The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-11-11
FIXING LIBERTYS LIGHT.
CHANCES TO BE MADE IN THE PRES
Mt METHOD.

The Brilliant Blaze of Fire Which Was
intended Tor the Torch By NJ. Bartholdi
win wp -uh.tituted for the One Now In
Use--Thi, Change VIII Cost $4,000.
New YORK, Nov. 6.-The unsatisfactory
effect of the present method of lighting the
Statue OF h,rty has caused the authorities
in charge toe matter to consider plans for
changing tlo light The electric plant was
given by the American Manufacturing COM
pany, who prepared to place ths lamps on
the balcony outside the torch.
1t was the intention Of Presid 0.t Goff, who
presented the electrical appliances, to have
ten lamps of 5000 candle power each sus-
pended in the air, as on the Hell Gate tower.
The effect of this system of lighting would
be blaze OF light around the torch, and
which could be seen for distance Of thirty
miles, and would illuminate the entire statue
to the base of the pedestal.
When the lighting of the statue was placed
in tile hands of the lighthouse board, Lieut..
Meliss, who was in charge, decided not to put
the lights outside the torch. A number Of
holes were cut in the torch and the lights
were pla ed inside The lenses were so
regulated that the light was confined and
made visible only at long range By Lieut..
Meliss' plan the powerful light can only be
seen family from the harbor. From the bat
terry and the b ooklyn bridge it looks like a
glow worm ami loses the brilliant effect of q
blaze of fire, such as was intended by NJ. Bar
tholdi.
To remedy the loss of light on the statue,
Lieut.. Maliss placed at the angles of the par
apets lamps which were provided with para
bolic rehectors to throw the light and illu-
inmate the statue and pedestal By a mis-
calculation III this the statue is shaded and
darkened by the protuding base, while the
stone pedestal stands out brilliantly illumin-
ated. The effect of the light in the torch is
also to throw a shadow which 1bscures the
head and shoulders of the statue at night.
The unsatisfactory result of Lieut. Mcliss'
plan Of lighting was predicted by electric
ians, and described before the torch was
altered.
Gen. Schofleld and the American commit
mittee now see the mistake made by the
lighthouse board and are considering plans
to rectify it. One project is to place pow-
erful lens by tn light and reflect the dim
rays toward the battery. This change will
cost about $4,000, and must be done ct the
expense of the lighthouse department.. An
objection to this plan is that wherever the
reflector is placed it will cut off the light
from that quarter If the lens is put in so as
to throw the light towards New York City it
will obscure the light which now shines
towards the northern end of Staten Island
and the Jersey shore.
To reporter a member of the American
committee said: at is my idea to have the
electric lamps put outside the torch, so as to
i've brilliant effect AS it now is the light
is very feeble, except from great distance.
This is mistake. 1t is very unfortunate
that the statue is thrown into the shade. I
had in mind to place row of lights at the
top of the pedestal, and in this way to
brighten the effect. When the subject of
lighting the statue came up, Gen Shoheld
suggested that the matter be given over to
the lighthouse board, and we acquiesced.
From that time we had nothing to do with
1t. Whatever mistakes have been made are
not ours. | feel sure that means will soon be
taken to correct the fault. 1t is generally
considered that the effect of the powerful
light has been lost. believe that Gen.
ochofeld is now considering some methods of
remedying the mistake Of the lighthouse
board"