The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-10

Secretary Aiger Calis Attention TO the Fact
That They Arc Not Connected by Wire.

hhAt hwy hFS y ny III
WASHINGTON. March 9.-secretary .Alger ha.
called the attention of Senator Allison, Chair
man OF the Senate Committee on Appropria
tons, TO the fact that the harbor defences oil
Boston, Philadelphia. New York, and other
places are not connected by electric wire. and
recommended an appropriation Of 500, 900 for
the purpose OF making provision for this impor
tant oversight. Secretary Alger has forwarded
to Senator Allison the following letter from
Gen. Greedy, Chief Signal officer, who has
charge OF all army telegraph work:
Tho estimate OF S20.000 for cables to con.
meet electrically the Qualifications in the harbors
Of New York, Boston. and Philadelphia has been
omitted in the Sundry Civil bill as passed by the
House of Representatives. The Chief Signal
Officer would be derelict in his duty did he not
call the attention OF the honorable Secretary
Of War to the necessity OF urging upon tho Sen.
ate such an appropriation. For seven consec.
utive years the Chief Signal Officer has unavail.
ingly recommends the importance of this
matter mote annual report, 1896. herewith.
reciting the fact that SOM OF our most impor.
tant dcfenCes can only be reached by messenger.
The destruction of the military cables be-
tween AlcatraZ. Angel Islands and the mainland
long since left the Qualifications in San Fran.
cisco hnrbor isolated and entirely unconnected
electrically. and Fort Warren, in Boston hnrbor.
10 also without rcach ny telephone or Telegraph.
In New York harbor It Is true that several posts
can communicate with each other over circuit.
Gus commercial routes, but such complicated
methods, inadequate in peace even. would incv-
itably break down in case OF actual hostilities.
These estimates have been by
you and former Secretaries Of War, have been
repeatedly urged as military necessities by the
commanding Generals OF the dcpartments'a nj.
fected. and have been heartily approved BY tho
commanding General OF the army.
Never more than. to-day have time and CO.
operation been more potent clements OF
strength, whether in the industries of peace or
the art OF war. In the business world the most
acute minds OF the century are applying them
selves to the development OF sneedy and in
creased communication, especially through
electrical devices, and the failure OF any coun-
try TO utilize in this direction the highest in
ventive skill must materially lessen its chance
the world the entire system OF harbor defencss
OF each port is connected electrically, so that
not only IL intercolnmunicatiOn and the transit
tion OF orders constantly maintained, but tho
fire control and the direction OF tho defence
rest under one master mind.
" IL must seem hardly creditable, to either
business men or TO experts. that Congress, after
authorizing a system Of coast defenccs to cost
connect the military forts around the great
cities Of New York, Boston. and San Francisco
either electrically or telephOnIcally. In critical
emergencies, such as arise in all dcfenccs, mill
tary operations at these points would, under ex-
isting conditions, be necessarily conducted with
out concert or unison, thus needlessly leopard
iZing lives by tho thousands and property TO the
value OF hundreds OF millions OF dollars.
The present situation Is parallel to that
which would exist II our great cities. after
spending tens OF thousands of dollars in thor.
oughly establishing a fire department, should
refuse to install Herewith an electrical signal
system. and insist that alarms OF fire should be
sent either by messengers or the nearest com.
inercial telegraph line"