The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-23
From the National lntelligencer.
Ia The Editors:

GENTLEMEN: In the lnteliigencer OF the YIN In
slant, your readers are presented with
and accurate analysis Of the contents of the National
Magazine for August, l845, from which magazine
the following passage is cited;
''The British admiralty is adopting the French
lighthouse system IN its mnucst details. table
has recently been published of the English lights, in
which the OF each is given, the latitude longi-
tude the number Of lights, the COLOR the character,
the height above the water, and, indeed, general
description. While all Europe is engaged in per-
fecting its respective lighthouse system, own re-
mains in most wretched condition, and all efforts
for reform somehow other secretly met and
overthrown."
! As the columns of the National Inelligencer have
given to this passage circulation far outstripping
that of the magazinein which it first saw the light,
justice, equal and exact requires that the refutation
of the charges boldly hazarded appear in the
columns.
The lighthouses of England, then, are not under
the superintendent of the admiralty; that province
is under the exclusive control of the Corporation of
Trinity House, Deptford Sirond This corporation
is bound by acts 6 and William w., chapter
TO- g. to make its returns directly to the House
| of Commons. The two last returns, printed by
order of the House, are now before me. The one
is dated 9th Of February, 1874, and the other Cd Of
February, lS45. BY these returns, it would appear
that all the lighthouses in England, with the ex-
ception of Oxford low lighthouse on the coast
| of Suffolk, South Foreand high lighthouse on
the coast Of Kent and Lundy Island lighthouse
in the Bristol channel, in part are still lighted
| up with argand lamps and paraboic reflect
ors. This is precisely the system adopted in the
United States---the lighthouses Of Neversink, in
New Jersey, Tin which the French system is ADOPT
| edo being the only exception. So much for light
houses. With regard to the table recently pub
lished in England Such tables are constantly repub
lished there, when out of print, and embrace the
changes and additions made since the date of the last
edition. So in the United States, a new edition is
now in press, embracing all the particulars Of la-
tude and longitude number, color elevation, &c., as
in the British tables also, translation of tho code
of instructions for the use of the lighthouse keepers
of France, presenting many improved views OF the
subject, which may hereafter be modified or adopted
for the service of the United States. In order to
soothe the anxicties of the editor of the National
Magazine, and TO convince him that our lighthouses
are not in that "wretched condition. he feelingly
lamenls, we append some documentary extracts.
SIT is believed that, in usefulness, efficiency and
economy combined, our lighthouse establishment
will not suffer in comparison with that of any other
nation" From the report of the Committee on
| Commerce, No. SlI, 9th Congress, I'd session |
And in House document No. 81, 2Sth Congress,
1st session, it will be seen that nearly thousand
masters of ships and other vessels, the owners of
nearly fourteen hundred ships and other vessels and
several hundred Others concerned and not concerned
in the lighthouse establishment of the United States
unite in condemning the false and erroneous reports
relative TO this branch, put in circulation by indi.
viduas whose zeal for Office obscures their better
Judgment.
| 1t will doubtless afford additional consolation to
the National Magazine that the s'right kind of re-
form" is gong on progressively in this branch of
our.national service. We quote official documents
to prove that above million of dollars are here
annually saved to the United States, without in the
least impairng the extent efficiency of the light
| There IN the United States two hundred and
ffty-six lighthouses, uncloggcd by floating lights