The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-22

HcICtil punt VI NieW3 ~ Wouiu Ho,S Nosa'S
to the same untimely end when the Racoon
crossed the bar Of the Oregon. Spectator,
IRON LIGHT HOUSE.
An Iron Light House is now in progress
Of construction at Philadelphia, to be placed
on Carysfort Rect, on the Florida coast
It is designed to supercede the present float
ting light, and will be permanent structure
in The open sea, built upon rock which is
always eight or ten ieet under water. The
plan of the house and the contemplated man.
nero its erection are thus described in let
ter from the editor Of the New Orleans Bull
letin:
| There are eight large rotund cast iron up
rights or shafts, which are to be let into the
rock to the depth Of six or eight feet; the rock
to be perforated under water for the purpose.
These shafts, when thus inverted, at equal
distances, will embrace circle or area Of
4 from sixty to seventy feet in diameter, with
an inclination inward, so that at their upper
end, at distance probably thirty feet above
the water, the circle is contracted to forty
feet Another shaft, Of very large dimen-
sions, is erected perpendicularly in the CEN
tire, and to render the whole sold and firm,
they are all connected with each other each
Of the outer ones with the centre shaft
by horizontal round cast iron shafts abou,
six inches in diameter, secured to the
uprights in the most substantial manner, by
sockets and screw bolts One set Of these
horizontal shafts is put on a level with the
water, another midway and another at the tor
ofthe upright shafts connecting from each o.
the outside ones to the others, and from each
Of the latter to the main centre shafts.
From the top Of these uprights common
ces the first or lower story OF the light house,
which is to be what they call the keepers
cellar, in which all his stores, provisions,
water tanks, oil, and supplies Of every kind
are to be kept. Next above, are be to his
sleeping apartments, and above them hi
third story Of sitting and lookout rooms Of
apartments lantern and light, ofcourae,
above all. The Accommodations will be on q
scale sufficient for small family, and will
be complete and comfortable, though Of
course there will not be much "yard ROOM
connected with the premises.
The whole exterior surface Of these dill
ferent tiers Of apartments, is to be formed
Of boiler iron, but it must Of course be CO.
vered with at least two inch plank, or the
heat OF southern sun would render it per-
fectly intolerable and unsupportable in the
interior. The whole height Of the light
house will be 1914 feet above the sea. By
this plan, you viii perceive, that for dis
lance Of thirty-ieet above the water, the
waves (and it is said they viii not extend
above that height) will have nothing to en-
counter but these upright iron shafts and
their connecting braces, and will therefore
break harmlessly through them, and under
the body Of the light house.
| French Customs' Returns, May =, lsA0.
1t appears, from the late customs returns,
that the improvement observable during the
first two months Of the year has continued.
The import duties have risen from the first
quarter Of the present year to $4,000, 000f,
not having been more than % 900, 000f. in
ls4s. The greatest part Of the improve
ment refers TO the month Of March, which
last year produced only $500, 0OOf, but is
now ll,6O0,0oof These figures are the
more satisfactory, as they relat. chiefly to
raw materials and colonial produce the first
showing that manufacturers are at work, and
the latter that general ease and comfort are
returning. Amongst the raw materials which
have been most imported, must be cited
those which serve for the fabrication Of WOW
en- goods Not less than $4,000 quintals Of
raw cotton paid duty during the present year,
instead Of $4,000 for the same period in
lS4s, and $4,000 for 1s47. The duty
paid on wool, that is on 10000 quintals, IS
three times as much as last year, and one
third more than in lS47. In ls48 only 3OS
quintals Of raw silk were imported; 1913
quintals have been imported in the cores
ponding month Of the present year, an
amount larger even than 1847. An increase,
more or less considerable, has also taken
place in oil seeds, cochineal, and indigo
Coal is put down at 800, 900 quintals for
the month Of March, having been only L.
100000 in the same month in ls4S, and
200, 900 in 1s47. The imports Of copper
have increased, those Of copper ore are sta
tionary, and those of zinc and cast-iron are
still at low figure. Of colonial produce,
coffee is remarkable for its increase, being
j 81 900 quintals for the month Of March Of
the present year, in place Of 5000 in the
same month in ls4s, and 1880 in the
same month in ls47. Colonial sugar has
increase! from 10000 quintals t. $4,000,
and foreign sugar from 5000 TO $4,000.
The table Of exports presents an equally sa-
tisfactory result. There appears consider
able augmentation in the quantity Of wine
and brandy sent out. The low price Of corn
produces its expectation, and cotton and
woollen cloths have seldom found so easy
market in foreign countries. Great activity
is observable in the silk manufacture and
refined sugar, dressed hides, and glass par
ticipate in the general Improvement. Ar
ticles Of millinery and machinery, though
the former have lately improved, yet still
remain comparatively bshindhand. A de-
cided improvement has taken place in the
foreign shipping trade. The total tonnage
Of arrivals IS, perhaps, lower than that Of last
year, but the amount Of departures has in