Evening star., 1923-01-21
By COMMANDER STANFORD
HOOPER, T.. y. n.


Although radio has now become in
dispcnsable in many lines. its primary
function in the world is to safeguard
life at sea. This has been its primary
junction since its inception and will
1ikcly SO remain until the end OF
time
However, its status a a strictly hu-
manitarian agency for use by the
mariner has aI&ays been precarious,
monetary peturns.
Obviously no pecuniary profits can
be dc<1ved from the maintenance OF
low power stations along our coasts
fog instant operation day or night
amply to occasionally render aid 10
vessels in distress at sea. Neverthe-
less low power radio stations must
be available at fairly close intervals,
say approximately every two hundred
miles, all along our coasts II protec-
tion is to be afforded our ever-grow-
ing maritime trade and our travel by
sea
The occas sional rendering of as
sistance, through such coastal radio
stations, to ships in distress at sea
may be regarded in the public mind
ms only incidental to the daily opera
tiun of an otherwise profitable busi-
ness or government enterprise, but
this is not so.
The maintenance and operation of
American coastal radio stations has
never been financially profitable, eN-
the stations are located to serve mer-
chant ships In the general vicinity OF
our principal seaports such as New
York and San Francisco.
Those situated In the vicinity OF
less important seaports and at isolat-
ed points along our extensive coasts
pay only very small percentage OF
the expense required to maintain and
operate them from the revenue de-
rived from the commercial radiograms
passing through them.
Financial Loss Necessary.
There establishment and operation.
therefore. would spell ruin to COM
merci:l concern and obviously IL they
are to be operated at all this service
must he performed by the Navy, or
some other nautical agency. or by
municipalities which are dependent in
Il measure at least on travel and trade
by sea and in whose general vicinity the
stations arc located.
Fortunately. in this regard. coastal
radio stations are required to serve
our fleets and their auxiliaries in all
of our waters in the interests of the
national defense. and they have thus
been established all along our coasts.
These naval coastal stations serve
not OnlE our naval craft at sea, DuI
also passenger liners and freighters Of
our merchant marine and even vessels
OF foreign registry off our coasts-ex-
cept within the areas around our
principal seaports, where commercial
coastal stations have been establish
ed to handle this business for profit.
the government having prohibited
itself by statute from utilizing its
coastal radio stations for commercis al
purposes within these areas. al
though in other areas. where the
rendering of radio service is just as
essential. but not financially profita-
bic. the government has an unre-
stricted field of activity.
1t is this feature-governme COM
petition with private business enter
prise--which gives radio a precartous
status strictly humanitarian
agency. especially with respect to our
maritime interests.
It's services are developed and fos-
tered primarily for reasons other
than humanitarian and 1t functions
as humanitarian agency only by
reason of the fact that IL happens to
exist for other purposes.
The commercial concerns may dis
continue the operation Of their coast
al stations at any time they become
Improbable and the Navy may aban-
don its stations when not required