The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-02-21

hood, which we will print next week.
Light House. Board REpoRT.-Extracls
from this valuable and interesting Report, have
appeared in The IEushiHgioM ReiHiHc, which
must convince every man who reads them, Of the
necessity for IA thorough reorganization and re-
form in this important branch of the public ser
vice, involving an annual expense Of upwards
Of 5000 900. There is no branch OF the EXccu-
tive Of this government in which every citizen
of the entire country is more directly interested
than in this. The lives Of our SeaIncn are
guarded or jcoparlizcd in approaching our coasts
in proportion to the good or bad light and other
aids which, through the municenCc Of Con
eress. have been authorized To be kept: the
property of our citizens subjected TO the risks
and dangers OF shipwreck, and our products of
every description are taxed for lrcights and in
surance, in proportion TO the safety or difficult
tics attending navigation. ECONOMY, although
not always primary object when taken in con-
ncXion with the important trust Of guarding the
lives of our seamcn, and the property Of our
citizens from shipwrcch; yet, when it is shown
clearly, and demonstrated tn Al large annual sUlU>
can be saved TO The country, and at the same
time afford more acceptable and efficient all 10
the mariner, there can be no sound reason icr re-
tuSing to adopt such plan.
1t will doubtless be gratifying to such of our
readers rs have not been made aware OF the fact,
That the country is indebted to our worthy and
able Representative, Hon. Alex. Evans, fer
these purpoSed important National reforms.
+ \ correspondent has sent us the above re-
marks, prelacing Il copy Of the Report OF tie
Light House Beard. They came to hand after
orr outside pages were printed and the natter
for the inside, pretty much in the hands # the
printers, and we are hence able 10 make bU the
following extracts at present, but shail rccur TO
the subject again. We have heretofore referred
TO the efforts Of Mr. Evans in this matte. aa.i
beyond doubt he deserves the thanks not only Of
the sailors OF the country. aud Of those inme-
dialcly engaged in Commerce, bat also OF every
importer and consumer ofmports in the coun-
try.-Ed. HMg.l
"The board, after examining with a
patience and zeal which they believe
this important branch of the public SER
vic" to demand, the different points TO
which their attention was specially call
ed by the instructions of the Department
have arrival at the following concIu.
sions, which they feel assured will be
found to be fully sustained by the de-
tailed data in this report, and its apprn'
dix, upon which they are chiefly based
|. That the lighthouses, light-vessels
beacons, and buoys, and their acceSso.
ries in the United States, are not as eff
cicnt as the interests of commerce, nav.
igation, and humanity demand; and that
they do not compare iavorably with sim
liar aids to navi cation in Europe in gen
eral but especially with those of France
and Great Britain, and their dependen
cics.
That the lighthouse establishment o
the United States does not compare ia,
vorably in economy with those OF Great
Britain and France.
That, while the superiority of the Eu
ropean lights to those of the Unitec
States (arisng from the greater care and
attention bestowed upon them, the bet
ter and more expensive apparatus EN-
ployed in them, the larger number o
keepers to the lights, the more rigid su
perintendence and frequent visitations
for inspections and for delivery of sup
plies) renders any just comparison o
them in annual expense in money i'm
possible; it is shown that the difference
for maintenance per lamp per annum is
small, and that not Invariably in tavo
of those of this country.
That the towers and buildings have
not been constructed in general Of tn,
best materials, nor under the care ane
supervision OF competent or faithful en-
gineers.
That the want of professional knowl