The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-12
A SERVICE BORN
OF ANEMERGENCY
History Of the United States Coast
sigma Service,
COMPLETED WITHIN ONE WEEK.
The Coast From Maine To Texas Under
Observation-Most Essential TO the
Naval and Commercial lnte-
rests OF the Country.

WASHINGTON, oct. IA complete
history Of the operations Of the United
States Coast Signal service is presented
in the report Of Captain Joan r. Bart
lett. who was the superintendent Of that
service
This institution was born OF the emer-
eency created by the war and Captain
Bartlett shows how, within one week
after the orders had gone out by tele-
graph. the entire coast was under OBJ
servation from a chain OF stations ex-
tending from Maine 10 Texas
There were eight districts IN which
were distributed thrty-siX signal sta
lions. differed ana manned by the state
naval militia. a force Of eighteen officers
and two hundred and ten men. The
largest force was necessarily on duty IN
Florida. I'VE officers and ffty-two men.
while Massachusetts, had two officers and
forty-one men. New Jersey and Penn
sylvania had each five men. IL was the
purpose Of all these observers primarily
TO detect and report Immediately TO head
quarters in Washington by telegraph or
telephone the approach or an enemy 3
ship.
But actually many other useful pur-
poses were served.
Lists OF tho stations were prepared
and issued 20 the various steamship COM
panles and "A notice 90 mariners, was
furnished 10 the Associated Press and
by II TO every newspaper I'm the country.
The necessity Of covering the long
stretches Of coast between tho stations
led 10 the employment as part OF the
service OF the crews OF the l.fe-savins
service. ihe lighthouse and weather
bureau service also cooperating.
THE LIFE SERVICE.
Whom these arrangements had been
completed the observing powers Of the
two hundred and ten naval militia men
at the thlrty-six stations OF the coast
signal service were reinforced by the
watchfm crews Of tho llte-saying SER
vice including 1.f43 men; the alert light
keepers i'm the lighthouses numbering 50
men, and the personnel OF the
weather bureau. with total number OF
thirty-three observers.
Thus an aggregate OF 1886 men were
on the lookout for the approach OF an
euemy's vessel or n suspicious craft or
, any sort and ready 10 report the move
ment OF the vessels belonging TO our own
forces including all the auxiliary Ehips
and transports
Captain Bartlett says that the pract-
cal operation OF this service Tor the three
months Of rs existence has convinced
him that it would have served tho usa
for which 10 was established namely.
TO observe and report the approach OF
an euemys vessel
Then it served IN exoellen, purpose in
advising the department OF the move
ments Of United States vessels and was
particularly serviceable In reporting and
communicating with the oregon when
fIrf frV rrf1 "a fo- nttyu
of her, and the san Francisco. when
that vessel needed assistance But thu
most valuable result Of the test. In the
Judgment OF Captain Bartlett has been
10 determine the points along the coast
at which signal stations are necessary.
PART Oh COAST DEFENCE.
The Captain thinks that the coast
signal service should be an integral part
Of "a national coast defence system,
manned by the naval militia. OF whose
services. he speaks In the highest terms
As am outline OF a permanent system.
such az IS maintained by every European
country Captain Bartlett suggests that
each llfe-saying station should be made
a coast signal station, the trustworthy
and well-dsciplined crews making good
material for signal men.
The weather bureau stations and such
lighthouses as are necessary 10 MI I'm
gaps should also be made part Of tina
system.
Permanent coast signal stations should
be established az these points: Monhe-
gan Island. Maine: Rockport, Mass.t
Highland Lights. Mass. Montauk Point.
y T.. Fire Island, n. 2: Sandy Hook,
y. j.: Barnegat, y. J.; Cape Henlopen.
Delaware: Cape Henry. Va: Morris ISL
and. S. c.; Tybee Island. Ca: Palm
Beach. Fla. and Sand Island. Fla.
CAPTAIN Bartlett suggests a list OF
equipment supplies for these stations.
including homng pigeons, which he says
must be trained for one year 10 be OF
service He says that such system
could be very economically inaugurated
and maintained
I'm times or peace u would he OF con-
slant convenience so the Navy Depart
ment and 10 tho maritime interests 81
the country and the constant practice
would prepare the men FOR the emer-
gercies ~ tho war.
II Il most essential. IN his judgment.
u naval ard commercial Interests OF
the United States