Evening journal., 1898-07-23
COAST SIGNAL SERVICE.
There Il "a Perfect System ExteEdtng
All the Way from Bar Hnr-
bOr TO Galveston.

After several weeks of work along
the entire stretch of the Atlantic ard
gulf coasts the navy department has
completed the most comprehensive and
efficient system for observing the ap-
proach of a hostile feet that has ever
been put into operation. A new bureau
has been created for this purpose known
as the coast signal service, in charge Of
Capt. Bartlett, who attends to this as
we'll as the work of the naval board of
information. The system has the sery-
ices Of 1900 men stretched along the
coast from Bar Harbor, Me-, to Calves
ton, Tex. These are divided into "a
central stations about 60 to 100 miles
apart from the coast. The stations are
in turn connected directly by telegraph
with the coast signal Office Of the navy
department, and operators are on duty
night and day keeping the navy depart
ment in constant telegraphic touch with
the entire stretch of Atlantic and gulf
coasts.
Secretary Long projected this plan
month ago, and $75, 900 was set aside to
|
along the coast After selecting the "a
central points from Maine to Texas,
rush orders were given to build OBJ
servation towers for the observers. The
naval militia was drawn to man the diff
ferent observation towers, and five mil
itiamen with the rank of naval quarter
masters are now on duty at each of
these stations. The towers are com
pleted and also the small houses for
their living purposes. There are 233
of these militiamen now In service. The
next step was TO have the lighthouse
service made an adjunct to this coast
observation. This was done through
the cooperation of the treasury depart
ment, and the lighthouse force of 1900
/ men, scattered from Maine to Texas,
! are assisting the work Of observation.
The life-saving service was brought
/ into similar cooperation, so that now
| 1000 life savers are added to the OBJ
servation force. The 81 central sta
tions. with the numerous lighthouses
and life-saving stations, make com
plete chain of observation points, all
connected by telegraph or telephone
with one another and with the navy
department.
By arrangement with the telegraph
companies the reports from these OBJ
servers take precedence over the pri-
vate telegraphic business, so that the
navy department is enabled to get i'm
mediate telegraphic notice of the ap-
proach of any hostile fleet or suspi-
cious ship.
The work of observation has been
thoroughly systematized. Watches are
kept on the towers throughout the day
and night.
The life-saving crews in particular
are assigned TO night duty,and they pa
troll the beach throughout the night
} on the outlook for approaching ships
J All the central points and the OBJ
servers have been supplied with tele
scopes and full appliances for marine
observation. They are also supplied
with torches, rockets and other para
phernalia for signaling.
The results already secured hav'
2 shown the efficiency Of the plans adopt
ed. Naval vessels passing along thi
coast are able to signal day and nigh
! by torches and otherwise with the na
val observers along the beach and thes
/ signals are Immediately telegraphe'
v TO the navy department here. Thus th
e naval vessels can be kept In constan
communication with the department
d without the necessity of coming int
- port.
= Capt Bartlett sleeps throughout tn
night alongside the telegraph instrr
e ment, ready to convey to his superior
: word Of the approach Of any hostil
ship. The first thing each morning rt
s ports are received from every poir
from Bar Harbor to Galveston stain
q briefly that everything IS quiet or Other
wise, as the case may be. Thus far th
day reports have been uniformly q!
suring, but the night reports have bee
at times alarming. The observers, b.
ing alert and new to the work, repol
every suspicious light seen OFF shoI
% and frequently attach serious signit
canoe TO it. Since Capt. Bartlett ht
D. answered some of the scare report
with the laconic message, "sea serpent
IS the observers have been more caution
and the reports show evidences Of car
e. ful observation. With the system In j
present perfected condition the navy d
" partment feels assured that it know
is exactly the condition Of affairs alor
the entire stretch Of Atlantic and gu
10 coasts. The system Is simply a pr
2 cautionary one, as the department hi
no reason to believe that Spanish shil
is were menacing points along the coas
Washington Star.
Couldn't Catch Gladstone.
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