ment, to which Capt. Frank Greene, Signal Corps, has been assigned as signal officer.

Captain Greene's report is incorporated in the report of the commanding general of the Department of Alaska, but extracts therefrom form Appendix No. 3. It is due to the extraordinary energy and activity of the officers and men of the Signal Corps and the hearty cooperation of Brig. Gen. George M. Randall, commanding Department of Alaska, that such creditable progress has been made in Alaska despite the almost overwhelming adverse conditions. At the date of the last report the following lines and cables had been laid or constructed:

In addition, the Valdez line has been extended some miles farther north, and a detachment from Fort Egbert has cleared a trail and cut poles for a distance of approximately 60 miles in a southwesterly direction toward the head of Mosquito Creek, with a view to meeting the Valdez line near the crossing of the Tanana River at Tetling. account of the infrequency of mail communication with these parties definite report can not be made.

On

It is not generally understood that the Alaska telegraph systems, while placing all the Alaskan posts in connection with the commanding general of the department when completed, would not afford means of communication with any other part of the world. To increase the value of the Alaskan system, the Chief Signal Officer of the Army conferred with the authorities of the Canadian government at Toronto with a view to the extension of the existing Canadian telegraph lines, and the establishment of cooperation in telegraphic work between the Alaskan and Canadian systems. The distinguished premier of Canada, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, showed marked interest in the views advanced by the Chief Signal Officer and expressed his desire to further any plan that would bring the two countries into closer and more cordial relations, especially in the Northwest. The matter was immediately taken up in the same spirit by the acting minister of public works, the Hon. William Mulock. After brief consideration the council approved all the recommendations of Mr. Mulock, and on its recommendation an appropriation was made by the Canadian Parliament for extending the Canadian telegraph line down the banks of the Yukon to the Alaskan boundary.

The Canadian government courteously placed in conference with the Chief Signal Officer of the Army Mr. J. B. Charleson, assistant

superintendent of public works in the Yukon district, who was charged with the extension of the Canadian telegraph line from Quesnelle to Atlin. Mr. Charleson undertaking the extension from Dawson to the Alaskan boundary, energetically pushed the Canadian work, while on the other hand Brig. Gen. George M. Randall, commanding general, Department of Alaska, facilitated the prompt construction of the line from Fort Egbert (Eagle city) to the Yukon boundary. Fortunately for the success of the work on the American side of the boundary it devolved upon Capt. Charles S. Farnsworth, Seventh Infantry, who pushed it to successful completion, as far as his route extended, with great energy and success. The Canadian authorities had the longer line to construct, but they performed their work with such expedition, so that on May 5, 1901, the telegraph line was completed between Dawson and Fort Egbert, thus bringing the upper part of American territory on the Upper Yukon in direct telegraphic communication with Skagway, whence by steamer news could reach Washington, or any other part of the world, in four days under ordinary conditions. On September 24, 1901, telegraphic communication was established between Fort Egbert and the Upper Yukon region via United States military telegraph and Canadian land lines, and messages were exchanged between the commanding officers at Fort Egbert, Skagway, and the authorities in Washington.

As a result of personal inspection, it developed that it is practically impossible to maintain a line from Fort Gibbon, at the mouth of the Tanana, along the great Yukon bend past the old trading post, or Fort Yukon, to Fort Egbert. After consultation, the commanding general of the department expressed his accord with the opinion of the Chief Signal Officer in this matter, and it was therefore decided to locate a line across country between Rampart city and Fort Egbert. It may or may not intersect the Signal Corps line now being built from Port Valdez to Fort Egbert. Mr. William Yanert, superintendent of construction, made a preliminary survey, and if a suitable route is selected this autumn or winter construction will begin in the spring of 1902. If such route does not materially decrease the cost of the line it will hasten its completion, as the distance from Fort Gibbon to Fort Egbert is about 450 miles, while the cross-country route, being the chord of an extensive arc, should not exceed 350 miles. Mr. Yanert found a section between Rapid City and Beaver Creek feasible for the construction of a telegraph line, it being well timbered and fairly dry. The explorations are to be continued during the summer with a view of determining whether the line can be extended to the Abercrombie trail, on the headwaters of Forty Mile Creek.

