Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-21
Annual Report Of General Greedy,
in Charge of the Corps.
VALUE OF THE BICYCLE SHOWN
Satisfactory Results Developed in
the School of Instruction.
FLYING TELEGRAPH LINES

The permanent military telegraph lines
operated by the signal corps aggregate more
than 800 miles In length running through
mountainous. and desert country, and are
reported now to be in better condition than
at any time during their existence. Their
efficiency has been largely promoted by the
replacement of wooden by iron telegraph
poles, whose use is more economical than
that of wooden poles, which deteriorate
rapidly through climatic action, and fire.
quently disappear entirely by theft in tree
less regions. where fuel and timber are al
liable. While the permanent telegraph lines
under the control of the chief signal officer
or the army were primarily constructed for
military purposes, they also subserve COM
mercial interests. The total number of
messages transmitted over the government
Wires' consisting of government, state and
other ofhcial business, aggregate 6O,3OS, an
increase OF nearly ten thousand messages
over last year. The Importance of the Mill
tary lines is very great, as they increase the
einciency and Subserve the economical in
tereSts not only of the military establish
ments, put also of other branches of the
government. In a military way hey enable
the commanding generals of der artments to
Keep themselves promptly informed of the
conditions and prospective disturbances on
the great Indian reservations and along
the Mexlcan frontier, and are thus ind.s-
pensabie Tor economical and efficient mill
tary operations in connection with Indian
outbreaks and border troubles.
Value of the Bicycle.
A not unimportant factor in the speedy re-
pairs of the telegraph lines has been the
substitution as a means of TRANSFORMATION
for the repair men of the bicycle in place of
the more expensive horse and wagon The
bicycle proves more rapid as we'll as more
economical. In one case break on the l:Ie
tod frIyo ,l1-
twenty m.nutes-less time than would have
been consumed in obtaining a mount At
another station. Taylor's Ranch Utah the
bicycle has resulted in single year in a
greater saving to the government than the
COST OF the machine. 1t Is evident that no
one make Of bicycle will best fulfill the re-
quirements imposed by various climatic
conditions, and by roads VARYING from al
most pure sand to the toughest rocks. 1t
seems probable that a bicycle weighing from
twenty-five to thirty pounds with pneumatic
tires Will do the best general work.
Flying Telegraph Lines.
Special attention is given by the signal
corps to the suitable equipment of its
flying telegraph trains in all phases. from
the connection of army headquarters with
the permanent lines of the country to the
provision for temporary telegraphic or tel
ephonic INSTRUMENTATION between sepa-
rate military commands while in camp or
ON the skirmish line. FLYING telegram
trains equipped as far as practicable with
the most modern appliances are erected at
Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Grant, Arizona;
Fort sam Houston, Texas; Fort Leayen-
worth, Kansas, and at The Presidio San
Francisco, Cal.
The question of reeiing out and recoy-
erihs wire and outpost cable by bicycle.
automatically, which was under considera-
lion at the date of the last annual report
by the chief signal officer, has been most
rapidly concluded. and this corps now has
a
Tor the purpose that works perfectly The
same automatic device is now being fitted
10 an outpost cable cart, three of which
nave been ordered. from which are con-
nuently anticipated good results as in the
case OF the bicycle. This will give the
signal corps an equipment superior to that
OF any other country for rapid paving ont
anu an taxing up line. the operators being at
al tunes IN communication with the base
Each section OF the field train will event
ually be supplied with bicycles and cable
carts lifted with automatic devices.
Long Range HelioErnphinr.
Due attention has been given to develop.
lhg the more important electrical comnu-
picating devices by the signal cor,s.
Heliography is, perhaps, the most import
ant of these methods to rapidly moving
army going over a country where the use
of electrical instruments is inadyisapIe or
Temporarily impracticable.
School of Instruction.
The instruction of enlisted men at Fort
Riley, Kan. has been continued with sat
isfactory results. The theoretical instruc-
ton occupies four months and the practical
two months. The course embraces elec-
tricity, biography, telephony, military sig
mailing, field surveying, map making and
photography, and is designed to make
each man an expert signalist and good
telegraph operator, and qualify him to
make rough field sketches uf Photographic
reconnaissance.
Cordial relations with the militia Of the
various states have been cultivated. The
years since in the National Guard has
proved to be permanent. All the aid which
has been possible to extend by the signal
corps to the National Guard in the way of
inform nation. code cards and instruc lions
for the various signaling appliances have
been given, and the need OF intercommuni-
cation in all military movements has i'm
pressed itself upon those in command of
the citizen soldiery.
Most acceptable work in signaling was
done by the special ;letacnment at Fort
Trumbull, Conn.,, in connection with the
signal corps of New York ana Connecticut
during the practice of the New York naval
reserves. Messages by flag and Telegraph
were transmitted rapidly and accurately
both in the Morse and general service
codes.
Military Colleges.
The students of many Institutions of
learning throughout the country having
shown great interest in military signaling,
thirty-eight college officers of the regular
army have been detailed as professors OF
military science and tactics have been sup
piled, as fully as practicable with small
flags, code cards, signal Instructions and