The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-12

HE'LL ~ LIE 6AANA@'t ~ 80
AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
WASHINGTON. Oct liza complete
history of the operatIonssef the United
states coast signal seryice=is presented
IN the report of Captain John R Bart
lett. who was the superintendent of that
service. This institution was born of
the emergency created by the war and
Cap,ain Bartlett shows how, within one
week after the orders had gone out by
telegraph the entire coast was under
observation from chain OF stations ex-
tending from Maine, TO Texas. There
were eight districts In which were dis
rributed thirty-six signal stations ofi-
cered and manned by the state naval
militia, force Of eighteen officers and
two hundred and ten men. The largest
force was necessarily on duty In Flor
ida, FIVE officers and fifty-two men.
while MASSACHUSETTS had, two officers
and forty-one men. New Jersey and
Pennsylvania had each I'VE men. 1t was
the purpose of all these observers
primarily to detect and report lmmedi-
ately to headquarters in Washington by
telegraph or telephone the approach of
an enemy's ship. But actually many
other useful purposes were served. Lists
OF the stations were prepared and Issued
20 the various steamship companies and
"a notice to mariners was furnished
% the Associated Press and by 1t to
every newspaper in the country. The
necessity OF covering the long stretches
OF coast between the stations led TO
the employment as part of the service
OF the crews OF the lie saving service,
the lighthouse ana weather bureau SER
vice also cooperating. When these ar
rangements, had been completed the OBJ
serving powers of the two hundred and
ten naval militamen at the thlrty-six
stations Of the coast signal service were
reinforced by the watchful crews of the
life saving service, numbering $50 men,
and the personnel of the weather
bureau with total number of thirty
three observers. Thus an aggregate of
2,5S6 men were on the lockout for the
approach of an enemy's vessel or sus-
pIcious craft Of any sort and ready to
report the movement OF the vessels be-
longing to our own forces, including all
the auxiliary ships and transports.
Captain Bartlett says that the prac-
teal operation OF this service for the
three months of Its existence has con-
WINGED him that 1t would have served
the use for which 1t was established,
namely, to observe and repor. the APP
proach OF an enemy's vessel. Then 1t
served an excellent purpose In advising
the department of the movements Of
United States vessels and was partic-
ularly serviceable in reporting and COM
munlcatlng with the Oregon when the
whole country was anxious for news
Of her, and the San Francisco when
that vessel needed assistance. But the
mnst valuable result Of the test, in the
judgment of Captain Bartlett, has been
to determine the points along the coast
at which signal stations are necessary.
The captain thinks that the coast sig
nal service should be an integral part
Of a national coast defense system
manned by the militia of whose SER
vices he speaks in the highest terms.
As an outline of permanent system
such as is maintained by every Euro
pean country. Captain Bartlett suggests
that each life saving station should be
made coast signal station, the trust
worthy and well-disciplIned crews max
Ing good material for signal men. The
weather bureau stations and such light
houses as are necessary to fill In gaps
should also be made a part of the sys-
ten. Permanent coast signal stations
should be established at these points:
Monhegan island, Me-; Rockport. Mass;
Highland Lights, Mass; Montauk
Point. N. Y; Fire Island, N. Y; Sandy
Hook. N. J.; Barnegat, n. j.; Cape
Henlopen. Del; Cape Henry. Va; Nor
rls Island. S. c.; Tybee Island. Ga;
Pain Beach. Fla. and Sand Island, Fla.
Captain Bartlett suggests a list OF
equipment supplies for these stations.
including homlng pigeons. which, he
says, must be trained for one year to
be of service. He says that such sys-
TEN could be very economically inaug-
urated and maintained. In times OF
peace 1t would be Of constant conven-
fence to the navy department. and to the
maritime interests of the country and
the constant practice would prepare the
men for the emergencies of the war. 1t
is most essential in his judgment to ma
val and commercial interests of the
United States.
O. A. U. II. state Council.
Special Dispatch to the IntellIgencer.