The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-16
No. 20S.


SC. Sc.
That lights and other aids to navigat II arc pro-
vided, as general rule, through the action OF
Congress upon petitions emanating from persons
having local interest or from boards II pilots, in
surance Offices, chambers OF commerce, &c., &c.
That under proper organization the oitcers Of
the lighthouse establishment would collect infOr-
nation from reliable sources, decide upon the
doubtful! points, and recommend 10 Congress all
cascs Of sufficient importance TO warrant appro-
priations.
That the approaches TO some of our principal aud
most important harbore, bays, &c, not suf
GENTLY lighted aud marked to render steam nav
CATION rapid, easy, and sale, as the wants OF
commerce demand, especially to New York, Dela
ware, and Chesapeake bays and some OF their tr
butaries.
That the duty OF lighting and marking with bca-
cons, buoys, aud seanark5 our extended sea, lake,
gulf bay, sound, and river coast, efficiently and
economically, can only be performed by persons
OF professional experience and undoubted ability
upon sys.ematic plan, based upon the principles
Of the most approved lighthouse engineering.
That there Is no efficient system of inspection
and auperinendcncc oflighis in the United S,ates.
That the igbt-keepers in many casca are not
competent, and IN no instances have they hcca in
strHctcd in reference to their duties, nor xamincd
to ascertain their ability to periorm the duties
faithfully.
That the supplies Of oil, chmneys. wicks, SC,
&c, are not tested aud selected with Sufficient
care, or by competent or faithful agents.
That there is no proper system OF distributing
the supplies to light keepers,
That proper attention is not given to purchasing
and distributing supplies,
That the cleaning powder used in our lighthouses
IS Injurious TO the rehectors, and not such az Is
used IN other lgnihouse establishments; and other
articles are equally defective.
ihat there Is no system IN the management OF
the lighthouse establishment OF the United states.
That the instruc tons TO hght-keepers to light,
trim, ana exunguish tue nights at certain specified
times not enforced, 20 the detriIncnt of the
vice, ana TO the Imminent risk OF endangering
vessels III tnelr vicinity.
lhat such knowledge Is not impaired to light
Keepers, as general ruie, to enable them to keep
their lamps, burners, retiectors, and lanterns III
such order as to insure the beet lights from the
lstIng apparatus.
That frequent and rigid inspections and super
lntendence by competent persons are necessary TO
insure en- ethcIent and economical lighthouse ser
vice
That competent keepers, Responsible to The Gov
ernnent through inspectors, are indispensable 10
insure good lights at al! times.
That snPpiies are not delivered at sufficiently
short intervals oi time TO the lights.
That the present mode Of repairing illuminating
apparatus, ol-tanks &c, &c, Id not economical,
efficient or reliable.
That the removal and replacing OF light vessels,
the extinguishnent or lighting OF lights. removal
or placing OF huoys, &C or IN any manner chang
ing lights and other aide 10 navigation. without
giving ample notices, are subjects Of grave com
plants
That there is 10 good reason why the light
constructed and moorcd) should not remain al
their moorinss under as unfavorable circumstances
as those on the coasts OF England and Ireland.
That whenever hght-vessels are reported TO have
parted their moorlngs, the circumstanccs attend
ing them should be carefully investigated by com
petent and disinterested persons, aud the result
made known.
That the erection OF lighthouse towers OF a uni
form height, without regard 10 the elevation OF the
land upon which they are placed, is contrary to
the fret principles OF lighthouse engineering in
yolying, IN situations of great natural elevations
above the level Of the sea, unnecessary expense,
and on low coasts the ineihciency OF the light for
want OF sufficient range
That due regard has not been had 10 the wants Of
commerce IN selecung cites Tor lights along the
coasts OF the United sates
That, Tor waat OF proper systeIn IN this branch
Of the public service, the dcnse y-populaled coass
have a supcrabundnnce Of lights. TO the injury Of
Navigation, while on the sparsely- -sctilcd coasts
bounding the great outlet TO 'he millions OF com
fnercc from the valley Of the Missssippi and its
trlbut1nes Tor hundreds oi Inies there Is not sin
gle light.
That lighthouse construction, illumination, in
sPcoton, and suPerintendenre, involve large
amount ot special and general professional know
ledge oil high character, and therefore should
only be entrusted 20 The most competent probes
sional persons
That competent engineers have not been en-
ployed, except IN iow instances, 10 plan and
supenn'end the constf uctlon and htung up ol The
hghthouses OF the onheo sia'cs'
ihat uie iargc amounts required hhnually 10 re-
PAIR and Keep In good order the towers, bulldings,
vessels, and illuminating apparatus OF the hghts in
the United statcs' u atlouiabio 10 the manner IN
which toe work was creeuted, and TO the inieriorty
oi we materials 'inp4oyed.
That large sums arc now required TO preserve
ionndauons oi hghi 'o~ers' sea saIis, &c which
might nave been saved by me ndopuon, by com
pctcnt 'nginecrs' OI proper plans aud FOUNDATIONS
Tor them.
lhat no ayEcmaiicoi ana economical plan OF
construction mas bcen employed IN The lighthouse
ostabhshment
That changes arc constantly taking place IN the
aids 10 navlgaugn' without any oicial notice being
given To The pubic oi them, which are calculated
10 m'sienh mariners.
lhet 'hcre y no proper system OF bcaconaEc and
buoyage' nor any net oi thein, by which the navi
gator VINO ls not familiar win the coast can derive
any Dencht'
lha' the hst oi hgh'houses and hght-Nesscls D
dcicohVe IN many rcspectsi ana ~ az present NJ
f0rds very little iniormaiion 10 thc navigator, and
l., IN some respects, erroneous
ihat 1icte - no I'sui'' sys'eihaNe " enecuv-
inodo on FNihg ho.oe W mariners % proposed
: mango ~ nghs, So Ss.' Or 9i any mat may
nave nave ocen ueeuOyeu or removed by the acton OF
'ne sea OF Nlhus'
ihs' 'nc OuOy .afe ho' properly palh'cd accCfdlng
W isN hoI arc th-y III otutf respects properly as-