Morris tribune., 1898-05-25
Thirty-four Central Stations,
Manned by Over 300 Naval
Militiamen, II
And Assisted by 1920 Men in
the Lighthouse and Life
Saving Service.
Constant Lookout for Hostile
Fleets, and for Signals From
Our Own Ships.

WASHINGTON. May After sew
sral weeks of work along the entire
stretch of the Atlantic and Gulf Sec
ton, the navy department has COM
pleted the most comprehensive and
efficient service for observing the ap.
proach of hostile feet that has ever
been put into operation. A new bu'
rean has been created for this purpose,
known as the coast signal service, In
charge of Captain Bartlett, who has
been chairman of the naval board OF
information. The system has the ser.
vices of 1890 men stretched along the
coast from Bar Harbor, Me-, to Gal.
weston, Tex These are divided into "a
central stations, about 80 to 100 miles
apart along the coast. The stations
are in turn connected directly by tele.
graph with the coast signal offices OF
the navy department., and operators
are Oh duty night and day keeping the
navy department in constant tele'
graphic touch with the entire stretch
of Atlantic and Gulf coasts. -
Secretary Long projected this plan a
month ago, and $4,000 was set aside
to establish the points Of observation
along the coast. After selecting the
IA central points from Maine to Texas,
rush orders were given to build OBJ.
servation towers for the observers.
The naval militia was drawn on to man
the different observation towers, and
five militiamen, with the rank of naval
quartermaster are now on duty on each
of these stations. The towers are com.
pleted and also the small houses for
their living purposes. There are 2SS
of these militlamen now in service
The next step was to have the light.
house service made an adjunct to this
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation of the treas
ury department and the lighthouse
force of 1900 men scattered from
Maine to Texas are assisting the work
of observation. The life.saving service
was brought into similar cooperation,
60 that now, 1000 life savers are added
to tho observation force. The 81 cen.
trail stations with the numerous light
houses and life.saving stations make a
complete chain of observation points,
all connected by the telegraph or tele.
phone with one another and with the
navy department.. ~
By arrangement with the telegraph
companies, reports from observers take
preference over private telegraph bust.
ness, so that the navy department. ID
able to get immediate telegraphic no
tice of any hostile fleet or suspicious
ship. :
:, Naval vessels passing along the coas
are able to signal day. or night BY
torches and otherwise with the nava
observers along the beach and these
signals are Immediately telegraphed tt
the navy department here. Thus tht
naval vessels can be kept in constant
communication with the department,
without the necessity Of coming int
port. ... -" :
Captain Bartlett sleeps throughout
the night along side the telegraph in
strument, ready to convey to his su
periors word OF the approach of any
hostile ship. The first thing each
morning reports are received from
Bar Harbor to Galveston, stating
briefly that everything is quiet. Of
otherwise, as the case may be. ~
With theN system in it's present per
fected condition, the navy department
{ feels assured that it knows exactly the
copdition Of affairs along the entire
Stretch of Atlantic and Gulf coast. The
system is simply precautionary one
as the department has had no reason t.
believe that Spanish ships were menac
ing points along the coast.