New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
IN ARMY MAN'SPLAN TO CONQUER OCEAN.
PROPOSING A CHAIN OF DEEP SEA LIGHTHOUSES
FROM SHORE TO SHORE

PROPOSING CHAIN OF DEEP-sEA LIGHTHOUSES
FROM SHORE TO SHORE
In the report of the proceedings of the International
Maritime Congress few days ago, 1t was sld'oi
Hot Tho Conprcss had been overwhelmed with papers
from persons who had worked for years P''l0o'ii-
this or that scheme which they were snie would
nrove 70 be the only solution of the great proDiem
NJ absolute safety on the These papers were
promptly acknowledged, marked with pecu''r
beroglyphc numbered, and filed away ior reIoio"'o
by Lieutenant Cottman, the secretary II INC 'on
ference should undertake TO consider them all II "o"
need to sit several months One Of these papers on
that commanded much attention at hrst' was from
Captain j. p. Walker, of the retired hs' Oh Nv Inn
az chief engineer of the Rio Grande valley Na-r
Company Captain Walker says mat inc Iedsioli'''
Of deep-sea lighthouses occurred to MN years an
when on active duty in the army, ana mat ne hds
devoted more or less thought TO the supJect c'r'
since He therefore outlined Inc Schelh i"od !"
the hope that the conference might find II worthy
90 soma thought and possible action This Is the
idea:
~To secure land on the south beach OF staten
leland and start hotel 10 be called the Neptune
Hotel No / this for base OF operations FROM
,b,e mint II Is proposed 10 establish line OF deep
sea lighthouses and hotels or houses Of refuge across
the ocean. and finally to completely dot the ocean
all oceans and seas-with these, connected by tcle-
ottlBf'r'
launches. steamers and sailing craft cohs'I'IlI'
with their crews deep messenger telegraph
and lfe.saving service which would constantly pa'rO
the ocean and AFFORD communication Win all pasSins
vessels and assistance in case OF need Whch "oui'
pick UP boats from sbipwrecked or abahdoheu NesScs
which would give all vessels the latest lhorhauoh'
daily or hourly from sea or shore; so that the
navigator sailor and traveller at sea could nave
his daily morning or evening papers, with all Their
mltfarious information and news. almost as perfect
and complete as if on shore. the general idea being
that eventually the ocean would be so fuhy oo''e'
with the stations, and completely patroied by
vessels that the trade ship, the passenger seauei'
the warshp and the pleasure yacht should never DE-
out of scls or communication with either the station
or patrol boat by day and night, in calm and In
storm. and So If not to rcncer travelling and trans
nortaton as safe and pleasant by sea as on land AT
iess, TO make IL approximately so. and to- rob the
sea Of many OF its terTOrs, and reduce disasters and
danger to minimum.
THE general idea OF the stations IS that
they would start from the simple basis
If the light beacon, bellbuoy'
and mass onward to the llghship, the floating light
house TO the grand floating ocean hotel or house OF
refuge and deep sea lighthouse and e-saving station
IN the mid or inter-ocean grand harbOr of refuge with
ifs wharves sorehouses and docks, whore SHIPS
tossed and broken, could take refuge from the
storm and be reftted and repaired almost Il n9i qnle
Il
II 4 pleased them ard take the benefit OF sea air for
indefinite period, unlli hnaly' IN NE process oi
time and in the grand progress Of man In c0nquene
10 his use and control the forces of nature, In mat
grand future which Is comlng-it may be IN me ncA,
century or later One-thc ocean Will be brdgei
and the iron horse may ride the swiftly, OF
moro so, and safely and surely. as he now careers
over terrafirma.' $500,
Captain Walker asks that the conference give little
time and thought 10 " these bare and brief If bold,
IDEAS and from the seed imperectly attempted Ia
be eOwn in your minds may grow a harvest. rich and
fruitful for the better mcnt of the race and the amehOra
ion of the present Of the Vastly deep I'm whose
fierce embraces lie buried countless thousands Of
bold sailors, and that still vaStcr host Of still holder
landsmen who have attempted 10 brave old ocean I'm
his wrath and overcome by his raging, roaring
winds and warning waves
On supplementary note the captain says that when
chain of lighthouses shall be established across the
ocean then ships and sailing vessels going in opposite
directions will Keep opposite sides Of the chain. and
thus I'm great MEASURE prevent collisions At sea.
lie suggests that the body OF the structure for
the lighthouse shall he submerged below the action of
the waves, with the lighthouse al the top of slender
shat The submerged section IS 10 contain rooms for
stores supplies of all kinds aud for living purposes,
and TO be supplied with engines for pumping. and 10
furnish the motive power for elevators lifts for boats
for blowing the fOghOrn or siren and for lighting by
electricity. The scheme Is thought by the delegates
the conference be a novel one, but IL doubtful
II they Will be able 10 give much time 10 its con-
sideration.