Under the supervision of Maj. John T. Van Orsdale, Seventh Infantry, there was completed, about September 15, a first-class telegraph line on iron poles of about 25 miles in length. It extends from Nome city through Fort Davis eastward to Safety Harbor, where, ultimately, it will connect with the cable to St. Michael.

It is necessary that a proviso be incorporated in the Army appropriation bill for the coming year making the appropriation for military telegraph lines and cables in Alaska available until June 30, 1903, as the Comptroller of the Treasury has decided that the appropriation expired at the end of the present fiscal year. It is not generally understood that the open season in Alaska covers only about five months during the present fiscal year, thus necessitating this provision that the work may be carried to completion.

The commanding general, Department of Alaska, most strongly recommended to the Chief Signal Officer of the Army the extension of the Alaska lines which included a cable from Skagway to Juneau. This cable makes possible efficient cooperation of the military administration, judicial system, and territorial authority of Alaska. It not only connects the military posts at Skagway with Juneau, the capital of Alaska, but enables the Territorial authorities to reach via Skagway and Dawson the points in the Yukon Valley now so remote that, as a rule, not more than two or three letters can be exchanged in a year. The Secretary of War having authorized the laying of this very important cable, the Chief Signal Officer determined to prosecute the work after the manner of commercial companies, through cable manufacturers. The cable was laid by the contractor and opened to business August 23, 1901, but was not formally accepted by the Government, as the contract for laying required its successful operation for thirty days before acceptance.

OPERATIONS IN CHINA.

While the campaign in China occurred subsequent to the end of the fiscal year 1899-1900, yet from its importance and interest it was treated in that annual report. The Chief Signal Officer of the Army had not, however, received the official report of Maj. George P. Scriven, Signal Corps, which is appended herewith. (Appendix No. 5.)

The Chief Signal Officer thinks it unnecessary to do more than to call special attention to Major Scriven's report. Especial credit is due to Major Scriven and his officers in their diplomatic, professional, and practical efforts which carried into Pekin the first telegraph line of the allied armies. Such was the dispatch of the work that the line practically went into Pekin with the American troops, and there served for the week as the only means of telegraphic communication with the outside world.

It should be distinctly understood that this prompt establishment of telegraphic communication between Taku and Pekin could not have been made but for the generosity of the British army in supplying certain deficiencies in the Signal Corps material, which could not be carried on at one time owing to the lack of sufficient transportation for the telegraph line, about 115 miles in length.

Great credit is due First Lieut. Henry W. Stamford, Signal Corps, not only for ability as acting signal officer of the command prior to Major Scriven's arrival, but also for the skill and energy with which he personally supervised construction, maintenance, and operation of this line through a hostile country. Lieutenants Bartsch, Hastings, and Capron also contributed materially to the efficient operation and construction of the line. The United States military telegraph line was operated from the Taku forts to Pekin from August, 1900, to March 15, 1901, when the American forces withdrew from China, at which time the line was sold for $1,575 and the proceeds covered into the Treasury of the United States."

MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF CUBA.

The telegraph lines and Signal Corps work connected with the Military Department of Cuba have remained in charge of Col. H. H. C. Dunwoody, Signal Corps, who was assigned to this important duty in

December, 1898, until May 20, 1901, when he was relieved by Capt. Otto A. Nesmith, Signal Corps, and assigned to duty at Washington, D. C., in charge of the Signal Corps during the absence of the Chief Signal Officer in the Philippines. Under Colonel Dunwoody the telegraph system of Cuba was developed to a high degree of efficiency, and in recognition of his services the military governor of Cuba, Brig. Gen. Leonard Wood, issued the following orders:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF CUBA,
Habana, May 20, 1901.

Upon relieving Col. H. H. C. Dunwoody, chief signal officer, from duty in this department, the military governor thanks him for the unremitting zeal and efficiency with which, having found the telegraph affairs of the island of Cuba in a state of complete chaos, he has organized, extended, and maintained them in a serviceable condition, giving prompt telegraph service to all parts of the island.

