The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-07


OF communication. Is old. Dut the problem
o. applying the bird 70 some practical use
has not been altogether solved. There
have been many cases where the honiug
pigeon has become valuable between as
trigfS. and an experiment Il about 10 De
tried for the benefit % the weather 3D.
Teaa between San Francisco and the
FaFaTfon islands The possibility % using
the carrier pigeon az an AID IN securing
weather reports mas oSsn much discussed,
and many experiments have been tried
IN several instances these have succeeded
The weather bureau station In Seattle
could Dc much aided by service which
would give advance reports OF storms or
atmospheric conditions IN the Aleutian
islands. Weather Observer Salisbury was
seen yesterday as 20 the feasibility or
using carrier pigeons In such service
While such information would be most
valuable 10 Us 10 forecast storms from
twenty-four TO forty Eight hours earlier
than now. especially the severe storms
that come from the Northwest, i very
much question the ability OF carrier pig
cons to carry for such a long distance
The Aleutian islands and the surround
ing region is very barren and desolate.
The atmosphere IS moist These condi-
tons would act against fast flying. and
besides that is the great distance. II
would take a carrier pigeon longer TO
reach here than a storm. Storms travel
about twenty miles an hour. Were the
islands OF British Columbia inhabited,
.elsys might be established. but they are
desolats Ike the Aleutians. / did have
a report here. compiled ny an offlcer VINO
had made particular study OF the sub
ject telling about the habits and care
of homing pigeons. | remember ne rec
commended as a means OF carrying the
messages that the vanes OF the central
tail feather OF the pigeon be scraped on,
leaving the stalk. The message. written
on fine oiiskin could be wrapped about
the stalk being In this position free from
possible interference by the bird itself.
The homing pigeon is anxious TO reach
his home cote. but as rule they try 10
scyatch OF anything that cumbers them.
IT would be an aid TO the department IL
a telegraph service could be established
from the Aleutian islands. with one in
termediate station. say at Sitka-"
The local Office has little time to ex-
pertinent. The use Of kites In determin-
ing the temperature, direction and TO a
certain extent the force OF the upper air
currents has never been tried here, though
many experiments have been made at
San Francisco. The kites are arranged
TO fly in tandem and reach heights OF
over mile. A piano wire Is necessary 10
hold them.
In speaking OF the scheme to furnish
communication between San Francisco
recent issue. said:
"The United States weather bureau Will
soon be able 10 realize the wish, long
cherished by Messrs. Harmon and Nc
Adie 10 secure regular and rapid COM
mGnication with the Faraiion islands. This
comes about largely through the enter
prise OF \ Carlisle, the expert pigeon
fancier. Mr. Carlisle, hearing of the ap-
pointment OF Miss Daisy Doud as school
teacher at the North Farallon island,
visited her yesterday at her residence a
22ii Steiner street and proposed that she
should assist in estDplishing the homins
pigeon service.
Miss Doud viii be active In forwarding
the purpose In view. She consented TO
take charge OF the homing birds that may
be sent 10 her BY Mr. Carlisle from time
TO time, and To care for them and release
them at intervals. She also expressed
perfect willingness to make such weather
observations as could be brought within
her present scope. like noting the direc-
tion OF the wind. wind velocity and the
rainfall. whenever the proper apparatus
could be supplied. II the weather bureau
desires her cooperation. Finally. with
her own hands she release two houIing
birds which Mr. Carlisle had brought, to
see how Il would seem.
"Mr Meade. Of the weather bureau.
said last night that such work as might
undoubtedly be able 70 perform. He was
evidently pleased at the zeal which she
manifested. and said that he would com
municafe with Forecast Official Harmon.
who has been trying to establish the serv-
ice. with the cooperation or the Chamber
Of Commerce and Mr.. Carlisle Harmon
will therefore learn OF the new possibill-
ties today.
"The principal difficulty heretofore IN
tho way Of this enterprise has been the
lack Of means for getting the birds 20 the
islands. Mr.. Carlisle patrioticaliy offered
some time ago 20 furnish homers free for
a period that the experiment OF establish
ing the service might p. fairly tried But
there are very few vessels going TO the
islands The permanent location OF Mss
Doud A school teacher viii be a very
material assistance. The plan as pro-
posed by Mr.. Carlisle is 10 take over a
large number 81 birds and 10 seek as "a
vorable location for them as possible on
the North Fersliou. They can be liber-
ated as the emergency NAV arise ITltI-
mateiy a cote can be established on the
islands and the birds reared there. which
Wi Insure 3 service in both directions
There VIII be no dificuity I'm trasmlt-
ting all the data that the weather bureau
NAV wish. new invention designed for
such service. consists 81 a tiny aluminium
cylinder weighing only eight grains and
provided with a clasp by which 20 fasfen
s. about the leg % The bird To 1T this
slips 81 paper. carefully prepared. are laso
provided. Cnon one OF these sins from
90 70 81 words can easily be written. and
the paper viii hardly ada 70 the weight OF
the cylinder being very thin"
The Cause of Fank'- Death