Telegram-herald., 1890-06-15
HELI0GRAPH LINES.
one That Is over one Thousand
B-ues ia Length
Progress 10 siguzliuE-A Battle fsela
Telephone slga@.tes Ooaer Mates
other Novelties ia Signals DEVISED
b AEaericGn Enss2toFS

list n0H alIh = keen interest tle re-
salt Of the most extensive experiments
ever undertaken IA optical telegaphs
Tlis Is the operation of heloErepn
line over one Thousand miles ga length,
extending from Fort stanton ~ Ne"
Mexico. 10 Whipple barracks, IA Asl-
gona. sith rzmlfcguons leading "a Forts
Mcdowell, Lowell. Huachucs and Bay
ard
The entire line. said Mr.. Bernard
Bunnemeyer u a Washington Post re-
porter. places ia communication TWEEN
ty-fye signal stations and commands a
section u country OF ghe utmost impor-
tance IN warfare against hostile lndi-
aus. The terminal stations connect
with the general telegraph system Of
the country, and thus bring the inmost
reeesses Of Arizona aud New heNico's
vastness into close relation with the
seat Of Government, q fact OF which
message received q few days ago al the
Signal Office from General Greedy. who
Is at present in Arizona witnessing the
practical operation OF the line, Is al in
contestable proof The message was
and flashed FROM summit 10 summit over
gaps from forty 10 fortY-ive miles In ex-
tent. 70 the western terminal station,
touching successfully Mount Graham,
Table butte, Saddle peak, Pinal mount
aims, Lookout peak, Bakers butte,
Squaw peak. Bald mountain and Whip
pie barracks, where IL was transferred
to the electric telegraph FOR transmits
Sion 70 this city.
The plan Of this gigantic undertak-
ing was conceived and carried out by an
able and energetic officer, Colonel w. J.
Volkmar. who is well remembered in
this city and has charge of the signal
service in the Department OF Arizona.
General Greely, recognizing the posi-
bic advantages offered, IN a military
point. by the well-planned project, left
nothing undone to make the experiment
a success, and furnished the entire line
with the best equipment at his disposal.
He provided each station with one or
more photographs OF the latest pattern
for flashing the messages. reports and in
formation OF value onward. This mys-
torioUs little instrument is extremely
simple 70 manipulate when understood,
and ip the hands Of an experienced
signalist yields the most surprising re-
suits, and becomes q potent factor ir the
field.
Imagine n mirror about four inches
square so arranged on a tripod or other
support that the rays OF the sun reflect
ed from is surface may be thrown on
any point desired and kept there by
means Of revolving screws 10 compen-
safe for the apparant motion Of the sun
This is a heliograph. To transmit a
message il will only be necessary 20 in
tercept the reflected rays by means
of a screen and operate the latter SO as
10 reveal 70 the distant station flashes
Of various durations representing the
dots and dashes Of the American Morse
telegraph code. Any telegraph operator
NAV therefore become expert in the
manipulation OF the instru ument with but
little practice. and il was this fact that
led General Greely 10 recommend the
adoption OF tho American Morse code
for signaling purposes. In addition to
hcliographs the line was also equipped
with telescopes, field glasses, compasses,
and, in fact. every thing necessary 70
enable the signal officers 20 scan the
surrounding country from their lofty
stations and make correct reports OF any
unusual occurrences within the radius Of
vision % the nearest military post or 20
the authorities in this city. II required
The possibilities - the heliogrsph
are not yet fully developed, and only
within the past two years have messages
been exchanged over a range Of seventy
five miles, while quito recently Colonel
Nolkuar has demonstrated that the in
strUmont is quite effective al distances
OF over nincty-fve miles. The instru-
ments in use were des .gned at tho Sig
nal Office. and although u is not gen
orally known. tho officials are always on
the qui vive for Improvements 81 value
% tho army. The latest device is e
foll telephone equipment. but tho
name walking telephone is much moro
suFrcstivc. T. cons ists ~ a receiver,
trausmitter snd key inreniousiv az
RANGED In AL sole-loathcr pouch A
soldier provided with this equipment
ani a rool - very light double conductor
wire arried SD = <rar>ack on his beck
may move aIl over thc fcld and sn,l be
enabled ~ maintain constant comm -ni-
cation with tho central station or start
irr point ~ia ~ Viro is carr od
without difficulty ou the FIELD 30 Haf-
to W for ortpcet drtr ttts ooliT~r-t
vI ho indispensable. g. f.IfIs the rn-
a