Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-27
TELEGRAPH AND BALLOONS.
Two of the Things Touched On by Gen
Greedy.
Advances Made In the Signal Service
cessary-Future Work Laid Out.

Gen. A. w. Greedy, chief signal officer
OF the army. has submitted his annual
report to the Secretary of War. 1t was
made public this morning. and contains
a number of important recommendations
as to the conduct Of the service.
The report starts out with a consideration
of the matter of military telegraph lines.
Gen. Greedy says there are now thirty-three
military posts and stations whose teie-
graphic connections with the great COM
mercial systems Of the country are over
permanent lines constructed or operated,
either entirely or in part. by the signal
corps of the army. There is now hardly
a military post which has not a telegraph
station either within its limits or within
easy reach. These lines, permanent or
flying, are usually operated for drill pur-
poses. but on special occasions, as during
this year in the Rio Grande valley, they
are established and temporarily worked in
connection with important military opera
tions.
While the permanent telegraph lines
under the control of the chief signal officer
Of the army are constructed primarily for
military purposes. yet they secondarily
subserve commercial interests by affording
speedy communication with business CEN
ters. The tariff charges for commercial
kilograms over military lines are extremely
low. ranging from 10 to . cents for ten
words so that the revenue from CONNER
cial messages is necessarily limited.
Nevertheless the volume of such business
Is so great that the income assumes re-
spectacle proportions. There has been col
lected and turned into the United States
treasury, during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1893. the sum of Sl.96i.69. while for
the same period the additional sum OF
S4 262 % was collected for tolls on account
of he mnnprcial telegraDh
turned over to the proper oflcials The
total number of free messages transmitted
over government wires. consisting OF gov
ernment. state and other business, ag-
gregate $3.50, with a tariff value of S,SSo.67.
The same proportion on other lines. under
post commanders, would make the aggre-
gate tariff value of free messages about
5000. SO that during the year the volume
of business handled over military telegraph
lines and calculated on its very low tariff.
aggregates not very far from $1,000
Extending the Systems.
The important part which electrical COM
munication plays in modern warfare en-
phasizes the necessity for developing eff
cient and supplementary methods for
armies operating in a chase away from
the general telegraph system of the coun-
try. Special attention is now being given
by the signal corps to the suitable equip
ment of its flying telegraph trains in all
phases from the connection. by means of
such lines, of army headquarters with the
permanent lines of the country, to the pro-
vision for temporary telegraphic or tele-
phonic communication between army.
division or even brigade headquarters with
all essential points. whether in camp or
on the battle line.
With this end in view and with the ap-
proval OF the major general commanding
the army and the Secretary of War, fly
ing telegraph trains equipped with the
most modern appliances. are in course Of
organization, each separate train having
material for fifteen miles of line. These
trains. available for drill purposes. will be
located at Fort Riley. Kan. Fort Grant
Leavenworth. Kan. and at the Preside of
San Francisco. Cal.
Flying Telegraph Lines.
The field or flying telegraph differs mater
tally from a permanent line: the material,
while being sufficiently strong to insure
uninterrupted communication and with
stand the vicissitudes of weather. must
also be light enough to render easy it's
transportation with moving troops; say
material for twelve miles by four-Inule
team. The wire supports must be such
that they can be readily erected and dis
mounted. while the wire and insulators
can be easily attached and detached from
the lances without injury or deterioration
Moreover. the appliances for construction
must be such that the line can be quickly
put up over any kind of country. With
supplemented by practice. since the erec-
ton of flying line for drill purposes over
chosen ground tests only in part the ma
terials, methods and appliances. Fortu-
nately, the past year has been marked by
an extended practical applica tion of the
flying telegraph train of the signal corps.
that has not only tested it's worth and fit
ness for field work. but also demonstrated
its great practical utility to the army
This was the series OF evolutions in con-
nection with the border troubles in the val
ley of the Rio Grande A detailed account
OF the work there Is then given.
Balloons in War.
The Introduction of balloons. the report
then goes on to say. in connection with
field telegraph trains, for the purpose of
collecting and transmitting military in
formation. brings into special importance
the question of aerial navigation. The utili-
ty and Importance of balloons for obtain
ing military information, during field opera
tiOns were amply demonstrated in the last
civil war. but. like many other American
ideas. had to await recognition and devel-
opment by military authorities of other
nations. The United States. first to use
balloons In war. as 1t was the first to
the electric telegraph and signal appli-
ances on the field of battle. has consequently
seen these ideas adopted and improved by
all other important military powers.
Military Affairs.
The report also deals at length with the
questions of post telegraph lines military
signaling. signal equipments signal schools
for instruction. experimental city lines
heliograph service target ranges. harbor
defense cables, the worlds fair exhibit and
other matters. 1t then goes on to say:
Some Recommendation
In concluding his report, Gen. Greely
makes some recommendations for changes
that would better the prospects of the off,
GERS in the service, and then says: 1t is
recommended that whenever 5he position
of chief signal officer becomes vacant the
chief of the corps thereafter be a colonel
with two assistant chiefs, one with the
grade of colonel and the other Of major, to
be promoted from the lower grades, and
that the two inferior offices thus vacated
should be discontinued This would de-
crease the number of officers by one and
reduce the expenses of the corps by several
thousand dollars annually. while affording
that promotion which is one of the incent-
Ives to Jealous and efficient service.
After careful consideration the estimates
Tor the regular expenses of the signal corps
ouring the fiscal year ending June 80. 1896
were reduced below the current appropria-
.on, the sum asked for being 81 500 against
s22,Up for the year ending June 30 1894 The