The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-05
Much Accomplished Under Difficulties
in Alaska, Cuba and the Philip
pine Islands.
MERCHANT MARINES GROWTH
COMMISSIONER OF NAVIGATION
CHAMBERLAIN'S REPORT.
Documented Tonnage of the United
States Now the Largest I'm the His
tory Of the Country.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-The annual re-
port Of Gen. A. w. Greedy, chief signal
officer of the army, says the corps mas
actually built and put in working order
in Alaska 1121 miles of land lines and sub
marine cables within a period of twenty
four months. The Accomplishment of such
results, he says, would be most creditable
to officers and men concerned therein III
Alaska was an ordinary country, for this
work included not only surveying, construc-
ton and installation of this length OF hne'
but also involves the manufacture and in
spection of enormous quantities Of ma
teriAl, instruments, etc.. many hundred
tons in weight, and their transportation
over distances ranging from 1000 TO avV
miles. When one considers, however, the
exceedingly difficult physical conditions
within the Territory, he says. the work
must be considered simply phenomenal,
as in all parts of Alaska traversed by TINS
great line there are not dozen miles of
wagon road and much of the region is un-
explored.
Speaking of improvements effected by
the corps in Cuba, General Greedy says:
1T is unquestioned that on occupying
Cuba the American army found few
dilapidated telegraph lines. with tariff
rates increasing in proportion to the
length of the message, without free de-
livery and with grave uncertainties as to
espionage, secrecy and delivery. This sys-
tenn, bad as it was, served only the western
half of the island. IN leaving Cuba there
was turned over to the government sys-
Martinez in the west, to Cape Maysi
in the extreme east, with every seaport
or town of Importance electrically connect
ed. The present instruments are of the
best modern types, the transmission speedy
and reliable and the tariff rates exceeding
ly low, while the certainty of delivery and
inviolability OF messages are beyond ques-
OF the work in the Philippines the re-
port says: 1.-THE magnificent system of tele-
graph lines and cables was very largely
constructed and installed under Colonel
Allen. This system, increased during the
fiscal year by 1900, consisted on June 81,
1902, of thirty-one submarine cables, 1,226
miles in length, and land lines 5,05S miles
| miles. 1t is almost needless to say that
the work of construction and installation
under the disturbed and difficult conditions
existing in the archipelago demanded tai
ents of the highest kind The system
stands to-day a monument to the energy
skill and resourcefulness of the American
soldier. On entering the Philippine islands
the American army found practically nc
existing telegraph lines, as the few land
lines connecting the Viscayan cables OF
| the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company
had been promptly destroyed by the insur-
| gents, as well as the lines in Luzon, when
| they retreated before the advance of our
army. The only lines of any importance
| that came into our possession were several
| hundred miles of dilapidated and antiquat.
| ed lines in the Cayagan valley and along
| the west coast of Luzon."
General Greedy calls attention to the
necessity of a Pacific cable Owing to the
| great pressure of work he says not as much
| time has been given to wireless telegraph
tests as General Greedy desires, but h,
| reports that progress has been made.
He again calls attention to the necessity
| for international cable regulations and rec
| ommends that the War Department bt
| represented at the International Telegra pt
| Conference to be held in London next year