The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-23
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MORE LIGHT.


communication describing an exhibition oil hsn'-
ing apparatus at the Presidents House i"e
sire, through The same medium, 10 make Auo~"
few facts relative TO the various modes Oh "s"'
ing lighthouses there shown. One oil inc az
paratus exhibited was the French siderai iis"''
this is produced by placing small Carcei 'anP
in the common focus OF two rehee,oss, genera
ted by the revolution Of a curve possessing the
property Of projecting in horizontal lines all rays
of light incident upon it, Under favorable cur
cumslances, this light may be seen al as
lance OF six miles. Ii is used by the French US
guiding light at the extremiiies OF piers ana
other important places-but is never adopted iof
any important localities. | believe its use Is
chiefly confined to the French harbors-the on
ly one in the United States is that al the qua
ranline ground on Staten Island, New York
Another apparatus shown, was simple jet oil
gas lighted in the focus of parabolic reflector.
This is only the substitute of gas for the sPer-
maceti oil, now in general use over the world.
The difficulties of managing gas are so great
that ii can never be employed for the illumina-
don Of lighthouses. In England, about the
year 1882, the Holyhead and Swansea light
houses were lit by gas but, since that Time, the
gas al Swansea has been discontinued. The
gas-light at Holyhead was the scene of constant
accidents; at one time the building was blown
up by an explosion of gas. AT Hoyhead there
was every facility for the use Of gas--the light
house was supplied from the same gasoneters
as were used for the illumination of the town
streets notwithstanding which, the Interrupt
tons of the light were so frequent, and the ac-
cidents so serious, that the select committee on
lighthouses, appointed in 1884 by the English
House of Commons, reported agaius, the use
of gas.
The Drummond light is one frequently men
tioned-it is produced by the combustion of oxy-
gen and hydrogen gases with lime balls in the
focus of parabolc reflector. This light is very
intense, but inappicable TO the illumination of
light-hou Its inventor, Lieut. DIummond,
II. NJ stated to the select committee of 1884,
that, in his opinion, its use could not be adapted
to lighthouses at least not in its then condi-
zion.
The Bude light, a specimen of which was ex
hibiled, is produced by passing current of oxv-
gen gas through the fame Of lamp to increase
its combustion. Like all other cases, where
gas is concerned, this is inapplicable to light
house illumination
In remote localities, it is impossible to prepare
the gas with any certainly, and the difficulties
being increased by the very serious conse-
quences that ioll,w an explosion extension
OF the lights, will ever prevent It's general adop-
ton for lighthouses.
The last one shall notice was a polyZonal
lens. This is a very beautiful instrument the
invention of NJ. Arago and FresneI. The
French coast is lii up with them. To adopt
them for lighthouse illumination they are
ranged on polygon generally eight sides) and
lighted by Carce lamp of four concentric
wcks placed in their common focus Above
and below the principal lenses, placed tiers Of
curved mirrors to intercept and project in hori-
zontal lines, parallel with the axis of the lens,
all The rays that escape above or below the lens.
There are several of these lenses in Great
Britain, and two in the United States-one at
the highlands of Neversnk and one at Sandy
Hook, New York. That at Neversink is one
its kind.
They were fitted up by the Fifth Auditor of
the Treasury, in 1899. Their great cost and
the difficulties of their management have hither
to prevented Congress from making appropria-
lions for more.
Beside the difficulties of managing them,
they are more costly TO maintain, unless in stu
gand lamps on the present system to illuminate.
There are but few such localities on our coast,
sixteen lamps being as great a number as is
generally used The lens exhibited was but
one Of the sides Of the poygon, without the ac-
comparing mirrors at top and bottom, and
gave but meagre idea of the entire apparatus
After a general review Of the subject, land
this is also the opinion of the select committee
before referred to- there appears TO be no mode
Of lighting lighthouses SO economical, so sure,
and so efficient, as that employed on the coasts
of Great Britain and the United States, viz the
Catoplric system by means Of parabolcal re-
Electors and Argand lamps.
Great credit is due to the Fifth Auditor Of
the Treasury, beneath whose care our light
house system has grown TO its present condition
of excellence as it stands, it is model Of
economy and efficiency. No one is fonder of
INN rovements than the writer, but every inno-
walton is not an improvement; the exhibition
referred TO was ingenious and clever, but
as far as practicabty is concerned it was use
less. II.
From the Old School Republican.
That staunoh and able Democratic paper, "Tbe