The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-15
From the Journal of Commerce.
Lighthouse Matters.
WASHINGTON q. C.. lime

WASHINGTON D. c., June O. 1852
1t will be gratifying intelligence to all who take any in,
ieres in the advancement OF lighthouse engineering and
illumination in this country, TO know that the report OF
the lghhou board, appointed many months since to
investigate the light house system OF the United States
and other nations, is being distributed among the
members OF Congress.
The report as made up by the board in the
first OF February LAST consequently more than four
months have been consumed IN the business OF printing
What strange contrast this with the manner printing is
done in the Empire City! ts high time there should be
corrective the abuses and delays in the prosecution OF
the public business.
The report is very voumnous, embracing 40 pages,
and many valuable drawings and engravings Nothing
OF like importance relative 10 our lighthouse system has
ever been originated in the United States before. And
the gentlemen who have contributed so much TO advance
the commercial interests OF this country, entitled 10
the thanks of the whole community They have made
il Of duty carefully investigate the subject,
and have submitted plain, unvarnished tale which can
not fail to strike every unbiased and thinking mind with
certain conviction that the present system of light
house illumination &c., employed in the United States.
inferior that OF any other country the face OF the
globe II is said by the Fifth Auditor, Mr.. Pleasonon,
who has had the sole charge OF the lighthouse drec.
who claims 10 be rather the father Of the system that
the lights OF the coast OF the United States are IN better
condition than before and entirely satisfactory to
pilots, shipmasers, &c. The lighthouse board are there
fore charged with having arrived at erroneous conclusions
regarding the light house department II IL probably true
that the lights our coast are better kept now than for
mery; but does this argue that they equal TO the
lights the coasts OF England Ireland or France And
who are to believe in this ma,ter-those who have
and who practically qualified to judge in everything
pertaining thereto, and who, have no self lnfer-
est in the matter, those who have never seen any lights
except those own coast and who have personal
interest the present system This matter which IN
erests every person in society," Tor all have friends who
are be benefited by such OF protection. With our
fast increasing commerce, and coast washed by the
stormy elements oil two oceans, may we not ask that The
mariner shall have at eas, equal protection here as a
ioded him in England Ireland France This subject
has heretofore been lost sight OF in the great of
political strife which absorbs the attention OF our
national councils and the system established forty
years ago has been suffered to exist future for all
back 10 the old style Of lamps made OF when our
fathers lived should be told that improvements bad
been made in Illuminating apparatus since then, and
philosophy had not been idle IN lis endeavors to enght
the babitations well the mind OF man. All know
OF such Improvements, and the needs no Argument
Now, here where millions OF lives and cad
less millions OF property are made dependent IN agreat
measure upon the lighthouses and ght-shlps on our
coast and shall not reason be allowed 70 nod us sway
in perecng and improving this department OF iun'na-
ton or shall be said that America cares more Tor poll
and which should engage The attention OF our states
men in Congress and out OF Congress BY the present
laws and regulations. the ruin Auditor Is delegated with
the general management of the lighthouse department,
under The Secretary OF the Treasury and the collectors
of customs the seveta ports and districts in the
United States, are by virtue Of Their office. delegated
and are therefore superinfeades for such districts Now
all know that the Office OF relationships invariably po-
ltca appointment and though the ncumbents are usually
very excellent business men, they know comparatively
nothing about lighthouse And why should theyl
They certainly in majority oil cases. have had no oppor
tuny to qualify themselves in this important branch OF
science. All other countries have lighthouse board
or trinity of eminent scientific men, whose duty Is TO
manage this entire branch Of business and pro.
posed that the United States should establish board OF
this character simply calling into such service OF
science IRON the navy, army, and survey without
altering prese salaries increasing the annual
penses thereby, while the disbursements are to be Y