Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31

ological records are being compiled.
The valtie of these observations would
be enhanced many times IL they could
be obtained each day for use In
weather forecasting. In fact, the
Weather Bureau, for long time, has
looked forward to the time when COM
munication facilities might be estab-
lished and reports from that region
made available. Reports by radio from
either place would extend our daily
field Of observation s. farther north
than at present and more definitely
define the extent Of confidential high
and low pressure areas"
Another strong appeal for the eStab-
lishment Of q radio station at Point
Barrow came from the master and
owner" Of an American trading vessel.
He stated that for 20 years he had
been trading along the Alaskan coast
and he told of many cases where YES
sells had been crushed In the Ice when
the lives of those aboard might nave
been saved had they been able to CON-
municate with those on shore by wire
less. !.
point Barrow is the logical and
most important place on the ALASKAN
Coast for q wireless station" the sea
captain write to Col. Hartman OF the
United States Signal Corps In Seattle.
Prom there Capt. Amundsen made MS
unsuccessful flying venture for the
North Pole in 1928. It Is In direct
route, Alaska-Spitzbergen. across the
: Later in 1926 letter written from
the Alaska division of the Bureau OF
Education to the Army Signal omcer
at seattle stated that the good OF our
service In the Northwest district OF
Alaska would be greatly extended u
you would establish and maintain Q
communication service In the vicinity
of Barrow, Alaska. There we main
tain school with q contributory pop
ulation Of 400 to 600, supervise native
cooperative store and reindeer conn
pany and extend medical relief.
At present communication Is infrequent
over the trail most Of the year. It Is
tough, rough trail, over hills and
mountains, through valleys and tun.
dras, along storm-swept coasts and
rivers and many detours and obstacles:
when the sea IS open during part Of
July and August, navigation Is slow and
full Of peril"
When the situation was brought to
his attention the Secretary Of War
gave his approval for the establishment
Of radio station by the Army Signal
Corps. The final necessary approval
and funds were received June 9, 1928,
By the once of the chief signal ofiicer
| In washington. Two days after re-
ceipt Of the telegram from the chiefs
o6ice in Washington authorizing the
establishment Of the radio station Col
Hartman, In command OF the Signal
Corps Office ut Seattle. had sent an en-
listed man, Pvt. Richard Heyser, BY
airplane from Seward, Alaska, TO Point
Barrow to make preliminary arrange
rnanent station as soon as the necessary
equipment could be moved TO Its dasti-
nation.
THE quiet, matter-of-fact efficiency
with which the Army went about
carrying out orders" Is traditional of
the organization, which made possible
the expansion of civilization across the
!, continent IN the days before the iron
horse had knit together the East and
West coasts, when the territory west Of
the Mississippi was filed with hostile
redskins. An eloquent testimonial OF
the rapid-fire actions Of the Army odl-
cials Is the telegram sent BY Col. HART
imam ID Seattle 10 the chief signal onl-
icer In washington:
ION 18th lJune1 authorized Seward
(Alaska) TO send Point Barrow BY air
plane shOrt-waVe ret made up 81
Seward. Arrived Point Borrow Z !. Z
18th. and contact established with
seward today. Time consumed after
|receipts Of Instructions To ship and
minutes. Distance, 400 Az miles
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