224 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
The CHarrman. Are those two points on opposite sides of the river? 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. There was a cable that belonged to 
the Signal Corps and we used it. When we established this building 
there a couple of years ago—this is one of the five buildings that you 
authorized us to construct—we used the cable, but then the cable 
broke, and since then we have been using a telephone line, a round- 
about way, and we get the report part of the time, and part of the 
time we do not. 
The Cuarrman. Why did not the Signal Corps replace their cable? 
Professor Moors. They had no use for it. 
The CHarrman. What use did they have for it? 
Professor Moors. They used it years ago; I do not know what they 
were doing with it. 
The Cuarrman. How much business is there at that point? 
Professor Moorr. An enormous business. 
The Cuarrman. Is there any commerce? 
Professor Moorz. The whole commerce of the mouth of the Columbia 
River. We report all that goes on, but since the breaking of the cable 
we have only had imperfect telephonic communication, and, therefore, 
our reports for the commerce of the Columbia River are now some- 
times delayed. 
The Cuarrman. Is this right at the mouth of the river? 
Professor Moore. Yes, sir; I will bring the map up and show you 
where the cable is going to be laid. 
The Cuarrman. I do not see how you can build a cable there for 
$15,000. 
Professor Moors. I am not absolutely clear in my mind as to the 
exact location. 
The Cuarrman. The mouth of the Columbia River must be 15 or 30 
miles wide. 
Professor Moorz. I should say that it was 15 miles wide. We can 
lay that cable for $1,000 a mile; probably for less than that. 
Mr. Haveen. Between what points is that cable to be laid? 
Professor Moorg. Fort Canby, Wash., with Flavel, Oreg. 
The Cuarrman. The other $10,000 is to repair the telegraph line 
running from Norfolk, Va., to Hatteras, N. C.? 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. That line will run from Cape Hatteras 
to Cape Henry, down outside of Albemarle Sound. Near the center 
of Albemarle Sound is Roanoke Island. We carried on the wireless 
experiments there. There are about 5,000 people on that island, 
mostly engaged in fishing and the fishing industry. It is quite an 
important place and a very prosperous community, but they are cut 
off entirely from our storm warnings. 
The Caarrman. Is there a telegraph station there? 
Professor Moore. No, sir. 
The Cuarrman. No telegraph station and 5,000 people there? 
Professor Moors. That is right. 
Mr. Bowrs. What is the reason that the telegraph companies do not 
go over there? 
Professor Moore. Ido not know any reason. I think there are no 
towns or lading places on theeast. Elizabeth City is quite a distance 
away and it would be very expensive to build a cable there. So these 
people have been left without storm warnings. With a little expendi- 
ture we can run our cable over there and establish a telephone service, 
