Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-05-04
LIGHTHOUSE LIFE.
Di'Acultlcs In tho Way OF Getting 8
plieS to the Iieopcrs.

Dincuitics In tho Way of Getting Sup
plies to the Keepers.
81 know at least one man in this
country who is able TO live cheaply
and get paid for doing it, all because
he lives where the cost of getting his
food, fuel and light 10 him is about
five times MS much as the original cost
of tho supplies themselves. and he
lives not more than thirty miles from
Boston. at that" said the captain of a
vessel in tho costwise trade between
New York and Portland, Nc. lit
seems queer that man can get along
more economically on account of the
high cost of getting supplies to his
home than he could il the cost were
less, don'tiip But it's q fact all the
same. For instance, n ton OF coal costs
about S6 in Boston. If it costs no
more than SO to lay 1T down in this
mans bin, he would have 10 pay for
both coal and delivery. and his coal
would stand him Sl2 for every ton.
Tho same in proportion, with his
beef and his pork and his potatoes and
his flour and his oil But just because
it costs in the neighborhood of $50 q
ton to curry his coal from Boston
to his bins and corresponding
prices for his other supplies. he
gets the whole business for moth
ing. His flour he gets free and his
beef and his FORK and his potatoes
and his oil, rs well as his coal. Tho
entire outfit don't cost him cent and
he gets may be 81. 600 year for stay
ing where he is and receiving the
annual donations.
1T will be queer, now, IL you amt
thinking 10 yourself that this man !
am speaking of has soft snap. Well.
may be he has. Ho is lighthouse
keeper. He lives on big rock at
Cape Ann. No scagoing vessel can
get within quarter of mile Of his
home. No loaded boat can reach his
abiding place in safety. To get a ton
of coal TO his bin. which Is perched on
the rocks above high-water mark, it
must first be shipped from Boston to
as near tho lighthouse as the vessel
can approach. The coal is in bags.
and these are placed in small boats
and taken to tho cdgo of the shoal
water, inside of which they dare not
enter The bags are then carried
ashore on the backs of the crew. who
wade ashore through the shoals,
Chamber up the rocks with their
burdens. and empty the coal
in the lighthouse bin. The
other bulky supplies are delivered
to the Cape Ann light-keeper in
the same way. and the Government
pays the expense. May be he has a
soft snap, but I'd rather be on my
vessel. tossing and pitching on the
heaviest sea that his light ever shone
out upon. than to be firmly grounded
on that Cape Ann rock like he is.
Wouldn't youP
But this man isn't tho only one
the Government supplies with tree
coal, light and rations at its light
houses. Whenever the keepers are
luCuttu W SlhtiouH WueIc tho COSb Va
carriage exceeds the cost of supplies,
thcy. are provided free; but where the
cost of delivery docs not exceed the
price of the goods. tho keeper is COM
pelod 10 pay for both. That's a queer
rule, but Government has many a
queer way of doing things. At ali of
the barren rock lighthouses, like
Cape Ann, Minofs Ledge and others,
the keepers have even to be supplied
with fresh water from tho points on
the main land. They collect great
deal from rains in csterns and tanks,
but in most cases it is not sufficient
for tho needs of the keepers, and the
supply from abroad must be regular
ly taken to them no matter what the
cost or the difficulties are in getting
it there. IN T. Sum