National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-05
Observation-Disclosures
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIGHT
HOUSE BOARD.


The aaguituso Of the lighthouse system Of the
United States, and consequently that OF the
duties Of the board and tho responsibilities CON
Dected with them, may be inferred from the I0i-
First. The coast from the St. CrOix river, On
the boundary of Maine to the Rio Grande, on tne
Gull of Mexico, Includes distance OF 5OOS 1!-leS,
Second. The Pacific coast hasa length oil scout
Third. The great Northern lakes abOst 5000
mileE. ,,
Fourth. The inland rivers Of 700 miles, making
a total-oi more than L. 600 miles,
The following table exhibits a synopsis Of what
has been accomplished in aid Of navigation along
these extended lines, by far the longest OF thOss
faBy nation in the verdi: soe
T1Vhi- houses and lighted beacons-...,....-.: oVo
Lighthouses and lighted beacons hnishea
and lighted during tn year ending June l. OK
..''.-'''''''''''''''' u
FoE signals operated by steam or hOt-air en-
Day or uniighted beacons .................. S4e
b AS AUTHORIZATION M Of $4,000 is asked for the
proper preservatiOn Of the records and means Of
rendering them accessible.
THE COMMISSION TO EUROPE.
The lighthouse board obtained the sanction Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury to commission
Major George IL. Elliott, OF the Corps OF Engin-
Peers United states Army, and then Secretary
Of the Board to visit Europe and report upea
anything which he might observe relative TO
light houses Of Importance to the system Of tine
United States. This act Of the board at the time
mentioned WEs prompted by commission OF the
Offcers of the Trinity House. England, Whe
oIr iight-Lonse system, and invited us to send
commission on our part for similar purpose to
England. Major Elliott was everywhere re
eeiTed with marked cordially, and every facility
was afforded him for obtaining the required In
formation.
vestigations in a report, which comprises 2SS
printed pages, and is illustrated with nifty plates
and thirty-one wood cuts. The report which was
originally intended for the lighthouse board,
contains much valuable information. The OBJECT
of the board in sending Major Elliott abroad, was
Ap nhf u{- c car n q
the board consideration 10 the prepriety Of
adopting changes founded upon these facts after
a careful examination Of them in relation to the
conditions under which our lighthouse system is
maintained.
The board has made extensive researches with
regard 10 lighting materials, and has sought by
improved lamps to employ those which are the
abundant products of our own country, and that
they are fully aware Of the properties Of mineral
oil, and have given the preference to lard as an
illuminating material on account Of its excellent
qualities, particularly in lights OF the nTst order,
combined with entire safety, an essential element
in lighthouse economy. The board do not deem
il eIpedient to attempt to introduce the electric
light or that of gas on account Of the cOmpleXity
aDGeOst Of the apparatus. 1t is their intention,
however, to admit any improvements IN the
lamps, of the importance of which they are as
suTed by the results Of phOtometric experiment
The introduction OF an improved wick since the
report above mentioned has increased the capa-
city of our lamps Of the hrst order to the amount
Of one hundred candles This, however, is at q
prOpoTtiOn8tely increased expense, on account Of
the quantity Of oil consumed.
During the last fiscal year the following
changes have occurred in the board: hcar Al
niraI Davis has been succeeded by Commodore
Murra6: Colonel Poe has relieved General Hum
Phreys; Mr.. Paterson, who succeeded Professor
PIERCE as Superintendent OF the Coast Survey,
also relieved the Professor from duty in the
Lighthouse Board, and Major Haines relieved
MAJOR Elicit as Engineer Secretary. The other
members of the board, viz: Professor Henry,
Colonel Barnard Captain Davis and Commander
Walker, remain as at the last annual report.
NEW LIGHTHOUSES.
Twepty-three lighthouses were finished and
lighted between .luiy !, 1873 and July l, 1874.
The report then at some length reviews repairs
and improvements made to lighthouses in the
several districts.
In the irst district, extending from the north
eastern boundary Of the United States to Ham, P
ton HaTbOr, N. H, there are number Of small
lighthouse stations, built early in the present
century by contract. A large expenditure is an
nually necessary to keep these buildings in but a
passsble condition. Economy, the efficiency Of
the service and the comfort and health of their
keepers, require that the buildings should be re-
placed as rapidly as circumstances Will permit by
suitable structures.
WORK RECOMMENDED.
