The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-16
A DARING ENTERPRISE.
An Attempt to Construct a Lighthouse on
the Outer Diamond shOal of iiatteras.
From the Boston Journal

From the Boston Journal
1t bears eloquent testimony to the solicit
tude with which the United States watches
over their scafaring citizens that an attempt
is 10 be made to construct monster light
house on the dreaded Outer Diamond ShOal,
off IIatteras, eight miles az sea. The I'M
dertaking is one OF enormous cost aud ap-
Railing danger, and if successfully COM
pleted, it will be the most remarkable feat
Of lighthouse engineering ever achieved.
The building Of the EddystOne Light, the
most famous performance OF this kind III
Europe, Is hardly 10 DE mentioned III cobl-
parisOn.
Hatteras is name Of sinister import to
mariners. Within the last century II Is sup
posed that there have been more wrecks IN
this bleak and treacherOus locality than al
any other point in the world. When the
mountainous waves and fierce currents
seize "A shin OFF llatteras II is usually beyond
human power 10 render any aid. From the
tWenty-SeYen vessels lost there IN the past
sixteen months il j. stated that only one
single life was saved. There IS "A light on
the land at lIatteras, but mariners bound
hOmeward or mp and down the coast, run
ming in TO sight this light and get their Dear
ings. are i'm danger Of being caught by cur
Nv shore. The Government. therefore, has
determined 10 place a great lighthouse elght
miles out at sea. 20 give sailors timely warm
ing Of their danger.
An idea of the magnitude Of the under
taking may be afforded 10y the fact that the
bottom at Outer Diamond j. shifting quick
sand. in the midst Of strong and rapidly
changing currents. and that the depth Of the
water around the lighthouse may vary forty
or fifty feet within rs many months. No
lightships or buOys have ever been Sue
cessflIly placed upon this station. The an
chOrage is too tickle. the currents too resist
less and the waves too great. For the CON
structiOn of huge lighthouse, nrmly
fastened to a good foundation. the United
States will pay the engineering firm the
SUN Of $500. 900. This is a large amount OF
money. but the engineers 10 earn 1t must
run some tremendous risks, and 1t l. an
open question whether, after all, they VIII
ever succeed i'm browning Outer Diamond
with light tower strong enough to with
stand the currents engendered by those
fierce and sudden Uatteras storms and the
mighty surges of the Atlantic.
An immense steel and iron calssOn Is u
be constructed at Norfolk, and when II j.
ready and an opportunity oilers. II i 10 be-
towed by dozen powerful steamers 10 the
large force Of wOrkmen, and If the weather
is absolutely calm and favorable attempts
will Immediately be made to anchor 1t To
the bottom. Ii is estimated that before the
caisson reaches a solid foundation il may be-
necessary to bury it l2j feet below the wate!
line. If "A foundation is found al this depth
the interior Of the cylinder VIII be
filled solid with cement thirty-i'e feet
above the water-line, and the engineers VIII
then have a firmly-anchOred base upon
which the construction OF the lighthouse
proper will be a comparatively easy matter.
The danger and difficulty lies in getting the
caissOn TO its location and burying or an
choring il. II storm should come on ana
interrupt the operation in its stages, the
caisson and workmen would surely be de
stroyed. Seaman scoh at the project, and
call it impossible, but the engineers declare
that il must and will be carried ont.
II the tower on Outer Diamonds sue
cesstully completed, 1t will stand much
over a hundred feet in height and contain
two and half million pounds of iron. The
keepers of the light will be supplied with
oil, water. fuel and provisions for year
and left to trim their lanterns and test the
oceans fury.