The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-29

For the construction, care and mainten-
ance of their aids to navigation, "a steam
tenders, steam launches, sailing tenders,
2,1l9 light-keepers and 633 other employees in
Guiding crews of light ships and tenders are
employed. 21 lights and 16 fog signals were
established during the year. Seven lights
and two fog signals were discontinued, and
the characteristics Of IA, and the positions
OF seven lights were changed during the
year.
Five whistling bouys, including one at
Baker Island, Frenchman's Bay, Maine, and
one on the Bantam Ledge Entrance to Booth
bay, Me-, and bell buoys, including one on
the Cuckolds, entrance to Boothbay, Me-,
were established during the year. These
aids to navigation are distributed on the va
rious coasts as follows: Lighted aids, ON
Atlantic and Gulf coast 6s2; on Pacific
coast, So; on lakes, 2l2, and on rivers, 1,0S9.
Unlighted aids: Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
3,714; Pacific coast, 275; lakes coasts, sss;
rivers none; making total number of all
kinds on all coasts of 6.375 aids. an increase
of 139 over the last fiscal year.
The establishment of private lights is op-
posed by the Board, and the following recon-
mendation is made: "Some action should be
taken relative to the establishment of lights
and buoys by steamboat companies and 9TH
er private parties, simply for their own con-
venence. The Board cannot establish
light without special authority of law in
each case. 1t never exhibits light without
previously issuing formal notice to mari
ners, and it never extinguishes one without
giving similar ndkice sufficiently in advance
to inform all concerned. Private lights are
established and extinguished without such
notice, much to the annoyance of mariners,
who are confused and misled by irregular
beacons. Besides this, the lights, not being
properly kept, go out from time to time. I'm
der these circumstances, the Board suggests
that the exhibition of lights and the placing
of buoys by corporations or private parties
be prohibited by law. Lest any interest
should suffer thereby, it is further suggested
that the Board, on being satisfied that it is
Immediately necessary to do so be authoriz-
ed to establish inexpensive temporary lights,
If necessary on leased land, and to pay for
their erection and maintenance, together
with the cost Of employing lsborers to act as
keepers, as is now done on the western riv-
ers, from the general appropriations for the
support of the Lighthouse Establishment,
provided that funds can be spared from them
for that purpose, and further provided that
the Board shall make report of its action in
each case, with the reason therefor. so that
Congress may decide as to the continuance
of each light"
Among the estimates for special appropria-
tions are the following for New England:
For light station at Great Duck Island, Me-,
$4,000; light station at Green Island, Me-,
$4,000; light station at Gould Island, Rhode
Island, $4,000.
Pensions have been granted Maine PEN
sioners as follows: Daniel Scot, Richmond;
Albion ID. Carroll, Washington; Horatio N
James, So. Charlotte; R. r. Robbins, South
Woodstock, and George w. Hanadon, Au-
burn; have been granted increase of pen
sions.
r. II. Rose of Portland, is at Willards.
Maine Post Offices.
The following facts concerning the postal
service in the State of Maine are taken from
the annual report of the Postmaster General.
There are in Maine thirty-four postloffices of
the Presidential grade. OF these, two, Au-
gusta and Portland, are of the first class.
Seven, Auburn, Bangor, Bath, Biddeford,
r9atH rIa.. F-A H.