Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-10
N TOUCH WITH FLEETS
Within Reach of Warships on At
lantic and Caribbean.
Proposed Addition to Naval Observ-
atory Grounds-New Building
Needed for photographic Office.

The art of wireless biography has
| shown steady development during the
past year, which, though not SO spectacu-
lar as In years gone by, has been very
satisfactory from a standpoint of sure
and efficient service. A statement to that
effect Is made by Rear Admiral Cowles,
chief of the naval bureau Of equipment,
in his annual report. He says that a
contract has been entered into to supply
the bureau with apparatus for a high
power station to be located in Washing
ton. This station Is to have a radius
Of 1900 miles both day and night: to be
capable a., Of overcoming interference and
| static discharges, and to be equipped
with apparatus to insure secrecy OF oper-
alton. In fact, it is expected that mes
sage work Will be carried on from this
station with as much surety and dis
patch as is now possible over cable lines.
Advantage Of New Station.
The great military advantage of such
an installation, the chief says. Is difficult
to overestimate. for with the fleet in
reach Of the National Capital in all parts
/ of the Atlantic ocean and Caribbean sea
! a much closer and more perfect sur
| Vigilance may be maintained over mat
tiers of international import than has
| heretofore been possible. The great in
| crease in wireless business along the
coasts and on account OF the many
seemingly semi-intelligent and wholly IT.
| responsible operators employed or other
| wise engaged in this occupation, who at
any time through careessness or stupid
| ity may render hopeless the case Of q
| shipwreck, the chief says, 1t seems i'm
perative that laws governing the conduct
of all wireless stations should be passed
| The wireless telegraph station at the
Washington navy yard during the year
has been in successful operation. A
| number OF experiments and tests have
been conducted at the station during the
| year.
Enlarging Observatory Grounds.
Regarding the naval observatory, the
chief says that the buildings require
painting and extensive repairs and that
the grounds require much work to put
them in good condition, especially the
lawns.
| In the matter OF the property within
the observatory circle not yet acquired
by the government, there are two pieces,
one Of 1.732 acres belonging to the Nor
manstone" property and the other Of
6764 acres belonging to the District of
Columbia and occupied by the Industrial
ceedings for the requirement of the piece
| of 1.732 acres Is yet before the court.
Upon the action OF the court will depend
what action may be necessary to carry
Of Congress, approved August /, 1894,
looking to the purchase Of the property
| of which this piece forms part. There
| is held available In the United States
treasury for the purchase Of this piece OF
land $15.089.1S. The transfer Of the
Industrial Home School property from
the District of Columbia to the United
States awaits the necessary appropria-
ton by Congress, the sum involved being
$1S4. 4O4, for which it Is recommended that
Congress make apDrODrlatiOD.
New photographic Building.
1.-The needs Of the photographic Office"
says the chief OF the bureau, will not be
satisfactorily met until a site and build
ing appropriate to It's needs is provided.
The naval observatory circle naturally
suggests itself for the site and possesses
the advantage, if the photographic office
is transferred there, of embracing in one
inclosing the scientific establishments es
sential to the navy. VIZ, observatory,
Nautical Almanac and compass and hy-
geographic Offices. 1t will be recalled
that the ground now occupied by the
Industrial Home OF the District Of Co
lumbia Is still needed to complete the cir
Gle as defined by Congress. The buildings
of the home would at once provide tenn
ponary quarters for at least part of the
working force of the photographic Office.
The whole establishment can be moved
out as soon as a modern and suitable
| should be pointed out that the present
location In the Mills building besides be-
Ing entirely inadequate. owing to the
ever-increasing work, Is, In addition. ex-
pensive and WAsteful of public money.
A modern office building Is needed for
the administration, the drafting, engrav-
ing and clerical forces, but not for the
storage charts. nor for their printing, as
| sembling and mailing.
Vault for Plates Needed.
but even beyond the Importance of
relieving the present crowded conditions
and of providing for future expansion. it
Is imperative to have fire and damp
proof vault to keep intact the plates ac-
cumulated and still accommodating, which
cost over 81 ,OOO. 900 to produce. which rep
resents the labor of a trained force for
over forty years and whose destruction
would be little removed from a national
calamity. 1t is thought that for $2O,OOO
a suitable vault could be built on the OBJ
servatory grounds when the proposed
transfer is made. This sum would be an
insignificant premium OF insurance on a
national asset Of incalculable value"
The chief expresses the hope that ef-
forts will be made during the present
Congress to secure an increase of pay
for the clerical employees of the Navy
Department.
1t is a good thing