The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-04

From The Un. ion
Impro v eme nts I'm Lighthouse illumination.
On page of Executive Document No. Ia, I'd
session Stat Congress blouse of Represen tatives
part of the testimony OF Captain George MORE
before the select committee Of the House Of Com
mons OF Great Britain (ordered to be printed lst
August, lS45) 10 given to prove that our lights
the ssaboard or lakes seen far the British
lights Of the same class and in Executive Docu-
ment No. 80, 32d Congress, lst session (Housc of
Representatives on pages 10, and ~, part Of
the testimony of the same Capt George Moore Is
quoted as also portion of the testimony Of Capt
Washington, Of the British navy.
II is due to truth and to the memory of the late
Capt. George Moore (whether his opportunities
and ability TO furnish evidence on this important
subject-which must have been quoted for the pur-
pose Of destroying the effect Of the opinions given
and facts furnished by others engaged in making
voyages to Europe and esewhere-were such to
render them worthy Of implicit credence or no)
that his whole story should be told in his words
as recorded in the minutes Of evidence contained
in the report referred 20.
Ii is equally due to truth and to the high profess
sional and scientific reputation Of Captain Wash
ington, X. N, one Of the most distinguished OH
Gers OF the British navy-who merits the thanks OF
every seaman and every individual in any way in
terested in commerce and navigation everywhere,
for his untiring cxertions TO render the lights and
other aids to navigation on the COASTS OF Great Br
tain as efficient as science and the mechanic arts
will permit, and for the great ability with which
he has executed the arduous duties deyolved upon
him as a hydrographer-thnt all OF his testimony
on the subject OF British and United States lights
should be given, Gas only portion OF 1t has been
quoted, and that, far it bears at all upon the
subject, was quoted by him from an executive doc
ument from the office Of this Government charged
with the management Of lights, &c;) SO that, not
only his opinions may have their full weight. but
that the supposed facts upon which he based them
may be understood
In the first document referred to Captain Moore's
testimony is given without the talcs; and az it
IL in the original, in document No. 80, with the
italics, as follows:
care they done by refiectors? They done by
rehectors principally. Our lights present are equal
to any lights in any pant Of the ,corid haze tuer
been in. We are enabled to our lights at a mo-
ment. in any clear weather, when they come above
the horizon; the moment they are brought above
the horson We are enabled to see the lights, and
no lights can be seen further"
In document No. 50 the questions and answers,
although not numbered. correspond to Nos ,l64
to lS4 inclusive, and No. 1856 is the question and
answer just quoted, but no part Of it in italics
Then the following questions and answers are
omitted in the documents Nos. IA and IS, viz:
r,ls6. Do you consider our English lights as
good your American lights? ! consider them
quite as good; if there is balance, should con-
slider it little in favor of the English lights.
"l,lS7. Do you any of thu Scotch lights in
making this coast? Notin coming to London.
"l,lSS. Mr.. Chapman. Are you aware Com
modore Perry, of the American navy, came over
here few years ago? ! am personally acquainted
with him, and was with him at the time for the
purpose Of looking after the lights; since that time
our lights are equal to the English lights, or nearly
30, in effect; the lights cannot be seen before they
come upon the horizon
"l,lS9. Are the committee to understand, since
Commodore Perry's visit, that the American lights
have been improved? Decidedly
The remainder of Captain Moore's testimony re-
lates to other matters than a comparison of the
English and United States lights.
In document No. 80. referred to, the following
extract from Captain Washington's testimony FOL
lows, without explanation, the last word (''fur
ther") of question and answer l,ls5, in Captain
Moore's testimony;
"Captain Washington, X. NJ, recalled and fur
Their examined. June 10, lS45.
slave you any thing to add with reference to
the opinion given in your evidence in answer to
question 2,4ll, that the English lights might be
maintained at less expense than one half the pre-
sent gross receipts of the Trinity house? In my
answers to the concluding questions in my exami-
nation on the 2lst of May, declined to enter into
any detail in proof OF my statement that halt the
gross sum received by the Trinity board-namely,
E255 900 year in round numbers-would he suf-
icient to support the lights Of this country; nor
should have wished to say another word on the
subject, but ] have understood that il has been
| marked that had made assertions and failed to
prove, them. / acknowledge that, at the time
only gave my own general impression, and the
| impression OF those with whom i have frequently
convcrsed on the subject; but, having made this
public statement, have felt myself bound to make
some further inquiry. With this view, have OBJ
tanned the last report to Congress in the United
d,
find comparative view Of the cost Of the English,
French, and American lights and lght-vessels,
which is as follows:
Shore Light
Lights. Vesseis
| Average annual cost of lights in the
United States. Observation-Disclosures. E202 1850
Average annual cost Of lights in
France. .......s.............. 2tS
Average annual cost Of lights in
England ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5O4 1876
Or upwards of two hundred per cent. cheaper in
the United States than in England.
al find in that report to Congress that the United
States had 242 Fl ed lgbts, and 80 loan lights, the
whole cost of which was fS5,724 find in the same
year England had 66 fixed lighs, and % floating
lights, the whole cost OF which is 6O0 and the
gross receipts of the light dues levied El96000
in round numbers. | may state also, as IL may be
said the American lights not 30 powerful as the
English lights, that find the average reach or ra-
dius OF vision of rs lights in the United States is 10
miles; that Of the Britsh lights Ia mics OF the six
best beat lights in the United States the radius of
vision 10 III; Of the six best British lights 2s. !
find. also, the average consumption Of oil per limp
in the United States is 80 galons that OF England
40 gallons"
Here the quotation from Captain Washin gton's
testimony, in document No. 80, ends. Captain
W., however, continued reported in the English
report. page 276, question and answer, No. 4,F4,
thus:
"From the report Of the French lighthouses
find that rapcseed oil Ia used throughout France,
and that the coat Of rapcseed oil in England is
hthiy bali tto-i VI rpef III IL ~ pc OuJetpN
that rapesced oil does not give so good light as
the sperm, would refer to Cape Griz Nez light;
and il ia notorious that about four years ago, on
the occasion of the wreck of the Reliance and the
Conqueror their loss attributed to the superior
brihancy OF the Grz Nez light over the English
ligh,s. Nov, although know that was not the
fact, and that they were lost from other causes,
still II shows the general impression upon sailors
minds as TO the brlancy Of the French lights, and
that they cannot be considered in any way inferior
10 the English"
Questions and answers 4. a76 10 4.4sl, inclusive,
relate especially to the French and English lights,
and to the two oils-epcrmaceti and coza--of much
interest, but not included here because they have
no bearing on the relative expense and efficiency
OF the lights in England aud the United States:
'4,4S2. Arc you aware whether the floating
lights in America are placed in as dangerous stu
atoms at zen ss the hghts upon this COAST No,
not aware, only took the general average.
"4,as2. Mr.. Chapman. lave you had an oppor-
tunity Of Inspecting the American lghts2 Not
since the year 1919. hive stated that knew no