The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-16

those OF Great Britain and France.
That, while the superiority Of the European lights
to those OF the United States (arsing from the
greater care and attention bestowed upon them,
the better and more expensive apparatus employ ed
IN the the larger number OF keepers to the lights
the more rigid superintende dence and frequent vsi
tations for inspections and for delivery of supplies)
renders any just comparison OF them in annual cx
pence in money imposaibe; it is shown that the
difference Tor maintenance per lamp per annum Is
very email, and that not invariably in favor of those
OF THE country.
That the towers and buildings have not been
constructed in general of the be5t materials, nor
under the care and supervision OF competent or
faithful engineers.
That the want Of professional knowledge Of the
materials, mortars, cements, &c, &c., for CON
sructon and repairs, iaithfuncss on the part Of
those charged with the duty WAS apparent in nearly
all the modern towers and buildings visited by the
board.
That the present large Gums annually required
for renewing, renovating, and repairing towers
and buildings, are The consequences OF the want Of
an efficient organization, which could atord the
necessary professional ability for plans, drawings,
and superin tending of constructions and repairs.
That the towers deficient il the necessary
proper accommodations for oil and other supplies
In the mode of fitting them up, and in the materi
ais employed for the interior work; and the build
ings i'll adapted to the comfortable accommodation
of the keepers.
That the lanterns are, as general rule. OF i'm
proper dlmcnsous constructed OF Ill adapted, and
IN the end not economical materials without pro-
iessonal or scientific skiI and in many instances,
not suited 10 the use for which they are designed
Ihnt there is no proper system OF ventilation Tor
lanterns.
That the means said to be employed for ventilat-
ing are wholly inadequate, and contrary to true
scientific principles.
That there is very little attention paid to the
painting of the interior of the and astragals
and in glazing.
That, under a well-organized system, the lgh,s
and other aids to navigation, might BE- greatly in
creased in number aud efficiency, at large cav
ing upon the present annual cost.
That there has never been an efficient system
attic plan OF construction illumination, inspection,
and superin,endence Of lights, &c, &c, in the
United States.
That towers and building gs have been constructed
without regard to the wants OF the service, and TO
the peculares OF localities and the special design
OF the lights themselves.
That the lighthouse towers, buildings, and yes
sels visited by the board not, in general,
found to be in credtabe state OF preservation and
repair.
That the inferority of illuminating apparatus in
tn lighthouses OF the United States renders its
newal frequently necessary, at great expense, and
never produces as effective light as it is capable
of making.
That the reflector apparatus employed in the
lighthouses Of the United States is greatly inferior
TO the requirements Of the service, being defective
10 form, materials, and finish.
That the Illuminating apparatus in the United
States ls OF a description now nearly obsolete
apparatus OF that description was employed, prior
10 the introduction of the Fre.nel lenses as sub
sttutes.
That the seacoast reflector lights are, in gene
raj, too low, and deficient in power and range.
That our seacoast reflector lights ara not fitted
with sufficient number OF lamps and rohectors 10
produce the greatest amount of usefulness, which
the imperfect system oi lighting with the rehecors
will produce.
That the lamps and rehcctors are not. as a gene
raj rule, properly placed the frames, due regard
not being paid 10 divergency.
That thc seacoast lights are deficient in proper
attendance with only one keeper
That thcreis no proper classification Of lights In
the United States
That the Hghts not properly and sufficiently
well distinguished along the coast Of the United
States.
That there is no system Of public inspection and
superintendence calculated TO render the lighthouse
establishment moderately useful or efficient.
That The lanterns, illuminating apparatus, &c.
arc not superintendent, while they are being made,
by competent or faithful professional men.
That there are no general or special regulations
Tor keepers and others connected with light
houses, by which 20 insure intelligent or faith
ful performance OF the duties.
That supplies Of all kinds, involving the good
or bad quality Of the lights, 10 great extent,
not tested and selected by competent persons be
lore issuing them TO light keepers.
That there IL not proper degree OF RESPONSE
biity ON the part o. the agents connected with the
lighthouse establishment.
That the present mode OF procuring and distri.
buting supplies, apparatus, sc, is not calculated
TO insure either ebieisncy or economy la the
service.
That contractors are not held under a suffi-
Ciently rigid supcrintendence and inspection dur
ing the execution Of works Of construction and
repair.
That the modern lighthouse towers are info
rior IN point OF materials and workmanship TO
the older ones visited by the board-such. for er-
ample, n. Sandy Hook lighthouse. built in 1907;
! a Hculuueu A
tower. built IN 1871.
That the floating lights Of the United States
are comparatively useless, for want Of efficient
lamps and psrahOlc rehcctors.
That the light-veasels are in general not
adapted 10 the service they arc required ~ per-
form. being defective in size, model, and moor
ings
That the lghi-vessels are not properly dislin-
guisbed either ~ day or by night.
That sufficient regard has not been hsd % the
proposed Of the several lights, TO regulate
their power and range accordingly.
That there IL no effective system by which 10 ar |
- 20 sparsely settled parts Of the coast requiring
ights the means Of bringing the subject before
Congress, and Of deciding In advance OF appropr-
aons the beet descriptions Of lghts TO be placed at
tbo desired points.
That many Of the small lights have an unncccs
ssry number of lamps and rrilcctors. while sea
coast light. arc greatly deficient in them.
That, in the form nd adj ustmcnt Of the rcfcctors,
sufficient attention is not paid 10 the range and
other circumstances Of the required ighis, inyolv.
ing scientific principles.
That there s not, in usofu effect, single first
class light on the coast Of the United States.
That the hghts at Navosink, (tvo lenses,) aud
the second order lens light al saokaty Head arc
the beet lights the coast OF the United Statos.
That there are very few, IL any, reflector lights
on the coasts Of tho United Saos better in uscA,i
effect than TIC third order lcns light (argcr NO
de) erected by the Topog aphicnl Bureau Bran
dywiue shOal, while the economy Of the lens ght
is in the ratio Of at least four to one
That the lens lghs at Sayosink, Ssnkaty
Head, and Brandywine shoa are considered 20
be, as general rule, equal 20 European lights
OF the came classcs.
That the Fresnel lens is greatly superior O.
any other mode Of lighthouse illumination and
in point OF economy is nearly four times as al
yantagoous az the beet system Of rclleotors and
Argand lamps.
That the buoys in the waters Of The United
States arc detective in size, shape. and distnc-
tiOn, rs a general rule, aud that sufficient care
is not taken, nor competent persons employed, to
place, moor, and replace them.
That tho moorngs of buoys not sufficiently
heavy, and the chains not properly tested TO
size and strength.
That the seaeoast lights along the southern
coast from the highlands Of Nsyesink are com.
paratively useess TO tho mariner for want Of suii-
ci,nt power and range.
That The dangerous tons to navigation