(
I
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jGreat Technical School Maintained by Uncle Sam at Fort Omaha
'
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PTjA BHLIOHT SdOSUV
IHE United Btatea trnal corps
at prospnt constituted connlBta of
a(out 1,000 men. They are ata
tiomd In the Philippines, Alaska,
the United States and Cuba and
are employed In telegraphy, telephony,
wlroleds telegraphy, hellography, visual eiK-nalllng-,
photography, ballooning, automo
blllng, aerial line, subterranean and sub
marine telegraphy, topographic work, sten
ography and typewriting work, and ths
mechanical work necessary to these several
employments. These men must all b
trained to the work at some of ths signal
schools of the army, the chief of which Is
the signal station at Fort Omaha. Tha
amount of technical knowledge to be ac
quired by these men Is enormous. Thsy
must he taught In time of peace for the
active work of war.
The training on making of an efficient sir
nal corpa man from the raw recruit ma
terial to the finished product Involves an
Infinite amount of patience on the part of
the Instructor, and added to his technical
education' must be the training and discip
line of a soldier. The course of study Is
expansive and Is connected with constant
actual practice.
Start of the Rerrnlt.
When the recruit Is first enlisted he Is
questioned and rated as to his present qual
ifications. These queries are embodied In a
blank form upon which he Is to state hi
special qualifications, previous experience,
knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry,
higher branches of mathematics, knowledgf
of electrical batteries, primary, secondary
and storage, electric lines, power, light.
telegraph, telephone and Inside wiring; lu
l-W-ST C i fill T . J I riu.
'lir minute, with pen or typewriter; his un-
erstand!ng of cable work, use of syphon
recorder, duplex and quadruple! tnatru-
menu repeaters, open current sets, bus-
era. In telephony, of switchboards,' cen-
tral and local energy, metallic and ground
circuits. Instruments, tests for faults and
abUlty to make repairs. In cable work, of
splicing and jeneral experience on cable
ships; wiat experience with wireless tele-
graphy. experience with ballooning; visual
ability to make repairs, in cauie wora, vi
signalling by flag, number of words or let-
ters per minute; number of letters he can
end per minute by heliograph and receive
BUU VCI III1IIU.V s J vaaFC9 "
r.r4vtnH- bv lantern signals.
words and letters por minute; experience in
Ardols signalling. Automoblling, ability to
:k rid-
Jiowl-
1, en-
i.
operate and make repairs. Horse oscs ria
Ing, knowledge and care of horses. Knowl
din and experience In photography, en
Urging, reducing and lantern slide work,
Clerical worn, anowieago ui '. fw-
arty and mustering papers, telegraph line
accounu, oicnusi - -
office work, penmanship, draughtsmanship,
carpentry, trumpeting, cooking; knowledg.
et machinery, steam, gas ana "
pumps, dynamos, runn'" y" L ! d ma.
dynamos, repairs, ?n,n otnr apscla,
- a location., married or single and amer- J"s'i"" ' "" establishment of an intricate exchange; line studies ln the signal service college at ment- stations from Fort Omaha since US e-
ency address wagons, though at road crossings It is cus- construction and all the technical details of Omaha. Only the theoretical part of tho t tabllshment as a signal supply depot.
While it is not expected that tha recruit tomaxy to bury this heavier wire. The jlne construction and telephone mechanism, work Is now being carried out at Fort . l ife at Fort Omaha. ..Tn, ,gnai corp, ,exvlce Is the' roost al
ls proficient ln or even possessed of a smst- "trands ln both the light and heavy cables wireless telegraphy Is Included ln . the Omaha, as the full equipment for prac- Fort Omaha Is an excellent example ot tractive of the army," said an officer of
taring of all these branches, yst It Is very of P"no steel wire and are exception- course of Instruction, both sending and re- tlcal Instruction Is not yet available at the the eagerness and liberality with which the the corps. "I regret that more young men
essential that be must be Informed of some ally strong. Other linesmen follow along celvlng snd construction. ; post. Large balloons are now ln storage at government seeks to make the signal serv- do not avail themselves of lta advantages
ef them, as these qualifications will sooner these emergency lines while being laid to v V the fort, and a spacious balloon house, hy; Ice attractive. The fort Is equipped with a for a technical and practical modern sdu-
or later enter Into his general education as take out the kinks and knots that may ac- Wlgwaar aad Other 'Work. drogen gas generating plant Is shortly to splendid gymnasium. In which there Is a cation. Ttfey are paid, clothed, fed and
a signal corps man. ciden tally . be formed and to repair breaks. Another Interesting part of the recruit's be constructed , and the practical work of .One billiard hall, bowling alley, reference given fres medical attendance while ao-
Tha accepted recruit must have shown They are provided with pole and tools to education Is that of visual signalling, which ballooning will be undertaken early the library, restaurant and store, at which can quiring an education, and are tought the
some peculiar fitness for ths servlcs. Ones attach the' wire to the fences, limbs ot Includes flag work, more popularly known coming fall at this point. These buildings De purchased almost anything but liquor, great essentia! of personal respect and
at tha barracks he Is put through a course
ef training ln those branches ln which he
Is deficient. The pay of U 60 per month
Is not very alluring, but there Is always a
eertainty of advancement and the prospect
n ultimata aabirv nf 1TB rjer month as
. -
a sergeant first class, which,
Ith his cloth-
Ing, board and medical attendance. Is
equivalent to UA par month. ,
Make II lea a Soldier First.
