National Republican., 1883-08-10
LIGHTHOUSES on THE POTOMAC.

ll6hIhOUSES ON IHG IOIOhAC'
Report OF Gen. O. E. Babcocls, supcrin-
tondcnt OF tho Fifth Lighthouse Dis
trict.
Gen. o. L. Babcock, superintendent of the
fifth lighthouse district, has submitted his
annual report for the past fiscal year to the
Treasury department. In the fifth district
there are eighty.eight lighthouses and
beacons and one fog signal operated by steam
or hot air engines and the following steamers
are employed to attend buoys and convey
supplies to the several structures The Holly,
Violet, Jessamino, and the steam launch
Nettle. The former has her headquarters at
Washington.
At the Point Lookout Lighthouse (the en-
trance of the Potomac river the old roof
was removed in May, and the Keepers house
raised one story, and II new tin roof put on.
The station is in excellent condition.
At the Piney Point Lighthouse, Potomac
river, no repairs were made during the year.
1t is recommended that the old brick walls
of the keepers residence be removed and q
new roof put thereon.
At Blakiston's Island lighthouse the build
ings were all painted during the year, and
the station is in fair order.
No repairs were made upon the Matthias
Point shoal light, and it remains in good con-
dition.
The Upper Cedar Point light, which was
discontinued since 1876, was relighted Sept. l,
1882, in accordance with the published notice
to mariners
No repairs were made upon the Fort Wash
ingtOn lighthouse during the year. The
dwelling at this station is an old brick build
ing belonging to the fort, and which was prob
ably used as u storeroom. 1t is an inferior ac-
commodation, poor, damp. and unhealthy, and
tho report recommends the construction of q
new dwelling of wood, because wood is
cheaper and lighter, and can be removed, if
necessary.
Tho buildings connected with Jones's Point
| light, near Alexandria, were painted during
the year, and the station remains in fair
order.
The ereport states that serious encroachments
have been made by the sea upon the beach in
front of the Cape Charles lighthouse. This
has been observed for many years. Since
1867 about three hundred feet have been
washed away. The water line is now within
| three hundred feet of the tower and still
nearer to the keepers dwelling. 1t is esti-
mated that the average annual encroachment
amounts to thirty feet I" If this erosion is
not remedied," says the report, I" the station
will have to be abandoned at the latest in
| few years, while any severe, prolonged storm
may destroy it," A jetty protection is recon-
mended, for which an appropriation of $15, 900
is asked.
The Cape Henry lighthouse, just opposite
the Cape Charles light, is a new structure.
During the year the keepers buildings were
| repaired, q lot of old stores removed by the
steamer Jessamine and electric call bell appa-
ratus erected to connect the tower with the
| Keepers residence. 1t is found that fine sand,
snow, and rain are blown into the ventilators
during storms, and it is proposed to remedy
this by new arrangement
No repairs were made on the Thimble shoal
| tuhth ci1 AfI ,nfn lie
channeD during the year. The iron founda-
tion is badly in need of repairs and painting.
On the Old Point Comfort lighthouse
(north side of the entrance ito Hampton
Roads, minor repairs have been made. This
station is in first class condition.
A number of improved boat holsters have
been purchased and will be furnished to water
lighthouses in this district
An additional new steam siren (fog signal
has been supplied the Cape Henry light
| house. .al -I.
Lighthouse depots have been established
at Laleretto Point (Baltimore), Portsmouth
Va, and Point Lookout. The depot at Point
year. and a wharf GA by 30 feet erected also
q buoy shed 40 by 100 feet. The wharf
bridge extends 250 feet into the water, and q
railway for small cars will be laid from the
sheds out upon the bridge.
1t was intended to construct range lights at
| Jnc VI Jnc TlNeT rs pTONlueu
by congress, but the appropriation being too
small a screw-pile light was erected, which
would serve the purpose as well.
Only one death of an employe occurred in
the fifth district during the year-Joseph IL
Reddish, custodian of the Lazeretto depot.
The report included the lighthouses on the
North Carolina and Virginia seacoast Eliza
beth, James, Cherrystone, Rappahannock, ant
other Virginia rivers, besides the Chesapeake
bay and vicinity of Baltimore.