Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-12-14
GUARDED THE COAST,
History of Operations of tbs Signal
Service During War.
System should be Made Permanent,
In the Opinion of Capt. John
r.. Bartlett, Superintend-
emit of the Service.

A compile, c history of the operations
Of the nitad States coast signal serv-
&c Is presented in the report of Capt,
.Ghn Ia. bartlett, who was the superin-
.ndert OF that service. This institu-
oh was born of the emergency Great
Ly The war and Capt. Eartlett
SHOWS low, within one week after the
sacrs had gone out by telegraph, the
.niire coast was under observation
.oA d cnain of stations extending
ON Maine to Texas. There were
.lp.u districts in which were dis.
.f1sued sc signal stations Differed
and manned by the state naval militia,
a force of Is officers and 210 men.
/ he largest force was necessarily on
aiy in Florida, five officers and So
n, while Massachusetts had two Of
GERS and Al men. New Jersey and
.'enasylvania had each five men. 1t
IS ine purpose of all these observers
..limarily to detect and report imme-
diate,y to headquarters in Washing
on by telegraph or telephone the APP
roacli of an enemy's ship. But actual
y many other useful purposes were
served.
Capt. Bartlett says that the prac-
lical operation of this service for the
three months of its existence has con-
oinced him that il would have served
be use for which it was established,
namely, to observe and report the ap-
qroaeh of an enemy's vessel. Then it
erved an excellent purpose in advis-
ing The department of the movements
OF United States vessels and was par
;icularly serviceable in reporting
and communicating with the Ore
gon. when the whole country was
anxious for news of her, and the San
Francisco when that vessel needed as
sistance. But the most valuable result
Of tht test, in the judgment Of Capt.
Bartlett, has been to determine the
points along the coast at which sig
aal stations are necessary. The cap
ain thinks that the coast signal serv-
ce should be an integral part of ma
tiona. coast defense system manned
by the naval militia, of whose services
he speaks in the highest terms. AS an
outline of permanent system such
as is maintained by every European
country. Capt. Bartlett suggests that
each life-saving station should be made
a coast signal station, the trustworthy
and well-disciplined crews making
good material for signal men. The
weather bureau stations, and such
lighthouses as are necessary to fill
in gaps, should also be made part OF
the system. Permanent coast signal
stations should be established at those
points: Monhegan Island, Me-; Rock.
port, 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; Morris Island. S. c.; Tybee Is.
land, Ca; Palm Beach, Fla, and Sand
Island. Fla.
Capt. Bartlett suggests a list OF
equipment supplies for these stations
including homing pigeons, which he
says must be trained for one year to be
Of service. He says that such a sys-
TEN could be economically inaugural.
cd and operated. la time of peace IL
would be a constant convenience tc
he navy department and maritime in
'crests of the country and constant
practice would prepare the men fol-
the emergencies of the war. 1t is most
essential. in his Judgment, to the naval
ard CONNIE rcial interests of the
United States.