The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-06
TATOOSH TELEGRAPH LINE.
Chief Willis l.. Moore Explains Why
the Service IL So Unsaffsfactory-
Natural Obstruction

On September IA the Post-Tntelligencer
published an editorial headed. "Nesded
Aids to Navigation" in which attention
was called to the necessity Of having the
government telegraph line 10 Tatoosh ISL
and so repaired and rerodeisd that IL
would be OF more service TO shipping IN
terests This editorial has called from
Willis L. Moore chief Of the weather na-
reau at Washington city. letter II which
a full explanation IL given Of the service
from Tatoosh and the reasons why the
line has been so often untrustworthy. Mr..
Moore says;
I'm connection with so much OF the edi-
torial published in the Post-lntelligencer
OF the isth inst, under the caption
Needed Aids 10 Navigation, as refers 70
toosh island, beg 10 say that this bureau
is fully alive TO the Importance OF the hne
TO the maritime interests OF the Paelnc
coast. and has for years past used every
mean. AZ its command to maintain IL In
efficient working order
While 1t is true that the line is i'm
perfectly constructed, In that the wirS
Is almost entirely supported on trees In
stead OF poles, yet no other mode or con-
sfruction Is feasible without an enormous
expense Except for few miles out from
port Angeles the line passes over en- ex-
ceedingly rough and heavily tlmoered
country, where the use OF poles after sew
eral years trial was found to De posi-
tive disadvantage, and where the absence
of roads necessarily impsdes the progress
Of the repair men, who have 10 patrol the
line on foot over rough trails cut out ana
maintained by themselves.
I'm addition to frequent windfalfs ana
the breaks caused by lcggers during the
winter, numerous interruptions occur dur
Ing the summer months from forest nresi
against all OF which there Is no possible
means OF protection under present condi
lions. During the year ending August 80,
1897 the line was down on twenty-six
whole DAYS Including two breaks IN the
cable 70 Tatoosh island which y required
seventeen days TO repair. Work on this
cable is impossible IN rough water-whlch
there were ninety-three days on which
communication was interrupted for few
teriaily interfere with the transmission OF
vessel reports. Considering the extraor-
binary difficulties experienced in main
tanning a line Of telegraph through such
considered bad one. and II can hardly
be Improved upon until the country has
been cleared to an extent that VIII admit
OF the use of poles and Of better means
OF transportation for the repair men
The only alternative. IL the. present
condition OF the locality, would be TO lay
a cable direct from Port Angeles TO Ia
toosh island costing about sloo. 0o0. Should
this be done Il would deprive Neah Bay,
East clallam Pysht and Port Crescent Of
telegraphic communication, and instead
Of the line being as now valuable aid In
pioneering the country, IL would then De
of use only in reporting vessels.
numbers seven people. and this number Is
considered sufficient 10 keep the line in
as good repair as It's environments and
other circumstances viii permit
IN this connection Il IS but proper to
state that ali OF the failures 10 obtain
Telegram reports from Tatoosh island
at Seattle and elsewhere are by no means
due 10 trouble on the weather bureau line.
but are quite frequently caused by inter
ruptions on the lines OF the Puget Sound
Telegraph Company between Port Angeles
M
this bureau must disclaim all RESPONSE bill
sty"