The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-28
PRESIDENTS WIRE.
VIII Keep Him Constantly in Com
munieation with Capital

--~~A@~1@@AOA- " 49,
Washington. March 2S.-When Presi~
his tour of the west one of the tele-
graph wires leading into the White
House VIII be reserved for the eXclu-
sive duty of keeping him in direct ana
constant communicat ton with the OH
GERS at the capital who VIII dlrect
affairs in his absence. NO matter where
the president may 90 in his search Tor
game and recreation. he viii md on
inquiry at the nearest telegraph station
that he has clear wire into the execu-
tive mansion.
Within the last few months the Is
wires already in use at the White
House were added to by two lines. with
sets OF DUPLEX instruments. One was
made necessary in order to have an ex-
elusive wire for the safe transmission OF
the confidential cipher business between
the executive Office and the cable OH
ces in New York. and the other was
put IN and reserved as the president
wire While the latter IS absent from
washington. These additional wires
completed what is probably one of the
most remarkable telegraph and tele-
phone Offices in the United States. It
IS al embraced in the comparatively
small room lust west of that occupied
Dy the presidents private secretary,
and IS presided over by Major Benjamin
r. Montgomery OF the signal corps OF
the army. The latter was made
colonef of volunteers in the signal corps
by President Mckinley during the
Spanish war. and when the army was
recognized was commissioned as a cap
tam IN the same corps. He was pro-
NOTED to be a major this week. Major
montgomery is an expert telegraoher,
ard has been on duty at the White
House, in charge Of the receiving and
sonal messages for the presidents for
r any years past. An instance has yer
to be recorded where he has permitted
any important Information to leak out
TrOfr hi
ressional ability Major Montgomery is
q man Of culture
All the important news of the world,
military, state and commercial, is CEN
trailzed in the little office a few feet dis
tant from that occupied by the presi-
cent. by a special arrangement with
the two press associations the foreign
and domestic news of interest is sent
to the White House before it goes to
any newspaper, and the numerous gov
eminent wires and cables pick up the
crumbs Of Information that escape the
professional news gatherers.
A telephone exchange was recently
installed in the White House to supple
ment the telegraph service and facili-
tate the prompt dispatch OF private and
government business. 1t consists of
three separate trunk lines, with seven
teen miles Of exterior lines giving direct
wires to the eight executive depart
ments, the government printing office
and the Congressional library. Connec-
tons in the different parts of the ex-
ecutive mansion. all of which are con-
trolled by the switchboard in the cen
tral exchange of the telegraph and
cipher bureau. The small force of the
White House having charge of the tele-
phone and telegraph wires is kept very
busy, as may be judged from the fact
that last year about $4,000 telegraph
messages were handled -fourths
OF which were of confidential nature
and in the different cipher codes
One of the features of the telegraph
room ia the old quarters of the White
House was a war map which gave more
general information than could be
found IN score of newspapers. Twelve
colors were employed. each represents
4 ing territory O. one of the twelve .1rih..
clpal colony holding powers Capitals.
the largest cities and the cities of com.
mercIal interest were indicated, as well
as the principal coaling, docking and re-
pairing stations Of the ports of The
world, and points of stra tegic inoOr-
lance. Submarine cables were shown ia
red lines. and the names Of the Srinci.
pal termini were given, likewise the
names of the chief places where foreier.
TranS-Slberian railroad and projected
and completed roads in China were
shown, the spelling of geogra phie
names being in all cases in accordanc-
with decisions of the board of geo
graphic names.
On the same map We're placed dis
tinetiVe flags Of the army and navy. the
names of commanders being borne on
miniature flags. The cavalry. artillery
and infantry were represented by ap
propriateiy colored flags, which also
/ told the number of the regiment ana
the letter Of the troop battery or com
pany. The loca ton name and tyDe Of
each shin of the navy were given is
the same manner As the official re.
ports We're received by telegraph and
mail the flags were moved from time
to time so that the president 1ves a HE
to know at any moment by a glance az
The map the wherea bouts of every shin
of the navy and the position of each
separate command of the army Owing
TO the small quarters Of the rresenS
telegraph office this map had to be dis
pensed with.