The daily union., 1852-09-16

tleman who has devoted many years OF his lie to the
investigation oi this subject and uon whose Judgment
as much confidence as have IN my friends from Massa;
chuselts and Maine, Tor one an willing to reply unul
experience shows that there fault IN the system
which has passed the House
/ The senator from Massachusetts says that the lights
used IN the French system are much more expensiye and
that they unnecessary, except at points going
out into the His argument that account, against
the proprey OF establishing the board il il amounts TO
anything must 20 further He must suppose that that
&C enthc board will do what he says is and
put these expensive lights where they are not important
to be put. He asks willing TO adopt this French
system OF lights when there is not single factory
of the lenses in this country Now, apprehend that i
be necessary 10 adopt that system, the effect Of il will
be 10 establish such manuactory IN our own country,
aud not 10 leave dependent upon the French Tor any
thing that has been manufactured by the ingenuity OF
man is unknown where the Americans have not been
able compete with the OF the world, when il be-
came necessary SO lar from being dependent upon
France we adopt the system, we shall have manuiac
tories OF the article here in few years surprising those
which are in France. can ses no possible reason for
the posponemen OF the subject and was sorry hear
my friend from Michigan Mr. CAss giving in it, after
he had asserted that the system under which now
MI DAVIS. If the Senate wants little ioreaste Of
what these boards do. will refer 10 the lighthouse
penses under the English system. hold in my hand an
official letter addressed 10 the British government by our
minister at London in 1850 this subject He states
that the A American mail steamers entering at Liverpool
That is, every time when OF mail steamers enters
the port OF Liverpool she pays 5000 in light dues and
years the English light house board 10 support their sys
TEN, have collected from our commerce upwards OF
$l;ioo,oo@oo 600 hold the evidence Of j in my hand
Mr.. BRODHEAD. Howdo you propose to remedy it,.
Mr DAVIS do not propose to remedy that | only
state these facts TO show that the system enormously
expensive; that il is vastly expensive than ours;
and yet gentlemen wish to initiate France and England,
and to follow the system carried throu their
mentality. instead Of following the simple customs and
usages which belong to government. They propose
wit rda Aft III
fashion OF the middle ages say that your experience
with boards tells you that they inefficient and
OF the system and nothing else to carry your business
we have no time repeat to organize this system
pTopsTy canno. ns done HSdcoasy and with
necessary, am for them. am from commercial part
Of The country, and want good lights as anybody.
There is no, portion OF the country tina, has ships
and more tonnage afoa in proportion to their population
and wealth, than the State Of Massachusetts, am
fore, the last man to stand in the way OF any improve
ments but wish TO act deliberately upon this subject
and in such way that can vindicate my conduct
Mr.. MALLORY. The State which | represent has
some fifteen hundred miles of coast and dangerous
navigation, We have strongly ielt for twenty years
the want of proper system OF lighting coast II is
one oil the most important subjects that come before
Congress Its Importance has been somewhat exemp!-
he'd by the extraordinary volume which has been pub
shed by the board OF in size,
mean. have not had time 10 examine it since it has
been submitted TO Congress-; but The very fact thai the
board of examiners have found it expedent, in order
show the Importance OF the subject, to publish volume
OF that sze that we should not hastily adopt legs
aton OF this kind without nvesigaing what they hare
written. have had practical knowledge of light
houses. have had the control and charge OF them.
have procured their oil and appointed their keepers. and
have made practical examination OF them Tor years.
and therefore know something OF the importance OF the
subect and am free TO say, II the Fresnel lamp is 10
be adopted generally in lighthouses the expense OF
lighting our coast will be increased in the nexten years
to 10000 will give example OF the expense of
this kind OF lights One OF the best light houses the
coast of America-the light house the Torugas, on
the coast of Forida--has been rehted with the first
class twentyone inch lens, with thrtyone inch glass;
Its light be as far the curvature OF the earth
will permit By soop-of-war it can be seen from the
fore yard twenty two miles, Ii pronounced to be
of the best lights in the world That light cost about
$4,000. similar apparatus has been put up by the to-
biographical corps al the screw pile light Carysfort
reef We have the report OF ogaphical officer upon
that light, and he pronounced 10 be one OF the best
lights the country Ii can be far the curva
specon OF the lights on that coast, that they
constructed, they like great bonfres upon the
as far as they can be seen. 81.
Undoubtedly there are points where the Fresnel lamp
absolutely necessary, where net count the cost
in establishing it, The light at the Duy roriugas Of
this class. The Fresnel light itself Carysto reel cost
by contract in France $4,000 without The
which il is placed We have appropriated 100000 for
erecting il We appropriated 100000 a few days ago.
and $40 900 have already been expended making The
cost OF the tower alone about 100000 But the cost of
the lighthouses where they necessary should not
enter into controversy The money must be expended If
they are essential
am free TO admit that this matter OF lighting the coast
needs examination and systematzng. But, sir, | can
tell you, whatever evidence may be in that book, that
there must be other evidence the subject in the
Office OF the fifth auditor OF the treasury There must be
registers kept there OF the opinions OF the FIRST ship
ers in the country which filed in the custom bouses.
showing THEN opinion OF our lights have examined
some OF them II s common thing TO hear Amer
lean ship masters classify first class lights with the
first class lights of England and France There is no
comparison IN regard to economy. Ours IL the most
economical system earth. No, only is il more
that of England When Fresnel light is established it
requires two keepers. They must be mechanics, who
understand the machinery OF the lights and its working
and you cannot get them for small salary. They will
for $500 year. because they get ese-
where The first cost Of the lighting by this system will
be immense grant II is the best system in the end but
in the beginning II is very expensive.
Mr. DAVIS. Will the senator allow me TO make
suggestion Since the introduction OF the relectos at
Boston, refecors have been exceedingly well made in
this couny-as well as in any other-and econom-
icaily
Mr. MALLORY Yes, sir we have the best reflect.
which used and the paraboc reflector Of twenty
inches will show you the light far as The
ture OF the earth will permit There is urgent
sy for adopting the system proposed by the House.
There is urgent necessity for the board and
TO be exceedingly strange, when such is the case
report; without having opportunity TO examine il,
hastily TO adopt board Of this kind, We can make i'm
provements without establishing such board. We
in the habit OF specially legislang fof lighthouses We
legislaed specially for The light houses Mnots ledge
and Caysor reef directed that they should be con
sruced by the Typographical corps We frequently take
particular lighthouses out oil the general system There