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

commended $50
Of Jaw TO be attached 10 the Treasury Department,
with power TO provide rules and regulations ior
their meetings and proceedings, ana ior oisoha's
ing under the superintendent oil the secretary OF
the Treasury, all the duties aPPertaining TO the |
mana q ment, maintenance, repair renovation IL
lumi nation, inspection, superintenuence, ana CON
straction of lighthouses, light vessels, bes.ohs'
Euoys, and their appendages IN the United Stales /
That the Secretary of the Treasury, as ex-cihcio |
president, with two officers OF the navy OF high
rank; officer Of the corps OF engineers OF the
army, one officer OF the corps OF Topographica In
yincers OF the army; and two civilians, OF high |
scientific aitainments. whose services may be at the
sposal OF the President members; and an officer
If the navy, and officer OF engineers OF the army
as secretaries, shall constitute the lighthouse board
OF the United States.
That the lighthouse board be authorized TO ap |
point their chairman, TO preside during the absence
Of the president, and perform such other duties as
may be rcquiI cd by their rules and regu atoms
That the lighthouse board be authorized to pre-
pare such rules and regulations as snail De heces
rary for securing an efficient, uniform, and econo
mcal system Of lighthouse administration, and for
securing responsibility in the inspectors, keepers
aud others connected with the Lighthouse service,
subject to the approval Of the Secretary of the Tfea
sury, aud which, when approved, shall be respected
and obcyed until altered or revoked by the same |
authority
tour times a year, and subject TO be convened by
the Secretary Of the Treasury whenever. in his
Judgment, 1t may be necessary for the transaction
Of general special buEiDcss, majority OF whom
rilttl constitute quorum
That such clerks as are now employed on light
house duties in the Treasury Department may be
transferred to the lighthouse board without any IN
crease Of salaries; that the necessary accommoda-
tons for the cierks secretaries Tor the preservation
of the archives, drawings, &c &c, and FOR hold
ing tn meetings Of the board, be provided IN the
Treasury Department
That all archives, books drawings, models, &c.
Sc, belonging 10 the lighthouse establishment,
may be transferred to the lighthouse board, for
their use, in the discharge OF their duties.
That the President Le authorized and required to
appoint from the army or navy an inspector oi
lighia beacons, buoys. &c., FOR each lighthouse
district, to be arranged 10y the board, with the APP
prevail Of the Secretary OF the Treasury, which IN
spec shall be under the orders oi the lighthouse
board.
That the lighthouse board be authorized to pre-
pare and distribute among the lighthouse keepers,
inspectors, and others connected with the hight
house establishment, such rules, regulations and
instructions may lie necessary to secure an ell
cient, uniform, and economical system Of admin
istering the lighthouse establishment OF the United
State5 and To secure responsibility from them.
That the lighthouse board be authorized and re-
quire 10 cause 10 be prepared by the engineer
secretary of the Board, or by such officer OF engi-
nctrs OF the army may be detailed for that
service, all plans, drawings. specifications, and es-
Inmates Of cost, Of al! illuminating, and other APP
paratus, and of construction and repair OF towers
and buildings, &c, &c, connected with the light
house establishment; no bids or contract being
accepted or entered into except upon the decision
OF The board at a re gular or special meeting, and
through their properly au horized officer
That hereafter all materials Tor the construc-
ton and repair of lighthouses, lght-vessel5 bca
conc, buoys, &c, &c, shall be procured by public
contracts, under such regulations as the board may
from time TO time adopt, subject to the approval OF
the Secretary II the Treasury and all works OF
construction, renovation, and repair, shall be made
by the orders OF the board under the immediate
superintendence OF their engineer secretary, or
of such engineer VI the army as may be detailed
for that service.
That il shall be the duty of the lighthouse board
TO furnish, upon the rcqusitlon oil the Secretary OF
the Treasury, all the estimates OF expense which
the several branches of the lighthouse service may
require and such other information as may be
required, TO be laid before Congress at the COM
Inenoement Of each session.
