New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04
NEW- YORK HARBOR RANGES.

r1curs WHICH GUIDE INCOMING VESSELS
THROUGH THE CHANNELS TO THE BAY
! With the present arrangement OF llghtsnps an"
range lights it Is as easy to get into new iorh Day
as into any harbor in the world shippcr VIZ
knows how to use bis chart can go up inc o"as'' VI
Main Ship Channel as easily rs caDman can or'o w
the boulevard This is not pleasing to the pllots WHO
have been making an agitation to have the Scot'ih"
and sandy Hook Igltships placed In their 1orlhcr
illogical positions. and the Newborn ana Elm i,e,
range made again an open one. On the QUIET """''
the branch photographic Office here has taken 'o'
sensus Of opinions Of sea captains cohcernihH 'o
present arrangement Of lights gltshps ana DuoS D
and almost without exception they agree 'na' 'o"
York Bay never before easy OF entrance rs po".
Tho Sandy Hook Ligshp used to be to the southwest
NJ a direct course leading IN through Gedneys Chan-
mel and pilot or shipmaster bound In had 10 use
his Judgment as to how far he should stand pesoiu
tbe light vessel before he laid his course Tor the
channel In like manner the Scotland Lgntship was
To th southwurd OF the course leading up through the
South Channel. The Ncw-Dorp and Elm Tree i'e"oon
range intended for the guidance Of vessels coming "o
The svash Channel was an open range and the SAILING
directions were TO keep the front range Deacon wen
open to the southwark The pilots OF course MIC"
from long experience just how much 10 Keep tue r'"
open and also Just how far to stand beyond the e"'
sbips before they headed for the channel ms tcy
knew from long experience, but to vessel coming i"
without n pilot well open to the southwark was
direction which frequently brought one to grief
Now all the skipper has to do Is to Keep inc hs''
I'm range and lie goes up through the deepest """'
One criticism which appears to be n valid one mas
been made regarding this range and that is tnh'
while It leads through the deepest water In the
swasi il runs too close to the Romer Shoals. Ihis
may be- but there is great preponderance OF opinion
That the closed range is greatly superior to tile old
OMEN range When 1t Is considered that New-fork is
TIE second seaport In the world and tDat the saley vi
the great tide of which GIBBS ana nows up an"
down The channels of the Lower Bay depends on inc
proper arrangement OF lights and buoys the quesuoh III
hand becomes one Of great Importance in fact one OF
vital importance to York. Every one must agree
that the prettiest and most perfect navigation OIL
rivers and bays is by ranges. The navigation Of the
Delaware River almost perfect In this respect nearly
the whole distance UP TO Philadelphia being covered by
a succession Of ranges. In New-fork Bay TOO ranges
are freely used. Take steamer coming into the bay
NJ night and this is what she does: First the Sandy
Hook Lightshp Is made. 1t has one fixed and
one flashing red light on its tossing spars.
From the light-vessel course Is laid directly
for Gedney's Channel. Gedney's Channel Is
lighted like street, three lighted buoys beng
on each side. As soon the channel Is entered. the
the fixed white light the point Of SANDY HOOK SUD
Ing the rays that strike Gedncy's Channel through
he light on the point Of the Hook looks white again
and the Baysde and Wilson's beacons are seen over
until the south Beacon and the sandy Hook light both
fixed white come In range. Keeping these two latter
LIGHTS ON range astern the vessel on until the Con-
over and Chapel Hill beacons come In rnnge Ihen,
using these as q back range. the ship proceeds up
toward the Narrows until the flashing red light on
Coney Island Point is well abean and clear course
tlronch the Narrows is opened. IL the ship wants 10
come M the Swash after leaving Gedneys Channel
She gets the Eaysde and wilson's beaeons on range
and Teens them so until the New Dorp and Elm Tree
heocons come in range Then she takes that range
and keeps until the back range Of the Conover ana
Chapel Hill beacons is picked up then continuing
as the ship mentioned first.
II the ship is coming from the southwark ana
makes the Scotland Llghtsip she can ut once lay her
conrse mn through the south Channel by keeping the
New Dorp and Elm Tree Beacon in range; and 90
20 Through The Main ship Channel she must
turn 10 port rs she gets the Baysdc and WIZ
sons beacons in range and then go like the HIST snip
mentioned.