts no instruction
has been had during the year. Gen. Greely recon-
mends the detail OF an ofcer or the signal Corps
with four or SIX men as instructors at the great
schools OF the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Fort
Monroe, and Fort Riley.
THE PERCENTAGE OF SUCCESS
The percentages OF successful weather predic-
tions for the year were: For weather, $50; wind,
75.5; temperature, TAP; general average, 76.7.
In determining the general average. weather is
given the weight OF s, temperature OF 4, and wind
OF 1, according to the importance laid upon them
0y the general pubic. The number OF cold-wave
signals displayed was 743 OF which 24O. or lis
per cent, were verified. About / 100 cities and
towns are fun nShed with the daily weather indica
lions by telegraph.