Progress Map of Signal Corps Telegraph Lines & Cables in the Military Division of the Philippines [and] Map of the Cuban Telegraph Lines

Building military infrastructure in America’s overseas empire.

With the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines (after a purchase of $20 million), became official territories of the United States, Cuba was recognized as independent (with a heavy American presence), and the Spanish-American War was officially concluded.

These two maps were published shortly afterward as Volume 1, Part 2 of the 1901 Annual Report of the War Department, printed in Washington, D.C. by the Government Printing Office. The 1,100+ page tome contains reports from a number of Chiefs of Bureaus, including the Inspector-General, Quartermaster, Paymaster, Chief Signal Officer, Surgeon-General, and Commissary. The contents reflect enormous efforts and financial expenditures to modernize segments of infrastructure, supply occupational troops, and maintain order in the midst of the Philippine Insurrection.

Map of the Cuban Telegraph Lines, Operated by the Signal Corps, U.S.A. – 19″ x 9″ map that shows the overland and submarine telegraph cables across the island as of June 30, 1901. Headquarters, relay, and telegraph offices are noted according to the legend in the lower center, along with the patterns used to denote new and old telegraph, telephone, and cable lines. Drawn by T.M. Hollingsworth under the direction of Captain Otto Nesmith, Chief Signal Officer of the Department of Cuba.

Progress Map of Signal Corps Telegraph Lines & Cables in the Military Division of the Philippines – This exquisitely detailed chart of the Philippines was based on a map by Claudio Montero y Gay and republished under the director of Brigadier General Adolphus Washington Greely. A complex network of military telegraph lines and cables is shown brightly in red – a necessity during the ongoing conflict. Depth soundings are noted throughout and toponyms identify a variety of local settlements, military installations, and geographic features. Measures approximately 21″ x 43.5″.

Source: U.S. State Department