New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-28
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT At SEA.

The progress of experiments now making 10
test the usefulness of the electric light as
night signal at sea will be watched with In
terest. Many persons have wondered why 1t
has not come more rapidly into use. There
has been some dispute as to the effectiveness
of the light itself. Some complaints have been
made that when used under certain conditions,
as in foggy weather, or to reveal a vessels
course in advance to those on board, it is not
benefcial is dazzling and bewildering, rather
than helpful. Its liability to go out suddenly
is also urged against it. Friends of the light
predict that the last objection will soon be
overcome by improvements in the apparatus
and declare that complaints of the quality OF
the illumination come from "old fogles
who are reluctant to adopt anything new.
According to experiments conducted by Pro-
fessor Tyndall at the instance OF the British
Government, few years ago, the electric light
has greater power of penetrating fog than any
other known means of illumination. Assum-
ing it to be true, as most persons who nave
seen the light believe, that it is well adapted
for maritime use, there are several causes to
DELAY its introduction. All the methods now
in vogue for producing it involve the use OF
steam power Hence before it can be put in
practical use in any lighthouse, the edlhce
must be fitted up with steam engine as well
as with the delicate and costly apparatus d.
rectly involved in lighting, and the Keepers
must be men qualified to manage steam en-
CINE, as well as instructed in the use OF the
electric generator and the novel lantern.
Moreover, the arrangements for the light
houses are dependent upon appropriations
from Congress. Hence, however desirable the
Improvement may be, some time must pass
before this use of it can be general. The lack
of steam power and of competent men for
management must also delay any employment
of electricity on board of merchant vessels.
When steamships are considered, the ques-
ton assumes different aspects. Modern ocean
steamers are equipped with engines OF from
5000 to 1000 horse power, and these can run
an electric generator, using perhaps one or
two horse power, to maintain the hght, With
out feeling the addition. BY this power may
be obtained both the small lights neediui
throughout the cabins or saloons the state
rooms, the passageways and other parts OF
the vessel where crew and passengers need
illumination at night and also the larger olaze
needed in the navigation OF the snip, 10 md
the lookout or to signal the steamers approach
to vessels in the neighborhood. AS Is well
known, several of the ocean steamers now run
equipped WIN IDe cltClIlC uEhtJ NA'h NhNDNNA
aging results. A lamp of French invention,
ADAPTED for use at sea, embodies, in addition to
mere illumination, capacity for telegraphlng
the Morse alphabet, short and long flashes being
EMPLOYED for the different letters, and thus
enables one vessel to communicate with another
at night.
There are no legal restrictions embarrassing
the employment of the light a marine sig
nal. TO diminish the risk of collision by
night, or in the fog acts of Congress have for
many years prescribed particular signal-lights
which must be carried by ocean steamers; and
il is very true that the law forbids the use of
any other lights than those which are directed.
But, as it happens, the manner in which the
illumination shall be produced is not point
mentioned. The law diiferentiates the lights
to be used by their color and their power; it
requires, for example, at the foremast-head a
bright white light, on the starboard side n
green light, and on the port side red light.
These rules are easily complied with by color
ing, as the rule requires, the glass globe in
which the electric lamp is inclosed The way
may therefore be considered fairly open for
the employment of the light on board ocean
steamers as soon as it can be rendered trust
worthy and sufficient 10y adequate improve
ments in the mechanism.