The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-08-05
vALUt or SEARCH LIcHfa
The Government Has Ordered q Nun>
Der for Inn n ediafe Use.


The United States Government has
ordered for use in Its coast defenses |
Large number OF the most powerful |
search lights to be built In the earliest |
possible time and delivered for mount
ing In the principal harbors along the
coast. The lights are OF vital impor-
lance In harbor defenses and viii be
valuable addition TO our harbor
equipments. Already q considerable
number are In operation. but not SUI
ficient to do the work which might be
done IN this way.
Operated 90 a scientific system tbs
Importance Of the light can scarcely
be oyerestimated. BY It's use the whole
area OF the harbor protected by our
Notifications and by fixed OF station
airy torpedoes Is In the dead Of the
night made as bright ms day. In de-
tectfng the approach or any movement
OF an attacking feet. and especially
where an attempt Is made to pass O
fortidcation after o partial OF total
destruction Of It's torpedocs. these nre
most important. Under such circum-
stances the search light would expose
the enemy's ships to the deadly FIRE
from the heavy artillery guns OF our
coast defense and insure total destruc-
ton.
Another and most important Of the
many factors of the search light sys-
tenn as adopted by the army Is It's adap-
liability TO signaling from one fortifica-
don to another by means OF long and
short flashes, messages being sent sew
eral miles by cipher code
An Idea OF the wonderful power and
efficiency OF these search lights for
signaling may be had from the follow
Ing: A short time ago a great light
was purchased by the Government and
turned over TO the army for expert
menting purposes In coast signaling.
This light was purchased from firm
In Germany. and upon its receipt II
was Immediately forwarded to the
Sandy Hook proving ground. where II
underwent thorough test. One OBJ
ject was to determine the facility with
which a message could be transmitted
by long and short flashes. The light
was mounted on a tower at Sandy
Hook and arrangements made with
Mr.. Dunn OF the weather bureau In
New York city to be ready to receive
the mesaage at stated hour. Late
In the night. as agreed upon. one OF
the army officers. especially expert IN
signaling, mounted the top OF the tow
err When the exact moment arrived
there were thrown against the dark
sky long and short flashes OF bright
light from the tower at Sandy Hook
At the same moment. In New York
city, another man was at the top OF
one OF the high office buildings stead
lily looking toward Sandy Hook. Hs
read the message and repeated It by
wire to Sandy Hook. where II wa,
found correct. This message wa
flashed n distance of twenty miles
and could undoubtedly have been pass
ed much greater distance Will
these lights mounted at the fortified
lions around New York harbor mes
sages could be Immediately sent frou
the defenses at Sandy Hook to elthc
Fort Wadsworth OF Fort Hamilton
when the movements of n hostile flee
could DO seen. and 1t was desired Il
transmit instructions to the inner dc
lenses.
The search light in coast defense In
terferes with the sight of the man n
the helm Of an approaching vessel Il
experiments tried In France powerful
electric search light was turned upol
a moving vessel. the captain Of whicl
stated that his eyes were so dazzled b.
, this light that 1t prevented him iron
properly steering his boat. which re
suited In n collision with another
!. Philadelphia Times.