New-York tribune., 1874-12-04
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
BOARD.

MAGNITUDE OF TIE LIGHTHOUSE SYSTEM OF TIE
UNITED sTATES-STATEMENT OF WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE II AID OF NAYIGAT1oN-THE ESTIMATES
FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR INCREASED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The annual report of
the Lighthouse Board after reviewing the organization,
character and history OF that branch Of the service
says:
The magnitude Of the lighthouse system Of the
United States and consequently that OF the duties OF the
Board. and the responsibilities connected with then
NAV be inferred from the following facts:
f;ysf : The coast from the ST. Croix River, the
boundary of Maine 10 the RIO Grande on the Gull OF
Mexico. includes a distance Ct 5000 miles.
Second The Pacific coast has ien-th OF ABOUT l0Vo
miles. - -.,- -, ,..,. . nm .uoo
Fourth The inland rivers, OF 700 miles, making total
Of more than 10000 miles.
been accomplished IN aud OF navigation along these
extended ue by lar the longest OF those of any nation
Lighthouse. lighted beacOn,. COS
Ia. ssI 3Sa eass 'J Ja" 2s
Fo,s oper'ted by steam or hoia engines 49
Ia GIFTED beaconS oto
IL Is rue that some OF the lighthouses III the above
list erected before the present Board had charge
of these aids to navigation tut i'll every case they nave
been supplied with new lighting apparatus ana othSr-
wise improved The work. however can never he
finished. Besides the constantly recurring repairs,
many OF the lights destroyed by the war have 10 be re-
placed aud nearly al nc towers tuetcd 9iGre he
structures which still serve for time are 10 be
extensively repaired. On tue western coast, as our
her Of int and other signals viii be required, and
Furthermore the lighthouse system IN the great valley
of the Mississippi VIII add much to the labors and
responsibilities OF the Board. An appropriation Of
$4,000 asked for the proper preservation OF the records
and means Of rendering them readily accessible.
TIE ESTIMATES FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
Tue amounts asked for the next fiscal year are, in
general. greater than those requested for the year
previous In regard to the estimates for supplies the
increase in this Is principally demanded by the in
creased number of lighthouses established by the Gov
ernment and now in operation. Secondly. regards
the increase under TINS head Is demanded
on account OF the condition OF the lighthouses especially
older stations several OF when were erected pre-
vious present century for which the amount OF
rcpalrs Is constantly Increasing and for which sui
fCeut amOIut not granted hy the last Congress.
With reference TO The estimates for buoys, tins Is
ueyeI-endng aud constantly increasing expenditure In
mouths of where the buOyS are required aS
essential aids navigation III marking ont the channel,
they are in Winter at the North constantly liable
to be carried away by floating ice, and
since the disappearance single
of these aids may attended with loss OF life ana
property, its place must be Immediately supp1ed-lt
NAV by succession of OuOys-at whatever cost OF
money aud labor on the part OF the Lighthouse Board
10 be ready at al times TO supply tt losses as soon as
they adequate supply OF huOys must be CON
stauty kept hand. Unfortunately, howcvcr, on
of the deficiency IN the appropriations o previous
the supply which should kept constantly on
hand has fallen below the minimum winch experience
be sale especially III winters ~ unu sua
severity. To lessen the expense OcclslOncd by the
unavoidable carrying Of the huOYs the Board has
adopted the pian OF removing during the Winter the
large costly floating buOyS OF boiler iron, ana replacing
them with spars OF wood which less perfectly serve the
purpose intended So important however, tins matter
considered by the Board OF Trade OF NcwlOrk that 1t
pctllOned that the large IRON DiONS nc retained IN
nis request granted. considerable addition to the
appropriation viii be required