Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-11-20
CONTROL BY UNCLE SAM.
The Wireless Telegraph Stations fInds
f.nyo -, "a, ant

The Wireless Telegraph Stations Under
Government Supervision.
Washington, Nov. II. 2.-Government
control of all wireless telegraph stations
along the coasts of the United States
is recommended by Rear "A dmiral Royal
B. Bradford, chief of the Bureau of
Equipment, in his annual report.
Foreign governments, it is argued,
are exercising careful supervision over
the location of wireless stations within
their waters, thus insuring prompt
transmission of messages at all times.
Admiral Bradford says it is proposed
to establish wireless telegraph stations
for the purpose of instructing officers
and men at Newport, New York, San
Francisco and probably other naval
stations. In order to ascertain the
effect Of heat, which is said to be in
furious to the successful working of
wireless apparatus, a station will be
established at Key West, Fla.
Although other naval Powers are far
in advance of the United States in the
installation of wireless telegraph appli-
ances on board naval ships, Rear
| Admiral Bradford does not think any
| ground has been lost by this country
| in pursuing conservative policy in
| the adoption of some particular system
| for use in the navy. Many vessels are
now ready for the installation of wire
less apparatus and others are being
| prepared.
No satisfactory results have yet been
obtained by the board of officers in
charge of the tests of the various
systems, and it is proposed to purchase
other instruments for trial before a
| selection is made. Four systems of
| wireless telegraphy have been developed
in Europe which seemed promising.
The bureau has purchased two sets Of
each and certain appliances from the
makers.
Attention is called to the need of
officers for studying the wireless system,
only three having been engaged in this
work thus far. In foreign navies COM
missions of distinguished officers are
engaged solely in this service.
| In regard to the construction of the
trans Pacific cable Rear Admiral Brad
ford reports that, so far as he is aware,
| the Commercial Pacific Gable Co, has
| 5ignified no intention of following the
| government requirements for building
cable as specified by the President.
| The report says that, although the
l
anxious before the adjournment of
| Congress to obtain the Pacific cable
surveys made by the department, no
application has been made at the de-
| partmenG for this information. The
| report says that no statement has been
| given out concerning the route the COM
pany intends to follow, nor have steps
been taken to prepare relay stations on
American territory considered necessary
by the department., with the exception
OF the requirement of the site for land
ing the cable near Honolulu,
In I'll foreign ports agreements have
been made to supply ships of the navy
with coal at below current rates. Ad-
miral Bradford says that owing to the
lack of naval coal depots the fleet mar
rowly escaped being left without coal
last summer as a result of the strike.
He adds: 'Shpuld there be general
strike of bituminous coal miners or
employees of railroads carrying coal to
tidewater, or in transportation lines
generally, the ships of the navy would
at present be helpless. :.
To overcome this danger..it is recon-
mended that large stocks of coal be
kept on hand at all times and placed
at convenient depots along the coasts
Rear Admiral Bradford expects that
the demand for these depots will be
even greater in the future, in view of
the changing politics of the world.
1t is recommended that Port Royal,
s. c., which probably is to be aban-
doned for use as naval station, be the
site of naval coal depot. Its.maguifi-
cent waters and well-defended harbor,
in the opinion of Admiral Bradford,
offer superior facilities for the location
OF coal depot to those of Charleston,
S. G.
Admiral Bradford suggests that a
storage capacity of %, 900 tons should
be secured at the Guam naval station,
with adequate means for handling the
coal rapidly, as this port will un-
doubtedly become an important port
OF call with the completion of the
Isthmian canal.