The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-28
THE WIRE TO CAPE FLArrERY.
Operated by the Government, but Not
to Make Money.

| CLaLLAM BAY, May 27-rSpecial. 1-As a
/ paying investment on the capital employed
| the government telegraph line which ex-
tends from Port Angeles TO Cape Flattery
is not success. 1t would swamp most
| any kind OF a private corporation to
handle it and it is only through the faith
erly kindness of Uncle Sam that the peo-
pie OF this state enjoy its benefits. The
monthly receipts of the whole line aver
age about $40 and the cost of operating it
Is, as near as can be learned, $is2
monthly. 1t is seventy-six miles
In length with six stations upon
1t, each one having an operator
in charge who is also an observer of the
weather. He has, in addition, to keep
from ten to fifteen miles of the line in re-
pair and in bad weather the latter duty
absorbs all his time and attention. After
heavy blow or rainstorm the whole
force generally takes to the woods for sew
eral days to get the ends together again.
As the line penetrates through country
where there are few roads and very bad
trails the operators have better chance
to make observations on the weather than
any other class of citizens Reports
of the state of the weather and
passing vessels are sent in twice each
day TO the chief operator at Port Angeles,
who in turn transmits them to San Fran
cisco, where the Pacific coast weather
prophet is stationed. The reports may be
obtained at any telegraph office through
which they pass by either the press or the
public The average pay of the govern
ment operators is 500 per month, salary be-
ing graded according to length of service,
two men on the line receiving $3.50 per
month.
As these seventy-six miles along the
straits IS the only government line in the
state, it is interesting to note that the
United States owns and operates 1 1,659
miles of wire, OPS OF which is under the
direction of the secretary of war and is
known as the military telegraph. 634 miles
run by the department of agriculture, in
charge of the weather bureau. The latter
comprises all the sea coast lines. It was
formerly all in the war department, but
when the weather bureau was transferred,
July /, 1891, the 63i miles of
sea coast line went with it.
1.-THE Cape Flattery line has had its ups
and downs and rather checkered career
until lately. The weather bureau seems
to be keeping it pretty straight. The war
department did not make much of a sue
cess of it. 1t was built some six years
ago, ana operated something over a year
when funds gave out, and there being no
appropriation in sight the line was aban-
doned. 1t went to pieces in
short time, and the cable to Tatoosh
island was destroyed, an appropria-
ton of over $4,000 being thrown
away. Last year new cable
was constructed and laid one mile in
length at a cost of 5000 and the land line
rebuilt, costing 81. 900 more. Should con-
gress fail to make necessary .appropria-
tions for the agricultural department the
line will have to go under again. 1t is now
in good working order and performing
satisfactory service, particularly to the
shipping interests of Puget sound, but it's
telegraphic rates are so low and its COM
mercial business so small that n stingy
congress is liable at any time to knock the
whole thing galley west and crooked" ON
the score OF cutting down expenses.