The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-05


parallel piers of crib-wofk filed
stone and run out into the lake. On d
pier is placed light of the fourth or fit
order, in frame structure, either square,
or polygonal, in which is a room for sup
plies and place for the keeper to sleep !.
Buoys are used to mark channels, and are
of two varieties, lighted and unlighted,
there being but few of the former, and
those lighted by compressed Illuminating
gas and electricity. q
It may have been matter of wonder,
to the many in this age of electrical aP-
piances, that that agent has not super
seded the use of mineral oil in the major
ity of lights. This is partly owing to
the fact that the electric light being
pure white light does not show as dis
tinctly in the white Opaque atmosphere
of fog as does the yellow illumination
of the mineral oil, and partly to the fact
that electric application is not yet suffice
iently perfected to render it thoroughly
reliable.
The ightships are schooner strongly
built, brilliantly painted, aud with coll
ored disk suspended from each mast to
distinguish them from ordinary vessels
by day, while at night there are power
full lights hoisted, consisting of eight or
nine lamps with reHectors arranged in
circle, inclosed in lantern, which are
lowered to the deck into small house
during the daytime. These vessels are.
provided with fog-bell and sometimes
fog-whistle, and are stationed on shoals
where it is impossible to establish any
other kind of warning light, being held
fast in their position by an anchor weigh
ing about 5000 pounds, and carrying its
name mushroom anchor" by its peculiar
shape. There are twenty-three of these
ightships now in position on the coast,
and they are much used in the English
service.
In all of the States heavy fines and im-
prisonments are meted out to those who;
interfere with these aids to navigation,
and in Florida the penalty of certain.
number of stripes to be applied to the,
person of the transgressor is added.
The manufacturing establishments of,
the Lighthouse Board and the general
depot of supplies for the United States.
are on Staten Island, and these supplies.
are distributed by the aid of steam ten
ders. The whole cost of the United
States Lighthouse Service foots up per-
year to the grand total of 81, 415, 500. q
The coast is divided into fifteen dis
tricts, each district having naval officer
as inspector, who is expected to examine
all the stations in his district once every
three months, making reports to the
board monthly covering all things con-,
nected with each station, furnishing to.
the engineers notes of needed repairs, and
attending to salaries of keepers and sup
plies of stations. In addition, each sta.s
ton has an engineer, an officer of the.
army, who has charge in some cases OF
two or three districts, and to whom is
confded the construction aud repairs Of
all fixed aids to navigation within the
circuit.
The number of lighthouse keepers for
the fiscal year ended June 80. 1888, was
1924, their salaries varying according to.
the Importance of lights and cost OF iv-a
ing in different sections of the country
for out of their salaries the keepers are:
expected to pay for their uniforms and:
cost of living. The salaries paid on the.
Pacific Coast are about $1,000, while.
along the Atlantic there is but one, the
Minot's Ledge keeper, who gets that
amount. As rule the keepers Of lights
of the first order receive from $500 to-
$500 per year, whilst those of the lower.
orders range from $500 to $500. The
salaries of assistant keepers vary from.
$4O0 to $3.50, whilst those of the Cap
tains Of the light vessels are from $3.50
to $1000.-NeU York Nta9s. g