Tha first education ot ths recruit' la to
mould him Into a soldier and teach hire ths
value and. necessity of discipline, 'guard
duty, tha use and care of the various arms
of the service ln order that he may be qual-
USed to do battle or witnstana auecc irora
a toe. In war and in the field the signal
corps is the virile line of communication
frora the firing line to the directing gen
eral's headquartera ' His position Is one of
constant danger and ln addition to his ln.
tellectual and technical qualifications must
be those ot courage, discretion and dl
clpllne. He occupies a peculiar ana ex
tremely Important relation to ths army.
The Fort Omaha signal school Is In
many respects a college of technology.
Since Its formal establishment as a signal
school a year or more ago It has sent 661
men out Into the actual signal service
field. Bonis ot these men have fceeome
teachers or sergeants, classed according to
their qualifications and proficiency. The
nillllarv training la In most respeots the
t (me ss la observed In the general mlll-
tary service, ln order that the recruit may
become a part of the fla-hting maahlne of
the miny when the emergency for his fUhU
Ins; qualities arrive.
.
r'lrat Step of lostraetloa.
Telegraphy snd telephony la thetr vari
ous brandies naturally became the first
state of Instruction for the recruit. - First
comes the lansona In the construction of tel.
egrapli lints and the relations of batteries
to the general telegraph system. This In-
eludes the placing of temporary and per
manent poles for carrying ths wires, la
sulauon and ths like and all the practical
laborious details ot construction. However,
In actual field service It beoomee neces
sary to lay lines rapidly and poles sre dis
carded. The lines are laid along fences or
on ths ground or attached to trees, as the
xteoasalty or opportunity permits and ra
c.u ire a
The ground or tsaoe lisee are laid with
-'i
; p,l
- i
great rapidity, ordinarily as fast as a horse
coll of five miles of three-strand insulated
wire. Should the contemplated emergency
line run parallel with any length of wlrs
fence this fence wire Is used, tbrquph con-
'neotin the different fence wire strands
w1tn a -oop at tne Burting point and con-
.,, tv,. K .imP innn
wnlch , , connected with the military
The fence coats make excellent around
" ."J "11 Vdlsnovered that
tTi
wncjj B again connected with the military
... v. trkn
... . . . ,..
or disconnected ends are connected by links
..... . . j
wire, that the current may not do
rruyvou. ,v,u., !,
that the dry fence posts Oiemselves make
v
good conductor, behiad the detached and.
of the wires, though the currant may not
be a. Strang ...the continued wire. This
. w..-
emergency or three-strand wire costs but
si per nui ana can ps aonaonj, , u.
necessary, without any consequential loss.
Fetatarea of tho Work.
Ther, u aoother non pern,anent and
stronger emergency wire of seven or nine-
teen strand Insulated wire, which Is used
In Imllar way. and hence cannot be ln-
trees, or make the necessary loops over
gateways or roads. . .
The line detail is equipped with buxsers
for testing the lines, and are thus enabled
to teet the line at any point or communicate
.. i...Hi..rtai-a Th. h,iur. in
win,
.n,..iiv anDlieable for telearanh and tele-
phone work and may be attached to com-
roerclal lines when the emergency requires.
In military telegraphy the Morse alphabet
. . . . i j - ..
la vJMKl ana injl r t to uu um
.
a. '
. Theroaarhlr Kalppeel Sravextl.
