WEATHER BUREAU. 119 



Government interests, but also carry a large volume of commercial 

 business. 



Under changed operating conditions across the Columbia river, 

 displacing the cooperative arrangement with the Western Union 

 Telegraph Co. effective for many years, the Weather Bureau now pays 

 for all business transacted beyond Fort Canby, the tolls amounting 

 to about $500 per annum. No revenue accrues to this line, except $90 

 per annum for its use by the telegraph company for commercial 

 business. 



Frequent reconstruction and repair work has always been neces- 

 sary on the Tatoosh-Port Angeles line because of its location in 

 rough woodland territory. Devastation by heavy storms which 

 occur during the winter and spring and damage resulting from log- 

 ging operations constitute the chief causes of trouble. The usual 

 amount of this work was accomplished during the past year. The 

 winter repair station at Sekiou, midway between Clallam Bay and 

 Neah Bay, and that at Twin were closed June 30. The repair work 

 ■of the sections will be done by employees at the stations on each side, 

 thus enlarging the areas of the several sections concerned and reduc- 

 ing to some extent operating costs. Rerouting and improving the 

 ■county roads is still in progress, and as this work is completed in a 

 section relocation along these roads of the telegraph line follows. 



The Government receipts from all lines for commercial messages 

 handled during the year amounted approximately to $4,853. Ex- 

 penses of labor and material for repair, reconstruction, and reloca- 

 tions amounted approximately to $4,000. 



NORFOLK-CAPE HENRY-HATTERAS (VA.-N. C.) SECTION (TELEGRAPH). 



Owing to imperfect wire conditions south of Coast Guard station 

 No. 179 during the first half of the year, considerable trouble was 

 experienced in transmitting the large volume of business transacted 

 over this line. During the latter half of the year 19 miles of new 

 wire was strung, many poles reset, and new insulators installed over 

 portions of this section, resulting in further improved operating 

 conditions. The line is now in almost perfect working order, and 

 when additional new insulators and poles are installed, which it is 

 expected will be done in the near future, the line should be in excel- 

 lent condition throughout its length of approximately 170 miles. 



A new pole line was constructed and new copper wire strung for a 

 •distance of 1^ miles across New Inlet, which has completely filled up. 

 This installation takes the place of a cable heretofore used for trans- 

 mission across the inlet. The cable will be allowed to remain in 

 place to be used in emergency cases. 



Some short but necessary changes were made in the route of the 

 line through the lighthouse reservation at Cape Henry and through 

 the schoolhouse grounds at Hatteras. 



Six hundred yards of line were blown down about 200 miles south 

 of Cape Henry in April. Temporary repairs were made at once, but 

 permanent reconstruction work will be deferred until the coming 

 autumn. Three hundred poles and accessories were purchased dur- 

 ing the year, the greater part of them having already been used in 

 the reconstruction work above noted. 



78007— AGS 1923 9 



