WEATHER BUREAU. 63 



KEY WEST-SAND KEY. 



[Telephone] 



Nine miles of submarine cable connects these two stations. This 

 cable was laid in 1003, and in the early part of the year became so 

 defective as to call for a new cable to protect the naval interests in 

 the gulf which had assumed great importance on account of war 

 conditions. As the Sand Key station had been taken over by the 

 Navy Department during the period of the war, a new 4-conductor 

 cable was purchased and laid by that department. 



ALPENA-THUNDER BAY-MIDDLE ISLAND SECTION. 



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During the 3'ear communication was interrupted 23 hours on 

 these two lines owing to damage by thundei-storms. The poles are 

 beginning to fail from age and will doubtless need renewing soon. 



WHITEFISH POINT-GRAND MARAIS SECTION. 



[Telephone.] 



NORTH AND SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND-SLEEPING BEAR POINT SECTION. 



[Telephone. | 



BEAVER ISLAND-CHARLEVOIX SECTION. 



[Telephone] 



These thixie lines worked continuously and smoothly througliout 

 the year. 



SAN FRANCISCO-POINT REYES (CALIF.) SECTION. 

 [Telephone.] 



For several years past much difficulty has been experienced in 

 communicating between these points. Arrangements were made 

 during the winter with the Coast Guard Service for reconstruction 

 of the line, which provided for a metallic circuit from Point Reyes 

 to San Ansclmo, where the Weather Bureau wire now terminates in 

 an exchange, thence operated to San Francisco at established rates. 

 The former method of communication involved rental of a wire 

 from San Francisco to Mill Valley which connected at that point 

 with the Weather Bureau single-grounded wire running to Point 

 Reyes. Communication with the Mount. Tamalpais station had been 

 carried on by the use of a loop on the main line. This portion of 

 the line now terminates in the Mill A^alley exchange where connec- 

 tion is made with either Point Reyes or San Francisco. Approxi- 

 mately two-thirds of the cost of the reconstruction work was borne 

 by the Coast Guard, and the remaining third by the Weather Bu- 

 reau. Annual cost of service between the new and old systems dif- 

 fers but little. The new system was placed in operation on March 

 5, with satisfactory results. A portion of the line will need renew- 

 ing with copper wire before long. Three test stations were installed 

 on the line, which are found valuable in locating trouble. 



NORTH HEAD-PORTLAND SECTION. 



[Telegraph.] 



Fairly satisfactory and continuous communication was maintained 

 between these two points through the successive use of several con- 



