Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-31
LIeAr.Aouse Foa pAas,s ROCK.
Another Effort at Diamond snoals--work
on uther Light Beuses
Iron our Reruiar correspondsni. ]

WASHINGTON. December 30.--It was
learned at the Lighthouse Board that
negotiations are now being closed that
Will soon result In the commencement
OF the work OF building the proposed
lighthouse az Pages Rock York river.
Va. II will be remembered that the
last Congress appropriated $4,000 for this
point, but there have been some unavoid-
able delays in letting the contracts.
DIAMOND SHOALS.
II was also stated TODAY by one If the
officials that the contractors who under
took TO build the lighthouse at Diamond
Shoals. North Carolina. and who were so
unfortunate last summer 10 have their
caisson lost on the way down, will make
another effort to do that work. The
! contractors are perfectly responsible
people. and the Government has
an iron clad contract. These same men
not only ia the United States. but in Aus
tTslla, and one of the firm who recently
visited Washington said that concern did
not propose to give up the Diamond
Shoals project. They had had bad luck,
but hoped soon TO make another and a
successful attempt, ands would be better
prepared than they we're last summer to
convey to Diamond Shoals the caisson.
SHIP GRAVEYARD.
The Lighthouse Board officials are ex-
ceodingiy anxious to have the new light
house built for the reason that they have
for many years regarded the coast OF Cape
Hatteras IA the graveyard Of American
shipping as has so often been expressed
in the annual reports to Congress. Ii re-
quired many years for congressman TO be
fully impressed with the needs Of naviga-
ton at that point, and the last Congress
oppropriatod $500. 900. with 900 900 imme.
lal1 f,r la AZ 1off g
the lighthouse at Diamond Shoals. II Is
considered a most difficult piece of engi-
neering to provide foundation there for
the lighthouse, and the sinking OF the
immense caisson is believed bv the experts
TO he the only practical and safe plan.
The contractors are compelled to COM
plete the work before they receive the
money. and 60 keep the thing IN good or
der for one year after its completion.
THE srEAM-TESDER.
Work on the new steam tender for use
in the Fifth light house district. comprising
Virginia aud North Carolina coasts, Is pro-
crossing rapidly, so the officials state, and
the vessel will soon be finished. She is
being built NJ Elizabeth, n. j.. and will
cost $4,000. tho amount appropriated by
the last Congress.
AT OTHER POINTS.
Work on the Cape Charles lighthouse
project has gone along satisfactory, and
the board will endeavor to procure from
the present Congress the following appro-
priatlons IN the interest OF Virginia and
North Carolina navigation: Light and fog
signal at Cedar Point, mouth OF Paw
tuxent river. S25, 600; light and fog
signal NJ Point No Point. Chesapeake
bay. SS5, 1000; range lights between Dol
lar Point and Hog Island. james river,
| 50, 800. There are several other projects
in the Fifth district the board have asked
for, but are not likely to receive the
money. The Others named above come
under the head of necessary and indis--
pensable." and 1T is thought Congress ", Will
certainly make the appropriations. The
Others are under the head OF desirable"
and are not so pressing.
MAIL APPROPRIATIONS.
The chances are there will be a different
division of the mail appropriations going
to the southern railways for carrying the
mails. Al is understood that several repre-
sentatives of tho Virginia lines have con-
ferred with tue Second Assistant Post
master General lately in regard tOthe mat
ter. and If some things requested are car
RED out tho city of Richmond Is likely 70
have more liberal recognition IN regard
| to mail facilities.
A GOOD CHAIRMAN.
Az yet the officials AT the department are
quite reticent. and no information can be
obtained of a definite character. When 1t
| il remembered that in the last House
desperate effort was made on the part of
some northern and western members to
seriously cripple the mail facilities from
| Washington to southern points, by Topping
| of more than half the amount allotted to
the roads between Washington aud Sayan-
nah, 1t can DO readily seen that Viz
ginia and North Carolina people have
reason to thank Speaker Crisp that he
appointed Hon. John S. Henderson, OF
| Tee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. In
| the last House the members from other
| sections came very near carrying Their
point, az was fully shown in the DIsPATCB,
and the southern mail appropriations
were kept in the bill in the usual form only
| by the hardest sort of a fight.