That all and parts Of acts inconsistent
with these recommendations be repealed; and
al acts and PARTS oi acts relating TO the hight
bOuse establishment Of the United States, not III
consistent with these recommendations, and ne
cessary 10 enable the lighthouse board, under
the superin tendence Of the Secretary Of the Trca
eury, 10 perform all duties relating 10 the man
agement, construction, illumination, inspection,
aud sGperintendcnce Of lighthouses, light-ycssels,
beacons, buoys, seauarkr, and their accessories
Including the procuring and testing OF appara-
tuz supplies, and materials % all kinds for il!u
Iuinating, building, and rebuilding, when neces-
cary, maintaining. and keeping IN good repair
the hghthouses, lght.yeFself, buoys, boacOns, aud
sc4marks Oflhe United States; aud the second aud
h!rd sections % the act making appropra ions Tor
lighthouses. Hght-veEscls, beacons, buoys, &c,
approved March 3, 1851, be declared to be in full
force. and have the same effect as though the
lighthouse board had not been created.
That no additional salary be allowed to any
ciyil, military, or naval Clticer who shall be en-
pioyed on the lighthouse bard or who may be IN
any manner attached to The lighthouse service Of
the United Statcs; and that II shall be unlawful
fJr any member OF the lighthouse board, inspector,
light keeper. or other person in any manner con
nected with the lighthouse service, 10 BE- engaged,
either directly or Indirectly, 10 any contract Tor
lsIatT mat
service, to pOssoEf either a. principal Or agent
any pecuniary interest ia any patent, plan, or
mode Of construction or illumination, or IN any
article Of supply FOR the lighthouse service.
With such a board Tor the care and management
Of our present large and daily increasing light.
house establishment, composed ol the best-adapted
materials rom civil, military, and naval lie, our
hghts nIust not only rapidly improve in efficiency,
bat also IN economy.
BY The assistance Of The officers, proposed as IN
zyectors, and the two secretaries Of the board,
general and systematic plan oi classification, die
junction illumination, construction, repair, in-p'c
ton and supCrntencenCs, viii, IN a short time, be
introduced 90 the great advantage 81 commerce
aud CATION, and TO the economy Of the service.
The engineer. secretary, with the assistance Of
othcors Of engineers now authorized by law 10 su-
permitted the construction and renovation 81 hight
houses. &c, VI be able % prepare plans, csti-
Iuates. and specifications Of proposed works 81
Construction and repair, and give general super
4utsndeute ~ the lighs, bcacons, and buoys along
she entire coast. The board will be able, ct the
close ofths fret fiscal year after is ia operation, ~
make detailed returns 81 zpcnse Oi apparatus, com
bustbss 80 Sc, exhibiting at one view the actual
annual c1poHse OF every light on the entire cos=t,
Examine the best modes Of construction Tor spc
iai positions. make necessary experiments upon ap
psratus, ole gase-, &c., &c, Tor lighthouse
purposes: and determine, from information de
rived from their own and other competent officers,
what incrcas.d 1its are necessary alOVg tAc cOast
O. recommend to Congress.
They would in a short time be- able 20 Furnish 60
uayigat0rs clssr end iui descriptive lets Ot the
lghts, bescOns, buOys, scamafks, &c, with such
notices Of them ~ may be necessary 10 guide tbcm
iu making our coast IN tcfupestuous weather, and
WHICH could BE- reprinted at short intervals Of time,
u necessary, 10 point out new structures Or
changes.
Jhc Co,st Survey charu would then DC iur
risbed with 90 account Of every change oi p"-itou
or th1ra,t,r II iiPhts, buoys, bsrc"u-, &c, Sc /,
which would enhance their prcsent great value g.
80. urt Igaiine community
Under an cnpi,ut organization, such a. The one
f.r.possd the duty would be Performed better arI
luaf" economically thon NJ Ifss'nt, aud there
..uu1 b. great saving 90 The end, by afIrding u
Congress estimates Tor proposed new works, re-