The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-03-20
THE FORESTRY OFFICE
WILL USE HELIOGRhPH
Wireless System viii Be Used in Re-
porting Fires in the Wenatchee
National Forest

A. H. Sylvester, the local forest
supervisor, makes the announcement
this week that the transmitting Of mes
sages by heliograph will be in vogue
in the Wenatchee National forest this
summer. The instruments and other
equipment, which is similar to that
used for signal purposes in the army,
has been ordered and on their arrival
will be put into operation as soon as
the necessary arrangements can be
made.
The system used for conveying mes
sages is by means of mirrors, two oI
which are placed on a tripod, reflected
into each other, and the flasher worked
by means of shutter. In this man.
ner message are known to have been
transmitted up to a distance OF 10
miles. The Morse code is used, the
dots and dashes being worked by the
making and breaking of the flashes
with the shutter. Abbreviated codes
will likewise be used for different sig
nails, like Il understand"
Four lookout stations on high peaks
that command a view Of the surround
ing country will be established, says
Mr.. Sylvester, and from these points
the instrument men will be able to call
the central station at any time fire
breaks out. The lookout men will be
stationed on the following peaks,
Sugar Loaf" at the head Of the
Chumstick, "Swakane," on the Entiat
range, Dirty Face" at Lake Wenat-
chee; and Tip Top" near Blewett.
While it has nef been definitely de-
cided on, the central station will prob
ably be located on the first range of
mountains north of town as this point
would be in direct communication with
all of the four stations. When any OF
the lookout men spot fire they take
reading on it with compass.
which reading they signal to the cen
trail station, which then telephones the
same to the forestry Office here. When
two or more readings from different
stations to the same fire haye been re-
ceived, they can be plotted on the first
map and the almost exact location OF
the fire determined. 1t is only possi-
BILE to use the heliograph when the sun
shines, but the records show that there
are few cloudy days in this section dur
ing the summer months.
That the system is practical and has
proven a success, is testified to by Mr..
Hale, supervisor of the Okanogan for
est, where the heliograph was in use
last year. Out of over 81 fires report
ed, the lookout men spotted all but one.
Mr.. Hale also experimental last sum-
mer with the fashlight, which was used
at night, when on account OF cloudy
days, they were unable to use the he
liograph. While it was not found 10 be
successful, they were able to signal be-
tween points S and 10 miles part.
What is practically correspondence
course for forest rangers, is being con-
Quoted by A. H. Sylvester, the local
forest supervisor. The study is along
the lines of surveying and mapping and
during the past two weeks. he has re-
ceived over 80 papers from rangers
thruout district 6, which comprises
Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Stu
dies Of this kind are carried on during
the winter months and are of great bene-
fit to the rangers. On receiving pa
per, the supervisor after thorough ex-
animation, adds and makes such sug-
gestions as may be necessary and re-
turns it to the sender.