The daily union., 1852-09-16

expensive as the English system in a very few years.
and which, II adopted now. must be adopted here with.
out investigation without discussion, and without that
preliminary examination which is necessary for such
subject II is the purpose OF the Committee Com
merce TO lei these sections be stricken out and another
session OF Congress 10 report bill in detail, which
shall remove some OF the objections which, D their opn
ion, exist TO these sections, and which they would have
done at this late hour if il could have received that
ienlon before the Senate which they believe it merits
For these reasons, it was believed by your committee
that il better TO strike out these sections rather than
prematurely adopt such system do not propose TO
discuss the question now do not propose TO go into
the details OF IL but ask the Senate carefully TO
slider whether is not better to postpone this matter until
can receive the sanction OF It's committee ask
the Senate il not better il il is not proper, that
our Legislation should be marked by such course than
be guided by the outside pressure OF army and navy Off
GERS; Tor see them all around me now | am for
board, but am not for that is to be controlled alto
geiter by army and navy officers. am Tor incorporating
i'd many scientific officers necessary; but am
not for system that shall be built up and placed solely
under their control will at the proper time aid most
cheerfully and fully in perfecng board which shall
meet the approval OF senators.
Mr.. CASS. AS 10 the external pressure here, have
only say that have not talked with army navy
officer This subject the floor OF the Senate. There
is great deal OF reason in what the senator says.
think the present system is wrong know there ought
to be change know the system has outgrown the
present means OF controlling IT, But If the honorable
mee disposed at the next session to take the sub
ject, and give us proper system am disposed to SUBJ
init to that
MIR WELLER We would better begin now.
Mr. DAVIS. Ii nobody else brings forward at the
next session bill TO remedy the SYSTEM shall pledge
myself to do it, agree with the senator from Maine
Mr. HAMLIN. pledge myself that | will take up
the subject and present BILL and with the
tor most cordially in perfeciing the system.
Mr. CASS. | wish TO remark that, far respects
the board, would not put two civilians upon II. do
not think it necessary. We would better 60 to the Off.
GERS OF the army and navy, who already paid and
take the members OF the board from them,
Mr. DAVIS. l have bestowed some attention upon
this subject Some ago made report TO the SEN
ate, in which threw out the idea that system could
be adopted simple in ITS character inexpensive, and yet
efficient think still but, the senator from Maine
observes, although the subject has been in the hands OF
two commlees-one in the House and in the Sen.
ateand although the lighthouse board, appointed under
the act of last session, has written book OF some
hundred or eight hundred pages upon IT, neither OF these
committees is prepared TO report upon the subject The
sections which propose to strike out inserted IN
the bill by the House Of Representatives on the motion
of some gentleman who had given his attention to the
subject | think would better wait and mature bill
which may be something like maured measure,
economical, just, and efficient in its character and for
that further time is necessary.
Mr. PEARCE. The next session is Sc sson OF three
months duration understand that this bill drawn
by the light house board, and laid before the Committee
the senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. DAvIs,l who,
he has said paid attention TO the subject many years
ago- think as far back as fourteen years. That
made report upon this subject in which he shows very
satisfactorily the netclency OF The present system The
light house board which was constituted at the last ses-
sion OF Congress. have examined the subject most thor
ough and have made report to No read
that report or even portion OF II, without coming TO The
conclusion that our present SYSTEM II system 1t can be
practical organization here The system has avail
ed itself OF any OF the improvements that have been
adopted in other countries II improvements have been
adopted, they have been forced upon BY legislative ao
ton, when, by an act OF Congress- compelled the
adoption OF the lens lights in OF northern light
houses. II is admitted not only by the light house board
hat hu fha nj ha hy Tho
late Secretary OF the Treasury, and by gentlemen adma
bly, qualified 10 determine upon the subecsuch Pro-
lessor Pierce Of Haryardhs our system does not Sc
efficiency in The lights; that it does not compare IA
voraby with the light house systems Of other countries,
and does not supply the requirements OF navigation and
commerce and the wants OF humanity.
The lighthouses themselves no, constructed prop
ery il stated that some OF the best lighthouses
in the United States those which constructed
by the British government before the revolution. The
light house at Sandy Hook for instance, built by
the British in 1892, and is now standing permanent
strucure while light houses which have been built
under the present system since 1885, have fallen down.
The board reports that they deficient in consruc-
lion, and in the defence OF the present fifth auditor
what is enough 10 satisfy that the bricks and mortar
are not put together in way which a man oil common
would know 10 be necessary for them Then the
lights used not improved They are not those which
secure the greatest use OF the light which may be de-
rived from the consumption OF much oil They have
adopted in England, France, Russia and Sweden, and
other places the lens system the advantage oil which
this lq common light twenty nine thlnIeths OF The
light s lost by its going up into the atmosphere striking
down TO the earth only nelhrteth striking the hori-
zon 10 the eye Of the navigator Thatis the loss OF
light unaded. The lights aided by refectors lose only
twenty five thirtieths That is Improvement OF four
threths by the adoption OF the reflector system Under
the lens systematic reractng system-ibe dioptric
tem-tbe light loses but hveihrtietbs. 1t has much
greater intensity therefore, than the light IN the other
cases The superiority OF the lens system over the
ector is exactly much Of the reflector system over
the unaided light. That is important consideration.
II important in order get sufficient amoun, OF light
with economy. In these refeciors you have so many
lamps and many rehecors TO give the same available
light with one lamp and lens and in this way you IN
the consumption OF the oil see that this report
of the lighthouse board gives the summing up OF the
whole affair in regard 10 system, part oil which
will read, instead OF giving il in my own language They
say:
"That the towers and bndngs have not been constructed
OF the best materials, under the and
pervision OF competent or faithful engineers.
"That the OF professional knowledge OF the mate
als, mortars, cemens &c &c, for the construction and
duty apparent nearly all the modern and
buildings visited by the board
That the present large annually required Tor re-
newinq, renovatng, and repairing and buildings,
ton which could afford the necessary professional ability
for plans, drawings, and experimenting OF constructions
and repairs
"That deficient In the necessary proper
ACCOMMODATIONS for oil and other suppes In the mode OF
Auinp them D. in the materials ploye for the in
terror work and the buildings III pied the comlora
bic accommodation OF the keepers.
"That the lanterns general rule OF improper dl-
menson constructed of sdapted, and In the end not
economical, materials. without professional scientific
skill aud, many instances, suited to the use or
which they designed.
That there is no proper system Of ventilation for Ian