At Fort Omaha Is ons of ths most com-
pate!y equipped telegraph schools In the
united States, if not tn the world. The re-
crut i taught to both send and receive
. taken through progressively rapid
; Scene at Ihe
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"-.!:! It t-3 ns
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IN THH CLASS ROOM.
stages, i The telegraph room Is equipped
ble In ths world, with every modern appil-
ance of perfect telegraphy. Many of these
devices are ths Invention of officers of the
'R'nal corps and are exoluslvs to the signal,
"ervlce. One of the most efficient officers
connected with the service is Captain Leo-
nard D. Wildman, who has been at Fort
Omaha for the last year and who has Just
been transferred to Fort Leavenworth. Cap-
Wildman Is ths Inventor of some of
the moat valuable telegraphic appliances,
vjroana ior xne jaai year ana wno nas jusi
1"nal apparatus for serial, subterranean,
submarine and wireless telegraphy, which
UJ Ml t CM I IV Hlv VICIIUI.OUI WlUIUUt
ular salary as a captain of the signal corps.
telegraph room Is also equipped with
A "O WIUIHUU IVUII1 la MBU OUU1UUOU Willi
a number f typewrltlng machlne. and th.
. taught to receive on the tvne-
1 'wr t,ng worfc Co
writer ana genera, lypewruing wora. i.om-
patent Instructors, invariably expert
of the corpBi and muoh blackboard
InvoIved , tna course of study.
Cable telerranhv Is a Inn tausht and the
,ervlce are , ' UlQenU from tna
Fort Omaha school.
Telephony In air Its varied forms Is also
taurnt, from the simpie8t rudiments to the
as "wlg-wagglng." heliograph or sun slg-
. nallinK, lantern signalUng, rocket signalling.
Ardols or bomb" signalling, all of which are
baaed upon the Morse code.
Visual signalling Is adapted for short dls-v
tances of four or Ave miles. In cloud v
- -
weather the htliograph la unavailable and
recourse must be had to a'chaln of flag slg-
Ths signal corps flag work la essen-
"ally different from that used by the navy,
tnourn it is nonea mat in lime ma two ivi.
terns may become more uniform. At night
the acetytlne lantern Is used, flashes being
thrown according to the Morse code. In
extreme cloudy' weather the bomb or sound
system of signalling becomes necessary,
These bombs are discharged from
specially designed bomb pistol and can be
fired with whatever rapidity Is desired, thus
Old Settlers'
OJUJCS AJLMI V TMftaJfl ttATUZStSZ JJtXVMD THS ULWT CJT XUS CXU
TITE OMATTA KTTNPAT BEE: XCTLY
SSBOXy LKZ
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making tha dot and dash sound which Is
Thess varied forms of instruction are de-
signed so that tha signal corps man may
know, what to do at ths proper time and
under what circumstances. Tbs education
aiven Is to establish a rock bottom basis
of efficiency and common sense and the
when, where and why of Its application to
conditions and emergencies. The education
of tn recruit must embrace a working
knowledge of mechanics and photography
taught at Fort Omaha.
"""" .. ""
f
aa DIliDOBinf,
In the matter of wireless telegraphy there
. .....
must be taught a working knowledge of
the fifteen or twenty known systems of
, , , .. , , , ....
wireless telegraphy in order that he may
now which system he Is encountering. Dlf-
ferent 'y8tem" pracUced by "ftere"t
tin. H,.wavr th Tinita.i atat.a ha a
nations. However the United States has a
special system of Its own, devised by an
officer now ln the signal service, and which
has become In general use In the army and
navy and has proven of the utmost efQ-
k
.. v. '.... ,,
m08t exacting conditions.
Ballooning Is another of tha Important
will be erected during the present season.
Another new addition to the post of Fort
Omaha will be a wireless telegraph tower
nu "'atlon, to be built this season.
. Baat joTTho World.
. . . . 7
m remenaous striaes nave Deen made in
.,.. ,.l. .,. i..u
tne old wtg.wagging, though by no means
yet obgoIrfe. with crude telegraphy was
tha only syBtl.m of arrny signalling In those
- t , . , ,
ujr,. t ,iy aiomi iiuiiuvDiiiriui iiavo Ufoil
maia aina tha Snmiiii.im.rin an4 pi, ii-
v Ippine wars in signal apparatus, and lm-
provements are constantly being made, so
that the United .States Is equipped with the
best signal service in the world.
Tha nreaent total strength nt tha atanal
corpa Is about 1.000. Of this number 50
are constantly at Fort Omaha under in-
f.?'v'- W -m I ...... mmtof
Celebration .Recently Held at
7, 1507
QIYIKQ LKSTRUOTIONS.
f i " "
rl.
