The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-09-29


led for, that preliminary surveys are
10 determine the site Of pro.
posed lighthouse or light-boat. beacon
or buoy, or to ascertain more fully what
the public exigency demands, the Secre-
tary of The Treasury shall thereupon
direct the superintendent of the survey
of the coast of the United States, to
perform such duty on the seaboard. and
the colonel of the corps of Topographic
cal engineers to perform such duty on
the northwestern lakes.
Sec 6. And be it further enacted.
That the officers so directed shall forth
with enter upon the discharge of the du-
ty. and, after fully ascertainng the facts,
shall report First, whether the propos-
ed facility to navigation is the most
suitable for the exigency which exists.
Aud second where it should be placed
if the interest of commerce demands it.
Third, if the thing proposed be not the
most suitable, whether it is expedient to
make any other kind of improvement.
Fourth, whether the proposed light has
any connexion with other lights, and if
so. whether it cannot be so located as
to subscrve both the general and the To-
cal wants of trade and navigation And
fifth. whether there be any. and if
any, what other facts of Importance
touching the subject.
See T. And be it further enacted.
That all such reports shall. as speedily
as may be, be laid before the Secretary
of the Treasury and if such as to au-
thorize the work without further leg
islation, he shall forthwith proceed with
it, otherwise such reports shall be laid
before Congress at the next ensuing
session but in all cases where the per-
son designated by the Secretary of the
Treasury does report such preliminary
examination as expedient the provisions
of this act shall without delay be carried
into execution.
Sec s. And be it further enacted,
That the President be and he is hereby.
authorized and required to appoint. i'm
mediately after the passage of this act
two officers of the navy. of high rank
one officer of the corps Of engineers of
the army, one officer of the corps of to-
biographical engineers of the army. and
two civilians of high scientific attain
mcnts. whose services may be at the dis
posal of the President ; and an officer of
tie navy and an officer of the engineers
OF the army as secretaries who shall con-
stitute the Lighthouse Board of the
United States, and shall have power to
adopt such rules and regulations for the
government of their meetings as they
may judge eNpcdient and the board SO
shall be attached to the of
fee OF the Secretary of the Treasury.
and under his superintendent shall dis
charge all the administrative duties of
said office relating to the construction.
illumination. inspection and superinten-
donce of lighthouses, light-vcssels. bea-
cons. buoys, sea-marks, aud their appen-
dages. and embracing the security of
foundations. Of works already existing.
procuring Illuminating and other appar-
atus, supplies and materials of all kinds
for building and for rebuilding when
necessary, and keeping in z cd repair,
the lighthouses. light-vessels, bcacons
aud buoys Of the Uuitcd States
See. 9 And be it further enacted,
That the Secretary of the Treasury
shall be ex-ofiicio President of the Light
house Board of the United States, and
the said board at their first meeting
shall proceed to ballot for one of their
as chairman, and the member
who shall receive the majority of ballots
of the whole board shall be declared by
the President to be chairman of the
Lighthouse Board. who shall. in the abb
sence of the president Of the board. pre-
side over their meetings and do and per
form such acts as may be required by
the rules of the board
Sec. 10. And be it further enacted,
That the Lighthouse Board shall meet
four times i'll each year for the transac.
tion of general and special business,
each meeting to commence on the first
Monday in March, June, September and
December and that the Secretary of
the Treasury is hereby authorized to
convene the Lighthouse Board whenev-
er, in his judgment, the exigencies of the
service may require it
Sec. II. And be it further enacted
That the Secretary of the Treasury be
and he is hereby required, to cause such
clerks as are now emoloycd on light
house duties in the Treasury Department
to be transferred to the Lighthouse
Board without any change of salary
and to provide the necessary accommo
dations for the secretaries and clerks
for the preservation of the archives
models, drawings. &C.. &C.. and for hold.
ing the meetings of the board and that
he cause to be transferred to the proper
officers of the Light-hou Board all the
archives, books, documents. drawings
models, returns, apparatus, sc &c, be
longing to the light house establishment
of the United States.
Sec. II. And be it further enacted
That it shall be the duffy of the Light
house Board, Immediately after being
organized. to arrange the Atlantic, Gulf
Pacific, and Lake coasts Of the United
States into lighthouse districts. not ex
ceeding twelve in number and til,
President is hereby authorized and re
CURED to direct that an officer of tn,
army or navy may be assigned to eacl
district as lighthouse inspector. sub
iect fo and u,dar tho ord a,.s ,f ,1,o 1 II .