62 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



luirricane seasons, and the need is much accentuated at times of in- 

 creased work similar to the above. Should there be further increases 

 of telegraphic work consequent upon the contemplated extensive co- 

 operation with tlie Array and NaA^y, a corresponding enlargement of 

 tlie telegraphic force will become imperative. 



WEATHER BUREAU TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES. 



These lines have been maintained and operated generally in a 

 satisfactory manner, considerable necessary reconstruction work hav- 

 ing been accomplished on several. The Navy Department, the War 

 Department, and the Coast Guard have made increasing use of them, 

 the Coast Guard Service having cooperated largely in cable repair 

 and other w^ork. 



BLOCK ISLAND-NAERAGANSETT PIER SECTION. 



[Telegrapli.] 



Closing of the Weather Bureau office at Narragansett Pier on 

 July 31, 1918, necessitated other land terminal arrangements. To 

 jneet this situation the cable was permanently connected in the office 

 of the Providence Telephone Co. at Narragansett Pier with the 

 Western Union ware running to Boston, thus affording a satisfactory 

 channel of communication between Block Island and the mainland. 

 Large use is made of this cable by the naval base on Block Island, 

 which enjoys direct wire connection. 



One mile of new three-conductor cable, costing $2,312.64, was 

 bought during the spring to replace a defective portion which had 

 interfered seriously for most of the year with transmission through 

 two of the conductors used by the Providence Telephone Co. Repairs 

 made by the Coast Guard Service produced very satisfactory results, 

 the cable now being in first-class condition, although laid in 1903. 



NORFOLK-HATTERAS SECTION. 



[Telegraph.! 



Extensive repairs became necessary on the southern portion of this 

 line, due to prostration of about 10 miles of poles resulting from 

 effects of a severe storm on August 25-26, 1918. These repairs were 

 completed early in the summer. 



The 3-mile submarine cable connecting Manteo, on Roanoke Island, 

 with the mainland became so defective as to seriously impair its fur- 

 ther use for telegraph purposes. To insure continued communication 

 with this isolated but important point 4 miles of new four-conductor 

 cable were purchased, nearly 3 miles of which were successfully 

 laid in June, the remainder being stored for emergency use. Two 

 sections of land line necessary to connect the cable with the office at 

 Manteo and the main line were rebuilt. 



Four important naval stations which transact a large volume 

 of business enjoy direct connection with the main line through 

 to the naval base at NorfoUi. Extensive use is made of the facilities 

 of the Weather Bureau office at Cape Henry by the Navy and the 

 Coast Guard Service, the latter effectively cooperating in the main- 

 tenance of the line. Two telephone lines belonging to that service 

 are carried on the Weather Bureau poles between Virginia Beach 

 and Hatteras. 



