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


lights requiring TO be renovated either by reason Of
| deficient power Of defective apparatus
| That the board respectfully recommend to the
honorable Secretary of the Treasury, TO direct that
peuding the future action OF Congress on the sub
ject of lighthouse improvements, the 7h section Of
the act making appropriations for lighthouses,
light boats buoys, &C., approved March 81. 1851 /,
"SEc. T. Ind belt further enacted That hereafter
In II! new lighthouses in all lighthouses requiring
new lighting apparatus, and in all lighthouses
yet unsuppiicd with Illuminating apparatus the
lens, Fresne system. shall be adopted. il, in The
opinion Of thc Secretary OF the Treasury. the public
interest will be subsetved thereby" bc strictly
carried out, and that the necessary Illuminating
apparatus TO fit up the lighthouses authorized
TO be built shall be Of the iens system.
That rigid and frequcn. inspection and super
intendence by competent persons 10 essential to
efficient lighthouse establishment; and the board
therefore, recommend the appointment from the
army and navy of suitable number of inspectors
for the lights and their accessories throughout the
United States
That the present lightho Sc establishment re-
quires thorough organization to insure to the
vice efficiency and eoonomy and therefore the
board recommend The organization Of n lighthouse
board to be composed OF scientific eIvans, army
and navy officers, to be charged, by law, with the
entire management of the lighthouse establish
ment Of the United States.
That all seacoast and other Is. class lights should
have not css than two keepers, including all let
and "a order lens lights.
That all constructions, renovations and repairs
of towers and buildings, be hereafter made upon
the plans, estimates and drawings, and under the
personal supcrincndence Of officer Of engineers
Of the army, in conformity to the 9th section of tho
act making appropriations Tor lighthouses, hight
boats, buoys. &c; approved March 3, 1851
That the lanterns, and all apparatus for illumi-
nation, ventilation, &C., &c bc constructed under
the personal auperintcndencc of an officer Of engi
| neers OF the army.
That the seacoast lights be increased in power
and range.
That all light.yesscs not yet fitted with illumi.
mating apparatus requiring 10 be renovated, and
all that may hereafter be authorized by law, be
fitted with the best system of lamps and parabolic
refcctors both for fixed and revolving lights
That more attention be given to the subject of
models for light vesse!s, constructing and moorng
them 90 as to give greater assurance to the nayi.
gator that they will tc always found in ,sition.
That light vessels be painted and fitted with dis
inguishing marks by day TO enable the mariner to
know thcm without difficulty.
That there be n uniformity in painting, mark
ing and distin gushing beacons; aud that one
be allowed to change the color or distinguishing
marks Of any beacon, seamark, OF lighthouse, with
out authority from the proper oihce at Washington.
and after ample notice shall have been given
through the medium Of the commercial papers OF
greatest circulation aud by placnrds distributed at
the different custom houses, both at home and
abroad, and among consuis and commercial agents
of maritime nations.
Tha. the buoys be made in size to suLserve their
proposed purpose, and that different shapes be en-
ploycd for different channels, dangers, &c, &c.
make frequent inspections OF the lights and other
aids to navigation along the entire coast.
That supplies Of all kinds undergo most rigid
test and scrutiny, BY professional person OF high
moral and social standing, before issuing them to
light keepers.
That Ii ght- keepers undergo an examination be-
fore being placed in charge Of any light, and that
they be instructed by competent person upon the
detail Of all the duties confded to them.
That instructions, rules. and regulations, cm-
bracng every point of duty, be drawn up in clear.
plain, and explicit terms. suited to the capacities
Of the persons for whose benefit they prepared.
ans distributed TO the light keepers and o,bers
connected with the scrvice that the general rules
and regulations be printed in large type with con-
spicuous headings and framed, so that the keepers
may always have nccess TO them; and those morc
in detail be well bound, and the keepers required
torsnsicr them TO their SUCCESSORS they lssvo
the lghts.
That frequent and rigid inspections Of lights By
districts be made by competent professional men,
and that they make regular returns to the bend Of
the Lighthouse department
That the keepers be required to keep meteorolog-
ical and tidal registers in addition to the necessary
returns OF the daily consumption OF oil and other
supplies.
That no lighthouse keeper be appointed who
cannot read and write, and is not in other respects
competent 10 the faithful discharge Of the dutes.
TIA, mode Of supplying persons employed at
lights on rocks, or other isolated points, on board
Of light vessels, &c &c, with rations, to enable
them 10 devote their entire time and attention TO
The dutics shOuid be adop'cd
That light keepers be required 10 devote their en-
tire time and attention 20 their duties on pain of
dismissai; and in no case should keeper be al
lowed 70 follow any other vocation to the neglect OF
the light.
Tha, no keeper be allowed 10 be absent from the
light withoutn positive written permission from tho
district inspector.
That no ono but regularly appointed keeper,
and hs assistant or assistants, be permitted 20 at
tend 70 the epparatus, lighting, &C. &c, of light
That the best cleaning powders, rags, & c., trim
ming scissors and other necessary articles for keep
ing good hghts, be furnished 20 the keepers; and
that they be instructed that. under pretext,
should they employ any other means for keeping
their apparatus in good order than those pointed
cut In the printed instructions from the Depart
mout.
That proper curtains be provided for the appars-
tus OF each lighthouse, &c.
That liEht-ycssels never be removed from their
stations for repair without first placing substitute,
and, IN the event Of light vessel parting her
lngs, then that position be occupied without delay
by substitute.
That proper lists for the supply of each clasa of
lighthouse, according 10 order or number of lamps,
be made, and the pcrsou charged with The delivery
OF supplics be guided by II alone, without any die.
cretOnary power 60 increase, lessen, change the
quantity ol articles 60 be on hand ON a certain day
That all the articles Of supplies be selected and
tested by persons Of professional ability and stand
That thc necessary steps be taken, without dc.
lay o ascertain what additional aids 70 navigation
"i' necessary ln thC Jays ui New YORK, Delaware.
and Chesapeake. aud their tributaries. to enable
stenmots and other vessels 10 enter them at light
and proceed direct 10 tbeir destination.
T0at hcrcaiier buoys. required 70 be placed over
newly discovered shOss, over vessels wrecked
in o. near channels, or where they may cndangcr
vessels be paced without delay, aud the expense
bo d,haycd rum the general appropriations for
buoys.
That larger and better distinguished buoys bo
rlaccd to mark thc channels Of our principal haya
md harbOrs, especially New York bar aud bay.
Delaware and Chesapeake bays, &c.
That appropriations be asked foe two fret class
lght-ysss,ls, 70 be fitted up in nc best manner
with the most approved reflector or refracor appa-
iaus, aud with proper distinguishing ehsrac iors-
cs; one for the South shoals oil Nantucket and the
other or Frying pan shoals, OF Cape Fear to be
placed in the best positions f0r aiding uavigators,
under the direction of the Superintendent Of tho
Coast Survey.
That appropriations be asked for renovating, and
for firstordcr lens apparatus for the hgh,s at Cape
Hattcras, North Carolina; Cape Florida, Florida;
Dry TOrtogas, Florida; Cape Canayeral, Florida:
Cape Roman, South Carolina, Fire island inlet.
New York; Cape Hcnlopcn, Delaware; Cape Henry,
Virginia; Cay Head, hiasssc hosetts; Montauk