An appropriation of $4,000 is as ked for per-
mancnt structure at Sow and Pigs, entrance TO
Vineyard Sound and BuzzaTd's Bay, MAssachu-
sets to take the place Of the light vessels now
moored in that vicinity, and IS 600 for additional
quarters for the keeper at Point Judith, r. 1. 1t
is recommended that powerful fog signal be es-
and 5000 is asked for that purpose. The fellow.
ing appropriations are asked for light houses in
the vicinity Of New York: $4,000 for new build
inGs at SirStford Point, Conn: $4,000 for the
completion Of the work at StratfOrd shOal and
battle-ground, Long Island Sound, 5000 for ad-
at Eaton's Neck, New York; $4,000 for
the erection OF light at Cold Spring
aarP %SIoy Long Neck New YoTE ss6oo for re
building the crib work at West Beacon, Sandy
Hook; $4,000 for rebuilding the wooden tower at
GEopoYer Beacon, south shore, Sandy Hook bay;
s., eco for repairs at Elm Tree beacon and range
lights, Staten Island. In regard to the light
house depot on Staten Island, the board says:
During The year the lands adjoining the depot
on the south have been sold to parties who have
now nearly completed . system of i'm
provement along the water front, consisting OF
extensive bulkheads and docks, where from fifty
to sixty ships can be accom- nOdated with wharf
age, and buildings for the public stores have been
commenced. In making these improvements the
land has been graded down TO seven or eight
feet below the former level where 1t joins the
depot lands, particularly IN the south and east
portions, and changes will have to be made, de-
pending in extent upon the Improvements on the
lands adjoining. TO meet the expenses Of these
changes estimate is submitted OF $4,000,
while the recommendations submitted in the
annual report Of last year for $4,000 for com.
mencing the enlargement Of the basin and reno
the Oh shed, sc, SO. 600. are urgently renewed
the estimate included. The total amount there
An appropriation Of $4,000 was made at the
last session Of Congress for placing a lights4p
upon the station known as the wreck Of the
Scotland, entrance to New York bay. Plans
will be prepared and necessary steps taken,
without needless delay, for building light-Ves-
sci for the permanent OcCupany OF the station in
the Fourth district. An appropriation of SO, O0l
is asked for rebuilding the keepers dwelling at
fuckers Beach, New Jersey. In the Fifth dis
tTict an appropriation Of $4,000 is asked Tor the
new tower dwellings at Cape Henry, on the
south side Of the main entrance TO Chesapeake
bay, and $4,000 additional appropriation 10 con
tinue the work on the light at Currituck Beach
North Carolina coast.
Accompanying the report is a list Of forty b
vessels that have gone ashore on that 6each.
The recommendation in the last report for thu
rebuilding oIthe lighthouse at Roanoke Marshes
on the east side Of the narrow charmed connecting
PamlicO and CrOtOn sound, North Carolina, il
renewed, and $4,000 is asked for that purpose
In the Sixth district an additional appropriation
OfSS0,0OO is asked for the Charleston main light
on the south end OF Morris Island, south caro-
lima, and 1000 for new structure at Tybee, en-
trance to the Savannah river, Georgia. Ia th'
Seventh district an appropriation OF 100000 Il
asked for continuing The work at F6rney Rocks
Florida Reel east coast of Florida, and similar
amount for the erection OF lighthouse ct Lo;
.Key, Florida Reef: also, 100000 for rebuilding
months IN stcftf EE- eToTtugas, LoggerhIe;sd hey
cult to keep her aiOat. Z sll ~ So 81 li i
An appropriation Of $4,000 is asked for 6 taT
ing another steamer. In the Tenth district nj
appropriation of $4,000 is asked for the rebufId
ing Of the structure at CrossOva Island, st. Law
renee river Fifteen thousand dollars is require,
Erie. - - - Il a L. n
In the Eleventh district an entirely new Stain,
Is imIeratively demanded at Who'd Mill Point
dlch, the entrance to Lake St. Clair 1t is rer
commenced that SlS,OtO be appropriated to build tn
staten, which is very mpUrtant one, as it is ;
guide TO the whole commerce of the lakes through
Lake st. Clair and the Detroit river. The rec
nual reports to build coast hit to divide the lon.
distance Of seventy-hVe miles between Point aus
B8Tques and Fort GratiOt is renewed Uni
lighthouse would be one Of the coast lights Of the
general system, and It is not intended to serve AM
local interest. An appropriation Of $4,000 is rec
commended The recommendation contained in
the last tour annual reports that lake coast ligh
De established on Racine Point Lake Michigan
Wis, is renewed and an appropriation OF SO 90
recommended. The survey Of Spannard's Rock
Lake Superior, Mich. was made as provided FOL
by act OF March 3 1873 The records Of the sur
Eey OF this dangerous rock show that Is prac
blcable TO build q lighthouse TO mark il in water
ranging from ten TO twelve feet, and apprOachabIf
from three sides. This house should be built and
a fog signal erected.
The keeper at ManitOu Island, reports ONLY
hVe days during the whole month Of June 1871
when there was 10 fog in that vicnity-the large,
growing ana valuable commerce Of the Lake Su.
perior region. This is the proper time to begin
1t, because 1t can now be built cheaper than at
any future period, for the reason that the costly
apparatus and machinery used at Spectacle Resi-
are now available and are especially adapted 10
works such as this. The work is nearly twenty
miles distant from the nearest land. and FORTY
from suitable barber. and as Il will be pIaeed in
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