The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-11
BOARD OF TRADE.
Action on the Report of the Light House
Committee.

VOC. SdpeaiuS hyan, D. .. WlnSlOW and y. w.
Deering, on the letter of Admiral Wyman of
the Lighthouse Board lately published in these
columns. There was aslarge attendance of
the influential members of the Board of Trade
with President Anderson in the ehair.5
The Secretary, Mr.. Rich. read the minutes
OF the last meeting.
]. s. Kicker was elected member OF the
Board.
The Secretary read the following report of
the committee:
To the Managers of the Board OF Trade of
Portland, Me-:
The committee appointed at your meeting on
the I'd instant to take into consideration the re-
ply OF Admiral Wyman, chief of the light
house board to the remnnstrance from this city
in regard to the change OF lights on this coast
following report:
In the reply of the light house board to the re-
monstrance OF the Portland board of trade,
Admiral Wyman, chairman of the light house
boardsays that the suggestion for this change
came originally efrom the Hight house board''
thuslifting officially the odium of this meas
from the shoulders of the individual.
We beg to remind the light house board,
tnat IN their management of our lights, they
should not presume upon the scientific attain
ments OF masters or officers of vessels, for the
AOocOh tii1>o thO SCFcfututut nave ESTABLISHED
no board of examiners to ascertain the qualifi-
cations of those applying for certificates from
the board, that they are qualified for the posi-
tlons OF master, or hrst or second officer there
fore the light house board should consider the
capacities Of the mariner
1t is very well for the admiral and his as
sistants to discourse scientifically, in their
meetings OF the lights. of different sizes and
intensity, the flashing white, the flashing red,
the different orders of Fresnel, &C., Sc. but
we submit that this is often "Greek" to the
ordinary mariner or navigator too
Ihe admiral says that sin this age of many
characteristic distinctions, &c., two lights to
mark points of headlands are therefore unnec-
essary. HE enumerates several of these 'char-
acteristic distinctions nearly all of which to
the mariner in a dark stormy night, or in fog
or vapor are practically no distinctions at ali.
Inc mariner has in such weather mol chance to
count of seconds, or flashes, or to determine
the degrees OF intensity of light owing TO the
ever varying conditions of the atmosphere and
the dangers which may beset him at that mo-
ment.
The lighthouse board seem to sneak from
the standpoint of men who sail along our
cost IN steamers, running from light to light
in clear weather, whose vision extends no
farther seaward than the range of the lights
which they pass They ignore the fact that
soundings on the coast of Maine do not indi.
cate to the mariner his nearness to the land
until often too late.
10 NOoooi, iuWdru DOuuQ, once north OF
Georges Bank, has nothing In thick OF cloudy
weather to indicate her true position but see
ing the land or lights.
The admiral says secondly: ''The matter of
economy was discussed, and BY making the
proposed changes on the coast OF Maine some
annum, &C., &c. The board is actuated in
this matter simply in the interests of econo-
my. Is not this the unkindest cut of ALP
we can name seven inland lights between
Portland Breakwater and the mouth of the
Penobscot river inclusive, lights of conven-
ience only, the discontinuance of which would
endanger neither property nor life, and we
venture the assertion that the coasters and
fishermen OF those place would prefer the dis
continuing of their lights to the proposed
change in the Cape Elizabeth lights
The lighthouse board decide that no injury
can result from the proposed change, The
whole maritime community from Maine and
New Hampshire decide to the contrary. Wit
ness the remonstrances from Portland, Bangor
and portsmouth The pilots and captains of
OF the International Steamship Company, ply
ing between Boston, Portland and St. John,
n. b.; the Portland and Boston Steamboat
Company, the Portland and Bangor Steam
boat Company, the Portland and Machias
steamboat Company, and the Portland and
New York Steamboat Company, all protest
against the proposed change, and if these cap
tains and pilots who run from light to light to
demonstrate hew much more those who trade to
foreign ports and the sailing vessels along our
whole coast.
Again the board decides that no injury can
result from the proposed change, because the
change shall not be made until due notice has
been given.
What is due notice? A year Of notice in the
newspapers will not serve for the reason that
masters are much of the time at sea. and in
port many do not read the papers. Is the
notice posted in the custom houses? Coasters
go to the custom houses. but once year and
only then. to get their licenses renewed.
With regard to the loss of the "Occident"
we believe Capt. Small's statement. We
known that Mr.. Scott Oliver, Kennebec
pilot, was the first man on board after day
light, and he says it was a dark night, wind
southeasterly and frequent furries of snow.
They were steering northwest by north for
Portland Light when the vessel struck having
came eastward of Seguin.
The admiral refers to "these days of accu-
racy in finding position at SEAL" Let vessel
be north of Georges banks and thick weather
from fog, rain, snow or vapor, continue for
days often, and sometimes weeks, no position
can be ascertained from soundings. and during
one of these thick nights, the new proposed
light on Cape Elizabeth is seen. We submit
that not one master in ten can determine from
it his true position.
The admiral speaks Of new methods in priv
ate business; where they can be adopted with
considerable saving, and are equally good, il is
generally considered stupid not to do so.
Equally goodl Here we take issue with the
lighthouse board-their method proposed
is not equally good, and we fully concur in she
editorial of the Portland Advertiser on this
matter, viz: Admiral Wyman SAYS it is the
custom in private business to adopt new meth
DDS when they are equally good with those in
use and more economical. Equally good begs
the question. 1t is not the custom in we'll
managed business to take great risk. for small
gains-the rule is to let we'll enough alone"
Did it ever occur to our light house board
that it would be much more humane to try
their experiment. in light house economy, on
parts OF our extensive coast, the approaches to
which may be surely ascertained by the sound
ing of the lead and line?
In these days when appropriations are being
made SO extravagantly for the improvement Of
inland interests it does seem hard to have the
process OF eeconomizing commerce on our coast
by taxing from us what we consider, from long
experience that we very much need, our two
lights at Cape Elizabeth.
And we still further protest against the
change and request that the light house board
investigate this matter further, by sending
here committee of practical mon to report to
them before any change be made
Respectfully submitted,
A AcpINcTO1 RvAN