The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-05-28
WATCHING THE COAST.
Wenty-three Hundred Men Are
on Guard Between Maine
and Texas.

Washington, d. c., May 24-Af fter
several weeks of work along tho eptire
stretch of the Atlantic and Gulf coast,
the navy department has completed the
most comprehensive and efficient system
LOT observing the approach of a hostile
meet that has ever been put into opera
ton. A new bureau has been created
Tor this purpose known as the coast sig
nal service, in charge of Capt. Bartlett,
VINO attends to this as we'll as the work
OF the naval board of information.
lhe system has the services of 23OO
men stretched along the coast from Bar
Harbor. Me, to Galveston Tex. These
are .i divided INTO INTO thirty-four central sta
tiohs about 90 to 100 miles apart along
the coast. The stations are in turn cou-
hectcd directly by telegraph with the
coast signal office of the navy dcpart-
lhent and operators are on duty night
ana day keeping the navy depart
mcnt IN constant telegraphic touch with
the entire stretch of Atlantic and Gulf
coasts.
Observation Towers Built
Secretary Long projected this plan
month ago and SI5.OOO was set aside to
establish the points of observation along
the coast. After selecting the thirty-four
central points from Maine to Texas rush
orders We're given TO build observation
towers and houses for the observers The
navai militia was drawn on to man the
nlnefent observation towers and five mi
lltia with the rank of naval quarter
masters are now on duty at each of these
stations. The towers are completed and
also the small houses for their living
purposes. There are 233 of these militia
men now in service.
Ihe next step was to have the light
house service made an adjunct to this
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation of the treasury
depa rtment. and the lighthouse force of
LOO men scattered from Maine to Tex
as are assisting the work of observa-
ton. The lfc-Saying service WAS brought
INTO similar cooperation. so that now l.
ObO hte-Sayers are added to the ob>erva-
ton force. The thirty-four central sta
tons with the numerous lighthouses and
lltc-saving stations make complete
cham of observation points. all connected
by telegraph or telephone with one an
other and with the navy department.
by arrangement with the telegraph com
panleS the reports from the observers take
precedence over private teegraphic bust
ness. so that The navy department is en-
ahled to get immediate telegraphic notice
of the approach Of any hostile fleet or sus-
plclouS ship.
Thoroughly Systematized.
The work of observation has been thor
ouehly >ystematized. Watches are kept
on the towers throughout the day and
night The Efe-saving crews in particu-
lar are assigned to night duty and they
patrol the beach throughout the night on
tie otiook for approaching ships At all
tie central points the observers have been
supplied with telescopes and full ap-
plianccs for marine observation. They
are also supplied with torches. rockets
and other paraphernalia for signaling.
The results already secured have shown
the efficiency of the plans adopted. Ma
val vessels passing along the coast arc
able to signal day or night by torches
and otherwise with the naval observers
along the beach and these signals are i'm
mediately teleGraphcd to the navy depart
ment here. Thus the naval vessels can
he kent in constant communication with
the department without the necessity of
coming into port.
Capt. Bartlett sleeps throughout the
night alongside the telegraph instrument
ready to convey to his Superiors word of
the approach Of any hostile ship The
first thing each morning reports are re-
ccived from every point from Bar har-
Dor to Galveston stating briefly that
everything is quiet or otherwise as the
case may be.
The Observers 'Secing Things"
a nus Lar tiit idN i'l'pI - nave DttU
uniformly assuring. but the night re-
ports have been at times alarming The
observers. being alert and new to their
work, report every suspicious light seen
off shore and frequently attach serious
significance to it. Since Capt. Bartlett
has answered some of the scare REPORTS
with the laconic message ''Sea serpent"
the observers have been more cautions
and the reports show evidence of careful
observation. With the system in its
present perfected condition the navy de-
partment feels assured that it knows e1-
actly the condition of affairs along the
entire stretch of Atlantic and Gulf
coast The system is simply precau-
tionary one. as the department has had
no reason to belive that the Spanish
ships were menacing points along the
coast.