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FIELD TELEGRAPHERS AT WORK.
structlon. While the corps Is divided Into
organisations Is constantly shifting, the f-
Aclent men being sent Into active field scrv-
loe to fill vacancies occasioned by expira
tlon of enlistments, the term being thre
years. Many of the men re-enlist, while
others upon the expiration of their terms
of service find speedy and profitable em-
ployment as tel
ln civil life,
The education
,c u tar better
yiuymcm u iciest upuers nu oin.un.iaii.
obtained In the signal serv-
better than that acquired in any
of tne tpleSraPn schools, from the fact
that tha wnrlr 1 almnirf whntlv nractlral
frora the ,tart The tlm ,t takes t0 make '
a proficient algnal corps man depends
largely upon the man himself. Me Is ordi
narily ready for field service ln from six
months to a year, though his education
continues during his entire service.
It Is the purpose of the signal department
to make the service attractive to the en
listed man. AbUlty Is quickly recognised
and rewarded by rapid promotion Into
higher classes. Men now ln the signal
have become Infatuated with the work be
cause of Us possibilities and have declined
salaries in civil life double and treble that
which they are receiving from the govern-
jn the event that the-men are short of
ready cash a system of credit to a third
ot the am0unt of their pay Is given, ool-
lectlble on pay day. payments being made
monthly. No charge is made for the use
of the billiard table or bowline- allav.
-
Athletic exercisea are encouraged and the
swmnaslum is equipped with all appliances
for this purpose. Fort Omaha signal corps
na nne Da8e ba" team and fln baae bM
. irnund in tna a-vmnaaium la a tniuifiiii
a. . -
dance hall and balls sre froauent. the Dost
paying for the mustc. Every means of
healthful recreation Is heartily encouraged
by the officers of the oorpa The "men are
given frequent leaves to go to town and
furlonvha are taatlv ahtalnahla for anv
necessary period.
The food supplies comprise the very best
riaAOTOIJa AT Xi.T USJLBMX.
i
BEHJOGHUJTI
'13
x ,...
that the markets of the country afford,
modern appliance for cooking and sufficient
and trained cooks from the Fort Riley
School of Cookery prepare the meals. Ths
post bakery Is conducted by a graduate
baker of ths Fort RUey school and an
abundance of the best of bread Is provided
the command. The surplus bread beyond
i.m uru jl mo uunimuiu iuiu uuums
mo BHiiisun emu mo yiuisKun buos tutu mo
mess and post funds. Cigars, furnishing
goods and miscellaneous supplies of every
character are sold from the post exchange
foi hut a triflrt ahnva enat and tha nmflta
go to the better equipment of the exchange
and gymnasium.
A post garden supplies an abundance of
fresh vegetables, and in fact no community
ln tho state 'of Nebraska Is better clothed,
housed, and fed than the signal corps at
Fort Omaha.
Supply Depot for Corps.
Fort Omaha is tho general supply depot
for all signal service apparatus for ths
entire country, Cuba, Alaska and the
Philippines. A vaat quantity of these
valuable and intricate eauiLments are now
in store at the fort. Over 4.000 packages
of materials have been sent out to various
discipline. They are given an opportunity
of seeing a great part of the world. The
work Is not any harder than ln any ordl-
nary course of schooling ln co'.Iogs. I am
free -to admit that I would like to see the
iru.Mantal Hrmiaerv nf aarriaon lire anch
"
as policing the grounds, eliminated and
taken over by men especially employed
for such work by the quartermaster s de-
part ment. Such a plan would materially
nanant tna aarvica ant wiiiiiri nt tna man
-- . - -- - .
better for their work and studies. A man
cannot well handle a delicately adjusted
telegraph key after pushing a lawn mower
or chopping wood for an hour or two. I
would further like to see the corps In-
iltuwd tr. Jlrt man Inateari nf runilnlni
at Its present number.
The morale of ths signal corp la excep-
Fort Kearney
t V. ' I
1 . .rrfttf.
AFT A RA.TTT8 AT "WORK.
tlonally good; better, I think, than any
other branch of the eervice, for It requires
a higher grmle of Intelligence. I believe
that the efficiency of the corps would ba In
creased by giving the recruit one year's
training here at Fort Omaha, then a year
at l-'ort Leavenworth and Fort Rllojr
schools of application and practice, and
then put him Into the actual work of Hold
service. I believe also thut the canteen
system should be restored at the posts. It
would have a beneficial effect on the morals
of the men. It would be the means ot
keeping them in the garrison more gener
ally and awny from the dives and grog
gevies thnt thrive in the vicinity of ths
posts. ,
"We wnnt good, briirht. young men In
the signal service. It line been my observo
tlon that the men take pride In the work.
