The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-12

assigned command THE bill was general in its
provisions and left all the details TO the officer
In charge Capt. Wallace established head
quarters at st. Louis and was provided with
the Alice, a small but well fitted steamer, to be
used in placing the lights. Capt. Wallace pro-
yided his steamer with crew. and under the
command of Capt. M. I'll. Crapster, and with two
able and experienced pilots on board, she
steamed out from st. Louis. headed down river.
In the fall of 1874 the first light was erected at
Perrys Tow Head. thirty miles below st, Louis.
Since that time
BEACON LIGHTS
have been established as follows:
Lights.
From St Paul to st. Louis. .-............ 1877
From St Louis to Cai no. As
From Cairo TO- Memphis. ......-..---.......- SO
From Memphis to VickSburg. .....-.....-..... 81
From Vicksburg to New Orleans ....-... 80
On the Missouri river, from Kansas City to
Total number Of lights Nov. 1. 1877 ....... 1886
The first difficulty Capt. Wallace met with
was IN finding lantern that possessed snf1iel-
tinguished by wind and rain. He first tried
tho ordinary. hand lantern, and after ex
made on the tubular principle. with globe six
inches Ia diameter, and no chimney. He uses
coal oil and u fiat wick. The round wick would,
he thinks, do better. but 1t cannot be raised and
lowered for trimming as easily rs the fat wick.
He could not adopt the round wick without
using lamp made on the principle Of the Uni
versty student lamp. and they would be too ex-
pensive. NO refectors are used, as the lights
are often placed in bends where the beacon
must be seen from both sides.
In erecting the lights Capt. Wallace used all
the economy possible. His first trip was down
river and guided by the pilots with him. who
mad b nad bea In paa Wa
point out dangerous place in tho river. a
point where snags or distractions of any kind
existed or where boats must cross from one
side to the other to a., find safe channel. the
Alice would land The most eligible site being
selected. a stout sycamore or cottonwood tree
into pole abouv ten feet high with cross pieces
firmly set in. 80 that man could easily reach
the top when M1, the post was z. planted in the
spot, giving the best view Of the river. and on
It's top a lantern would then be placed securely.
Each lantern is provided with quantity of
oil, oil cans, wieks, etc. and. with LOCK and
key, by which it can be made secure from
interference by outside parties. Upon landing
rs to attract persons living in tho vicinity When
tue few inhabitants Of the locality would assem-
BILE on the river bank, Capt Wallace would Sc
deemed most competent. to take charge of the
beacon light and keep 1t in order. Generally
the man living nearest to the light Is employed
to take care Of it. and these keepers are paid
from $40 to $40 per month, the pay being gov
erned by the dis ance the keeper lives from tho
lights It is his duty each morning to take down
the lantern, fill and trim it. and early in the
evening return 1t lighted to the post For the
first few months Capt. Wallace was considera-
bly, annoyed by the keepers
NEGLECTING THE LIGHTS.
They realized that the captain had no
means of detecting them, in their neglect
OF duty, and consequently many of the
lights were not KEPT. burning half the
Wallace requested captains and pilots of
steamers plying in the river to notify him wher-
ever and whenever they observed a light not
httr y&In rlyn2 aI1 1t,,,lN
river men took lively interest in the matter.
sT pd cp W nesc Pr Wd nSsd Of
light was not burning on such night and that
a repetition of the offense would cost him his
place, BY this means all the keepers have been
brought to a proper discharge of their duty.
They know that single instance of neglect
will be noted by some passing steamer and re-
Capt Wallace. with his steamer Alice known
as the light tender" makes three trips per
year between st. Louis and New Orleans. and
two annual trips on the Missouri and upper
Mississippi rivers On each of these trips he
pays off his keepers with checks on Uncle Sans
treasury. and he also establishes additional
returned from a trip down the river last Sun
tween here and Memphis The lights are as a
rule, put up to aid down stream crossings or
steamers going down, as they are not so easily
controlled as when , moving up river But
wherever pra ticable a site is chosen that will
benefit the steamers going both ways.
THE LOCATIONS OF LAMPS
are constantly being changed as experience de-
veops the advantage OF some other spot over
that first chosen. Capt. Wallace gives his whole
great deal of pride and interest in it. By close
and dilllgent study Of the needs of the river
commerce in this respe t. he has brought the
lighthouse service to its present state of eff
fciency, and he is constantly making improve
ments He may be claimed as an old citizen of
81 Louis and his wife is the daughter of e. L.
highly
respected residents Of St Louis. Capt. Wallace
has the unbounded confidence of the naval au-
thOrities. who leave the management of the
system entirely to him.
For the purpose OF learning
WHAT sTEAMBoATMEN THINK OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
SYSTEM.
I this afternoon called on Capts. Scudder and
Keiser. of the Anchor Line: Capt =. G. Rogers.
Of the Naples Packet Company; Commodore
Davidson, OF the Keoknk Northern Line; Capt.
Ra and 0p Mafeck OF the Mss
every one of them Endorsed the system in the
highest terms Of praise. Without giving their
W. statement OF Capt. Keiser, that the Govern
yaent had never expended money to better
vrpose and In but very few instances to so
M n p,lrpoSe; that ths same amount of bene-
md never flowed from the amount of eXpen-
DIN and the river men would not be without
lighthouse system for ten times, its cost.
to CANAL ace for his efficient management
Whilsonversing with Capt. Wallace
broacheoe subject of
THE HURON DISASTER
and the puhed statement of one naval officer
that the iii-ed steamer was unfit for sea
service. Capsallace said that the Huron was
very well bulbut said In his opinion the
close in a severerm.
yE TIMES,
Of this city, has hereduced to a folio sheet,
and will hereafter conducted as q cheap
naper This ehangSs made last Monday.
and the publisher clasthat his subscription
list Is. increasing at Sost satisfactory rate
But if street common We any criterion the
neople are not ready foRN progressive move
an a TnsY e s paper ee r@s
~ xe al Ii n'fs ter opinion noe but BE papers