The excellent and interesting annual report of Capt. Otto A. Nesmith, signal officer of the department, is printed in full as an appendix to the report of the commanding general, Department of Cuba. In consequence, the Chief Signal Officer of the Army confines himself to a résumé of operations of the Signal Corps in Cuba, supplemented by extracts from reports (Appendix No. 6), made by Captain Nesmith under paragraph 1541, Army Regulations, on matters of current interest or special importance.

The telegraph system now operated by the Signal Corps in Cuba consists of 3,418 miles, showing an increase of 162 miles of line over the mileage for the previous year. During the American occupation the old Spanish telegraph lines in the western provinces of the island were practically rebuilt and the telegraph system extended to include the eastern provinces, placing all the military posts and principal towns in telegraphic communication with the outside world. The last and one of the most important links was the construction of the telephone line from Baracoa to Cape Maysi in the interest of commerce, the station at Cape Maysi reporting passing vessels by telephone to interested parties.

While the work of construction of new lines during the current year was limited, general repairs were continued, which improved the efficiency of the system at the close of the year. It is no exaggeration to state that the telegraph facilities in the island of Cuba compare favorably with those in the United States, notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts required to keep the lines in operation.

Communication has been maintained over the trunk line between Habana and Santiago during the year, except for occasional brief interruptions.

In the management of this Cuban telegraph system it has been the aim of the Chief Signal Officer to gradually replace the officers and enlisted force of the Signal Corps by native operators and linemen, so that when the time came for the final transfer of the service to the officials of the Cuban government there would be no interruption in the telegraph work of the island.

At the close of the fiscal year 80 per cent of the entire force were natives, either operators or linemen, although there is still great difficulty in obtaining competent native telegraph operators, and in order to maintain the efficiency it has been necessary to continue in the service a number of first-class operators from the United States.

An unusual and extraordinary test of the capacity and efficiency of the system was made on the night of November 6 in the reporting and distributing of the national election returns from the United States. The cable company turned over the news to the telegraph service for distribution over the island on condition that each station receiving news should pay $25, one-half to go to the cable company and one-half to the operators and linemen of the telegraph service who necessarily remained up all night on the work. Excellent results followed, so that numerous telegrams were received by the chief signal officer of the department from officials and citizens throughout the island thanking the Signal Corps for the excellent and prompt manner in which the work was performed. During the previous August the commanding general of the department, in making an extended inspection tour, was able to receive full reports daily at each successive station.

The routing of the United States Porto Rico cable business over the Government telegraph lines between Habana and Santiago, by which diversion special low concessionary rates were secured, inaugurated just prior to the end of the last fiscal year and referred to in detail in the last annual report, has been continued during the year with regularity and dispatch.

The general working of the telegraph service during the year has been exceedingly satisfactory, complaints have been very few, and investigations, which have been promptly and invariably made, have proved them to be wholly without reason or of such character as to be incidental to the management of all telegraph services.

With the present increased volume of commercial business throughout the island the wires are loaded to their utmost capacity, and, while telegrams are generally dispatched with promptness as filed, traffic could be facilitated were it not that all business between eastern and western points in the island is forced to pass over one wire between Santa Clara and Santiago, as the second wire must be used for local business; and the service could be materially benefited by stringing another wire from Santa Clara to Puerto Principe, and that office could relay between Habana and the following stations: Santa Cruz del Sur, Nuevitis, Lugareno, Guaimaro, Victoria de las Tunas, Puerto Padre, and Cauto, relieving congestion on the through wire, and should the business increase in the next year in the same proportion that it has in the last this would not only be necessary, but in addition another wire would be needed to Santiago.

There were handled during the year 237,972 commercial messages and 159,719 on official business, a total of 397,691 messages, while during the previous year the military telegraph lines handled 175,313 commercial messages and 170,157 on official business, a total of 345,470 messages, an increase during the present fiscal year in the total of commercial business handled of 62,659 messages, while, on the other hand, the official business shows a falling off of 10,844, owing to the elimination of military departments on the island and the withdrawal of troops. The above statement of the number of commercial and official messages, while it embraces the consideration of the business handled from a source of revenue standpoint, does not by any means show the actual amount of work performed by the operators of the service, since messages are necessarily relayed at 18 separate offices on the island, where they have to be both received and sent, and represent a total of 673,848, which, added to the 397,691 commercial and official business, makes a