We have an Illustration right here In ths
fine telephone system just Installed, Ths
men did all the work, set the poles, dressed
and painted them and strung the wires, and
are now Installing a first-class telephone
exchange. In addition to our school work.
Fort Omaha Is the greatest signal ap
pliance repair depot In the country. If not
In the world. We do an Immense amount
of repair work, and wo are sending It out
all over the country and across the sea.
"I wish our Omaha people would visit
Fort Omaha. They do not know what a,
great,. Intricate and Instructive institution
It Is. We want the public to see what wj
S-rs doing. We want the signal service j
work given publicity, because It Is ons ot
the greatest and most Important systems ln
our, entire government machinery, as wel
.pects essentially modern."
Quaint Features Of .Life T
'
Rooster Saves Child's Life,
Last summer we had a large Leghorn
-rooster which we called Chang, says a
correspondent, or. me meaKO xriDune.
v.nang was a vicious oia Dira ana aeciaeaiyr
unfriendly toward most people, with thai
exception of our little 8-year-old son.
Billy. Between ths two a great friendship
avlatu1 Phnnr fnllnm? In cr mtlv arnim u
yard, eating from his hand and even play.
Ing with him In rooster fashion. One morn-
Ing a terrified scream from my wife,
brought int hurriedly- from out of tha N
house to witness a sight which frosa m
with horror.
Sitting on the ground happiry playing,
and all unconscious of his peril," waa little
Billy, while behind him not three feet
away, with loathsome folds colled an1
rsady to strike. lay a vicious rattlesnake.
Agonised and desperate, as a last hops I
was about to make a dash at the reptile.
when wa heard a terrlfio squawk, and old
Chang, every feather on end, his eyes red.
with fury, swooped across ths yard an,
pounced upon tha rattler with beak and
claws.
To snatch eur boy out of danger and
then kill tha snska 'was tha work of a
moment, but poor faithful old Chans; re
ceived tha deadly stroke aimed at his lit
tle playmate and paid ths penalty for hla
bravery with his Ufa. 1
E7I l
The Seat Serpoart.
One of tha tnnnmln iyjmh at.,m ..af
a unusual experience off ths coast ef IreJ
Iana' Th" erew n1 Passengers sighted atV
,mmen"9 serpent, evidently international!
,n Uella nd character, as Its colors werj
r"n rea' white and blue, and It not only
signaled the vessel with Its tall, but also
u.j . . ..
" ' " mv'"- lasniom.
,DO"t f tmthteUersJ
a hi hT Ii i
" " " " ' f,'"I eaiv
'
KBesUag the Trafosr St
The state of Washington has a sesrla
which hits the "trading stamp'' hard
though It Is to be fought In the eeisrto as
Unconstitutional. It requires that all
iiaiiuiouia gtvins; away iraaing siampaenalt
piace a casn value on them and
ready to redeem them st any time.
for example, printed tn ink aoioaa Ufev
of a cigar store trading; stamp there
appears: -asn value at any pi
statlen ln Washington 1 cent, but
merchandise value. . according te
premium list, eenta"
"Let Me Dmi Bur,"
There was all kinds ef excitement at mi
negro funeral near Xaotoo, Md., wbajaC
Samuel Johnson, a negro ventriloquietj!
threw his voice Into the grave as the eaaketj
was being lowered and said: "Let me down'
easy." The mourners thought It was the,'
corpse that spoke and with a screain thayl
fled. The pallbearers were so fcichteoedw
they dropped the casket.. Whea the relo-3
tlves recovered their composure they aoJ
cused Johnson of exercising hts "talents'
and forthwith had him arrested. ' He waa'
given a hearing on the chsrge ef dlsordertrf
conduct aod malicious mischief and waaj
held in ball. The ventriloquist la froirJ
Wilmington. He says he will never agatal
give a performance in a oernetery. ,
Fiah wa!lewef the IssS Bex, 'j
"While fishing In a small stream thlsn
side of Franklin seversl days ago." said
Joe Miller of that town, quoted by the
Nashville Tennesseean, "I rauitht tea blgij
catfish. I cut one of the fish open and'
found a small tin snuff lox Inside. The'
fish had evidently bad It In Its stomach,,
for some time, aa the flesh hud begun to"
redden and swell. How he vtr managed,
to get the box down his throat will alwaya!
remain a mystery to me. His mouth waot
hardly Ursa enough to take ln a guo'
eUaj h'j'.'k.'
atauaj
T3roa.J
Caon
PVlUIUITsLJ
euajn