The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-28
am now in one of the lines; she was built ex-

DO nations not having reciprocity treaties with
the United States pay any dues? There ia an
ccption to those but what the exception is do not
think can answer; there is an exception.
English ships at present are admitted to the ports
OF the United States on the same terms, as regards
light dues and port charges, us American ships?
Quite the
Do you receive the same reciprocity in the ports
of England? Quite the same; we are on the same
footing.
Can you state what ia the system, aud how the
public lights on the American coast arc managed!
They are managed by persons selected by one OF
the Departments Of the General Government;
whether il is the Home Department, am not able
to say; they are managed under their direction.
and the people employed are paid by the General
Government; that is the term We make use Of al
ways.
BY General Government" you mean vote of
the Congress of Washington! Yes; the act passed
by both Houses Of Congress and the Representa-
lives. Ia that way the act is passed.
DO they vote money for the building as well as
maintaining the lighthouses? They do.
Are buoys, and beacons, and other marks requi-
site for entering the ports equally under the same
management They arc all employed by Govern
ment.
Your ships are not charged with any dues for
bcacons, buoys, or lights? None whatever.
Can you state what expense is incurred by the
General Government for the maintenance OF the
lights? have minute of the appropriation for
the last year. ending 30th June now coming-June,
l545. The appropriation bill for lighthouse estab-
lishInents for the year ending June. lo45, is
-
build new lighthouses, or erect new lighthouses,
30 IA to increase the expense, then they make a
new appropriation every year. The amount in
sterling money is about ES9, ,36l
Can you state how many lights there are on the
coasE We have 50 many lights do not know;
can't exactly state the number; VIC have great
number of lights.
Your lights extend from the main to Flordas
From the main to New Orleans, to the mouth of
the river Mississippi; besides, we have llonting
ligbts.
sound for instance; from Boston, Nantucket Island,
and Long leland sound, it is distance of
hundred and sixty miles; these lights placed
on each side, and can be seen within about fifteen
miles Of each other during that distance, 30 that
never lose sight OF the light in any thing like
common weather.
Docs the Department take charge OF the lights
on the lakes alsof In the same manner; it is the
general department ior lights.
Have you been in any Of the lighthouses? /
have been in some of the lighthouses.
Are they done by refectors? They are done by
refectors principally; lights at pr.sent equal
10 any lights any part Of The ioOrid haze bfc
enabled To our lights at moment, in
any clear weather, when they come above the hori.
zon; the moment they are brought above the hori-
Zon enabled TO see the lights, and no lights
can be seen further.
Captain Washington, K. N, recalled and fur
thcr examined, June 10th, lS45
''Have you any thing TO add, with reference to
the opinion given in your evidence in answer 10
question All, that the English lights might be
maintained at less expense than half the
present gross receipts Of the Trinity House? In
my answers to the concluding questions in my
examination on the 2lst May, declined to enter
into any detail in proof OF my statement that half
the gross cum received by the Trinity board.
namely, t. 155, 900 year in round numbers, would
be sufficient TO support the lights OF this country;
nor shCuld have wished to say another word on
the subjcct, bot have understood that II has been
remarked that had made assertions and failed 10
prove them. acknowledge that at the time only
,t.
sion Of those with whom ! have frequently con-
versed the subject; but having made this public
statement, have leit myself bound to make some
further inquiry.
"with this view, have obtained the last report
to Congress in the United States Of America dated
Sd March. lS45. where find a comparative view
Of the cost of the English, French, and American
lights and light-vessels, which is as ioIiow.:
Shore lights. 1T. Us,'el,.
Average annual cost Of lights
in the United States ....... G202 G636
Average annual cost Of ights
IN FrAncc.................. 2bS
Average annual cost Of lights
in Engllnd.. sol l,3l6
Or upwards Of 200 per cent cheaper in the United
States than in England. iud, in that report TO
Congrees that the United States had 2i2 fixed
ghis and 80 hoatnr lights, the whole cost Of
which was GS5, ,72i. ! find in the same year Eng
land had 90 fixed lights and 25 floating lights, the
whole cost Of which is L l3O, 600, and the gross
ccipts OF the light dues levied 4 90 900, in
round numbers. ! may state, also, as IL may be
said the American ligbts are not as powerful
the English gbis, that find the average reach or
radius Of VISION OF 75 lghts in the United Staes is
10 milcs; that Of the British gbts IL milcf; Of the
elk best lights in the United Slater the radius Of
vision is p Of the SIX best Britsh lights 2S,
find alec the average consumption Of oil per lamp
in the United staics is 80 gallons that Of Eng and
43 gallons"
The lcnse lights the employment Of which in
stoad Of rclcctors IN cur lighthouses is so highly
recommended by Nle.srs. Bacbe and Jenkius, arc
a.. l.asf
two OF the beet lcnso lights Of The FIRST and second
orders. = stated by MIR Frosnol. that they have
ever made, in operation sincc the year 1871 now
nearly six years, and from these VIC know somc
thing Cf.thcir cost, and the difficulty in this coUn-
try, II keeping them in proper order. Besides,
Mr. Frcsnc, the able manager Of the French light
houscs, has furnished me- from time 10 time, my
request, with all tie information IN regard TO the
lcnsc lights which could be dcsirod, with the ep-
ccpton Ut the expense Of repairing the buildings,
which was dosr0us 20 possess, IN order 20 make
a comparison Of the total expense Of their lights
and ours. ln bs communication to me, this branch
OF The information wac overlooked. in July, lss2
reported to Cungrcss tho material and interesting
psit Of the Information bad received from him.
rhis will be found IN House Doc. No "a, ~ scs-
sion of the 9th COngrcss. Since that period Mr..
Frcsncl forwarded 90 me luil description of the
ilerout orders Of lcnses, and OF the lamps con
ucCtcd with them, With directions 60 keepers for
The management of thcIn This work caused 10
be translated the plates engraved and printed, and
With II every member OF the Committees OF Com
Dcrco OF byth Houses to he furnished at the last
scssion. had occasiOu in the year lSi5 to make a
compsrisOn of the expense attending the above two
lcnsc lights with that attending the Sandy Hook
reflector ICbts, where there arc thirty-twO lamps
IN u-c. lt is as follows:
Expenses OF NcvCrsink
hchis consisting Of two
frouCh lcnscs, one of the
fret order, with n lamp of
four cunCcntric wicks,
and the other Of the
ond order, with lamp ui
three concentfic Wicks, in
the year lSfi oil con
cum, q, 5-9} winter )l2
summer, making toRcth-
cr - gallons, at : L., 1872 90
Keepers salaries, cay one az
600 dollafs, and iour
sistants at 800 dollars
oach................... 900 90
pairs s.................. 4g7 73
-- $4,000 10
The reflector lighthouses at
Sandy Hook, ,,onsisungoi
one lighthouse, with Is
rCilt ctors, burning Ar
gand latnps; and = bca.
con lisbts, WITH reflect
orstath, burning the samc
hind Of lamps. in all -