The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-18

tary In It's precision. for every lightkeeper is
expected to stay by his light so long as his
lighthouse stands.
The improvements that have been gradu-
ally introduced by the Board are many and
various. Iron has been used more and moro
In construction, and skeleton iron towers
are now generally erected where the soil
affords no adequate support for masonry
foundation. The latest novelties In the use
of iron in lighthouse construction are, per-
haps, the iron tubular foundation OF the
Southwest Ledge Lighthouse in Long Island
Sound, ard the caisson foundation Of the
Fourteen-foot Bank Lighthouse between the
Capes OF the Delaware. Even in the masonry
structures great changes have been made.
In the later buildings tho stones OF each
course are dovetaied together laternlly aud
vertically, and the whole exterior is covered
with hydraulic cement SO that the
stones cannot be separated without break
ing. Again, In 1878 the beacon on Point
Allerton, Mass, was illumincd by "fcr
bales Of pitch and ocum." while now the
lenticular apparatus, constructed after
French patented design, is in general use.
whereby the light Is economical by means
OF spherical mirrors Of silvered copper, with
the fame in the centre. From the primitive
fixed light, moreover, some nine variations
have been evolved, fixed, revolving, flash.
ing, colored, and intermittent lights. inter-
mit,ent lights OF unequalled periods. group
flashing lights, fixed lights with revolving
or intermittent characteristics over small
areas. and intermittent flashing lights. BY
these several varieties OF light every light
IL, i5, OH ~ Inn
be- accurately Disseminated and identified
by the Captains OF passing vessels. In the
material for light, however. less improve
ment has been made. Lard oil has been sub
stitutcd for sperm oil, mineral oil
for lard oil. and gas and electricity
have been tried. though without successful
results. Yet electric incandcscent lamps
have been used with admirable effect to light
the series OF buoy, in Geduey's Channel. in
New York hnrbor
Tho lighthouse system has been main
tanned by the United States as duty to
humanity at large, although the English
lighthouses are in part supported by light
dues charged upon foreign vessels entering
British ports. In this matter America has
been In the vanguard OF civilization. In
time it Is expected that the entire coast line
OF tho world will be marked by lights, their
rays meeting and passing each other so
that no vessel of the coast shall ever lie
out OF sight OF light or unable to identity
the lights before 1t and behind 1t. As yet
this great work Of international interest has
been but imperfectly accomplished. Lights.
or at least more lights. are still imperatively
needed in the Gulf OF Mexico. in the Caribbean
Sea, at the mouths OF tho Magdalena River
and the Rio de Ia Plata, along the Magellan
Straits and the Patagonian channels, on tho
coast OF Lower California and at Panama.
What remains to be done would be
best done, perhaps can be done only.
by the cooperation OF the great COM
mercial nations. For such cooperative
work a precedent Is furnished by the lights
ut Cape Spartel and at Tangier, on the
coast OF Morocco, which are now maintained
BY several nations conformity, among them
the United States.
Thus the lighting OF the coasts Of the
world marks the march Of civilization,
and when each continent and island
coast ut night ls lined by dots Of light, ra-
diant with kindly intelligence and warning.
the foundations will be already laid for the
federation OF mankind.