The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-19
The steam whistle Again.

| To the Editor Of the Press: fi 1851 4l3 4ha
| have carefully read the article in Mondays
paper over the signature of "M."", in reply to,
my communications, and although it is not my
intention to enter upon newspaper argument
feel unwilling to allow his article to go who'll
| ly unnoticed. r-.e s.,e-5rf -.-,5
en-" in his article implies that have been
neither brief nor direct in my remarks. 1 have
endeavored in my communication to made use
OF no words did not think absolutely necessa-
| ry to give my readers clear compre hension
of my meaning. 1888 s
m" says" if then it is admitted that there
is need of light on Half Way Rock there
must also be the same need of whistle" i
infer from these remarks of"M." that wher-
ever light is needed there also is needed
whistle. 1t would hardly appear probable
that government would place a whistle at
every point on the coast where light would
be necessary, in addition to the light. He al
so asserts that with whistle at Half Way
Rock and another at Portland Head, they
would be so far apart as to occasion no confu-
sion." have been informed that it is pro-
posed to erect but one whistle at this port.
M" says, "these marks are not intended
for the convenience of vessels coming from
the westward, but of those coming from the
eastward" Possibly he is not aware that
nine tenths of the vessels coming to this port
t. discharge, enter the port to the westward
OF Bulwark Ledge. Would it not be better to
place the whistle at Portland Head, where it
would be useful to vessels coming from any
quarter, rather than at Half Way Rock,
where it wonld be useful to vessels coming
from one quarter only?
NJ. suggests placing one whistle at Half
Way Rock and another at Portland Head. If
the erection of two whistles is contemplated.
would not the proper location of one be at
Portland Head, and of the other at Cape
Lights, as nine-tenths of the vessels entering
this port would be benefited by such an ar
rangement? M" further says; it is hardly
fair to attempt to disguise by nautical verbiage
the advantages Of this whistle" In addressing
a people SO deeply interested in maritime af-
fairs as are the citizens of Portland, 1 did not
consider it necessary to write left or right hand
in lieu of port or starboard.
1 think . NJ" will find few of his opinion,
that ga steam whistle is very poor substi-
tute for light" but on the contrary that he
VIII luu oil lAVCLiSOhe Aa fiSoeoio AlOoihS thO
opinion that light would be very poor SUBJ
stitute for whistle. al Le
en-" says"a ship-master coming from the
westward having plenty of time might run
down to Half Way Rock for the sake of the
sail" 1t is hardly probable that any ship-mas-
ter would wish to run down the coast in thick
weather for the sake OF the sail but would
rather prefer to enter port as quickly as he
could with safety. 1t is well known fact that
it has only been by the great care and skillex-
ercised by the captains and pilots of the steam
ers, laden with valuable freight, carrying large
numbers of passengers, and running almost
nightly between this port and Boston, that
they have been enabled to avoid the dangers
of entering this port at any season and in any
state of the weather. Is not the convenience
OF these steamers, and of those plying between
this port and New York to be considered as
wen as of those coming from the eastward?"
have written plainly and have given my
reasons, signing my name, and would inquire
why ne who writes in reply should hesitate to
aftx his name to his communication?
B.J. WILLARD.