The Portland daily press., 1867-12-13

Mr.. EDIToR,-I understand that IL Is pro-
posed to erect a "buo light" and steam whistle
on Half Way Rock; the wnie.'1 " W 49, ,
in thick weather. A steam whi'''o ~ Pr .
looa.;o, ,,,onld be t ne best thing that could !
placcd on this coast.
T., The first place, however. its posiuo
.,o,,d be at Portland Head Light; thus
oated. vessels coming from the Westward
tbis mort could get it to bear n. w. by n. al !
safely run. for it, clearing Alden's Rock, Coz
win Rock, and all others on port or starboai
hand. Vessels coming from the eastwal
could bring the signal to bear w. by N. will
out any fear OF "Bulwark LEDGE" whic
would then be on their port hand. Shoul
a ship-master desire to leave Bulwark Leds
on his starboard hand, he wonld bring b
signals to bear N. w. by w. and then be alb
to run safely.
Half Way Rock is situated nearly ten mil
to the eastward of Portland Light. Let
suppose sailing vessel coming from the Yves
ward and bound into this port the wealth
being thick, with the wind S. E. 1t woul
under such circumstances be prudent for h.
to run ten miles to leeward of her port, in
der to take her departure for Portland He;
Light. Should she go there, she would thu
have about ten miles to run for the Light, al
sh e wonld then have the same difficulty
finding the Light as if she had not gol
parture tor Portland.
In the next place, in sailing from Half-W;
Rock to Portland Head, there is strong Gu
rent running in at food tide, between H;
Way Rock and Green Island. After passil
Green Island it sets very strong towards Hu
seys Sound, and the water there is rather
deep for common anchoring. Deep water
very near some of these rocks. Vessels
running TOR Portland Head Light have t
fload and ebb tides upon their broadsid.
Sailing vessels would find it more difficult
make the proper allowance for tide tn:
would steamers. Vessels approaching t
coast from the S. E. with the wind from t
N. E. are not to beat to the windward of H:
Way Rock, and for steamers it would be us
less to run nearly half way to Cape SIN:
Point.
Again, it is better for large ships to gi
Lambo Ledge "a wide berth in any state of t
weather.
If understand rightly, the steam whistle
to take the place of fog bells. The fog bells
Portland Head Light, and at Cape Lights C;
not be heard far enough to enable a fishil
boat to run for them safely wht N there is al
surf dashing on the shore. have pass,
Cape Point with a light wind from the Sou
East with fog, following the surf around t
Point, and after passing the Point and III
hearing the bell, would conclude that it ha
stopped to rest awhile, but on going ashore
the cove below the Light could hear it ind
tinctly after had reached point between Il
sea and the bell. All fog winds are accol
panied by more or less sea olling in upon Il
coast, drowning the sound of the bells viii,
areat such times of cours wholly useless.
had q talk with the keeper of the liz
and bell. He told me that when he hea
steamers coming from the eastward or we:
ward, blowing their whistles, he would riI
the bell by hand and by that means cou
make it heard at some distance from the Cal
in ordinary weather. went with him to
anime the bell which is struck by machinei
Fog-bells near Portland harbor are useles
as they cannot be heard in time to avoid da
ger. The steam whistle, if placed at the tv
Cape Elizabeth lights, would be a very usef
signal for our steamers plying between POI
land and Boston. 1t would be the turniI
point going or coming, although masters
steamets coming from the eastward would n
think it proper to steam to the Cape Light
take their departure for Portland Head Ligh
"
courses than sailing vessels, as they are
likely to be swayed from their course by tt
influence of the tide.
Let any one take the chart of Portlal
Harbor and carefully examine the same, and
think he will conclude that at Portland He;
Light is the proper position for the propos,
whistle. believe steam whistle could
heard from five to seven miles outside of Blu
wark Ledge in ordinary weather. 1 ha,
heard the Grand Trunk whistle, denotil
twelve or one O'Clock, at that distance. 1t wi
be seen that in coming from the westward {
eastw ard or strai ght in from the scutheas
when the signal bears right to clear the dan
gerous points noted in the latest coast char
it would be perfectly safe to run for the sign;
at Portland Head Light. The nearer he ge
to it, the more assured the shipmaster wi
feel that his position is safe, and when he a
rives at Portland Head Light he is but sho
distance from secure anchorage, in any ga
we have on this coast ret - H.
I should be pleased to hear from the captain
and pilots of the steamers plying between thi
port and Boston their opinion of the matte
think it will be of mutu al benefit. 1t wi
give more satisfaction to the people of Port
land to have the steam whistle at Portlan
Head Light, although if there were "bu
light" at Half Way Rock, it would prove use
tul to small vessels coming from the eastwar
in thick weather, as they could then run frol
Seguin to Half Way Rock, and the steal
whistle would be just what would be lwante
at Portland Head to run for, and with sue
arrangements there would not be SO many yes
sells knocking their rudders off trying to jun
over Ram Island Ledge. III .....t-.
seaas..-.. B. j. WILLARD.