New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-05
ELECTRIC LIGHrFOR LIGHTHOUSES.

REPORT A SENATE COMMITTEE UNAVOIDABLE
TO I1IE LIGHTHOUSE BoARD-THE NoN-ADoPIIoN
OF TIE ELECTRIC LIGHT SAID TO HAVE BEEN
TIE GRoUND-CLAnI OF THE BOARD THAT THE
LIGHT HAS PROVED FAILURE.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-On the ed of
December last the Senate passed resolution directing
the Committee Appropriations ~ inquire into the
condition Of tho Lighthouse Board. report and oil
unfavolabe to the Board printed. but we're not
adopted They were, however. brought to the attention
OF the Secretary Of TIE Treasury, who wrote to tie
Chairman OF the Committee Commerce. TO whom
the bill had been referred, OIL tho 25h OF Fcbru-
airy, reference the matter, after which the Com
mi;tee Commerce reported against the BILL ana tho
matter vas dropped Among the charges made in the
report q gainst the Lighthouse Board alleging
that the Lighthouse Board does not Investigate and
keep pace with the improvements made In lighthouse IL
uninants and other means used for Improvement IN
lights" In reply 70 this charge the Secretary OF tie
Treasury SAYS Is sought TO be maintained by speci-
catons that the Board does not Introduce into our
service the electric Lights srch as are III use IN Franco
and England, for which decided advantages are claimed
on the authority OF IN executive document, Sem
nie 10. 81, being Major ElOtps report reIa-
tive 10 lis among the lighthouses in Europe
It appears from report upon the frcnch
electric light OF La Herve By II. Qmnnete de Rerhmrnt
that though OF stronger briancy 1t is very costly
both 10 establish and maintain. That IL is extremely
liable to get OF repair in which case special experts
arc obi ed from Paris to put 1t again into
operatou and that during four years 1t WAS exiting
used times for periods varying rOm three minutes
besides bcng out for o few seconds every night.
1t appears that there Only eight electric light
houses the world that they erected as expert
ments. and that 1t Is by means certain how the ex
perilnents Will result. The Secretary Of tho Treasury
closes his discussion OF the subject By saying. however
"tba the Lighthouse Board stands ready ITO inrccucc
II Whenever 1t may he found advantageous 20 90 80
and Congress sees 10 10 appropriate the necessary
funds" IL was known at the date or tue Secretarys
letter tCat while theOIlts reid the electric light IN n2h
estimation, pEc!IcGl men who at the head aud had
the direction OF lighthouse aiirs OF the various couu-
tries beginning To bad such dh ultes III
the of successful, economical, Al1 uniform use OF
the electric light, that they were beginning
10 contemplate It's abandonment. Unless some great
Improvement H. made In the method OF is exhibition II
seems II Lighthouses VIII be Illuminated
on principle. and that those which now depend on
IL will gradually lave substituted for electricity some
Of her illumiuant. The Treasury Department has rc-
cclyed notice 10 Mariners" dated Trinity HOuse,
London. uarcn H. 1875" from which 1t appe2rl that
"ccrtaln changes making at Dan GenneGB LlgGt-
house the EDgsh Channel and that later IN the sea
son Will altered from electricity To the
most powerful fOrm oil light, and the red light 10 the
west ward will then be shown from the lantern, Instead
Of now, from window beneath IL. There VIII thrn
Consequently. be white light In westerly direction
bet wrcn The bearing OF the west from the lighthouse
and tue nd. BY order, KoB!S ALLEN, Secretary.