New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-02
rEEcTRIc LIGHTS on SHIPBOARD.
VIEWS or sHIr-owN ~ VINO HAVE EXPERT
MRNTED WITH INSTRUMENTATION RESULT
TSg FROM THEIR UsR

VIEWS or snr-owS rs VINO HAVE EXPfR-
,rHSrEp Win rHEM-DIsADvANTAGEs RESULT
$50 FROM THEIR UsR.
The use of the electric hight on steamships
f. subject that h attracting the attention Of shpown-
crs The dinculilcs IN the way 81 making tins u@e OF
the light arise from its great intensity II has been
found that there WIS too much lighno too ttle. the
frat experiments with the electric light ala to
uavi7ou were made by French about twelve years
ago but the imperfect state OF The Invention az That
time WAS such that the experiments were not pressed TO
any satisfactory issue. In 1876 the Compagnc Trans
atlantic G6L6rale put the hght on the Amerque. and
anerward on the France and have continued to use It
ever since The hrs reports OF the captains were that
the light created about Itself sort Of white cloud that
fatlgued the eye and interlercd with observations I;
that tho intensity the light caused The regular red
and green side lights 10 disappear. constituting real
danger other vr-ses aud mat when near the coast
IN. light was likely be mistaken for that OF light
house Later Of the difficulties we're removed by
using an automatically intermittent light
louis de BGblan the agent OF The French Line, said
that the expense of the light serious obstacle 70
IT. general use The captains OF the line had also found
that AZ sea their electric hight was often mistaken for
burfu ship aud vessels had either made directly for
fbe or had run away lie sad II was stil IN use on
Tine lluo but not 10 great extent. lie thought the bes
manner Of using il would be 10 illuminate the huh OF
the shin making 10 evident 20 Others that Il was ship
chat was carrying the light.
John c. Dale, the agent OF the Iuman Line. said that
fine rules Of the English Board Of Trade prohibited She
u.c of the electric light and th1t his nc had never used
IL except for Illuminating the cabins-whlch was re-
Gently described IN Tie TRIBUNE.
p Cornell WHITE used an electric light on the Rock
away boats last summer lie sad his experience had
satisfied him that aid 10 navigation the light was
az no use It's liability togo ont suddenly, leaving the
amin IN greater than II there had heen no such
intouaa light rendered it impossible TO rely ON
/! Tor headlight; ana even when ~ was steady us
ntoia had comp aimed that they cQud not see 50 wen
with n ~ with ordinary lights. The pilots OF Norm
RIVER nad complained that thcy were Ohnded
nv this ght on his boats, and could not see their slips
1hough he should continue 10 use the light II would
he only IA attraction To people ana not Tor purposes
OF CATION. ,.-,-t-
said THAI his the best To make the electric
hght AVAILABLE navigation To put at the masthead
an omen light, which, having 10 powerful fenector,
would not dazzling Ths would light up the sbip
ilunnate the surface Of the water wo. He under
stood That on the Mediterranean the hight used TO
the vessels, reflected back. instead
az forward The power OF the light illustrated az
Ieht of only 900 candle-power placed at height
of 800 feet and was seen az sea Tor
disancc OF ffty-six miles. II was the FIRST thing sighted
IN Rnrnepat Inlet did not think the electric hght
vou "A prnetrate fog although II would do more than
an ordinary ght proportion IL was more intense.
| Tnc New-York aud Charleston steamship company
recently wrote the National Board OF Supervisors OF
steam Vessels asking II the steamship laws permitted
INC use of electric ligIts for headlights. No decision
has been made In the matter YETI and the lDoa in
spcctors decline to give opinion further than TO say
that there be law against IT, provided the
reruar lights be burned also. The agents have, how
ever placed light the CITY Of Atlanta which sailed
ON saturday with orders TO experiment with II clear
uignfa taklng d Iisll- and tO report reaulta