The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-02
PUGET SOUND LrcHrHosEs.


Several Ordered Built-More Post Lights
on Rivers North Of Seattle.
WAsHfsGTos CRY, May Is. Especial. -
The government will spend great deal Of
money in Washington this year in build
ing operations of various kinds. When
public building is mentioned officially IL
means postofice court or custom-house.
All other building projects come under the
head of public works. AS to the first kind,
not much will be done, as congress failed
to pass the bills giving authority for the
erection of public buildings in the cities of
the state. The only building to be carried
on is In Port Townsend, where the custom
house and postofice is well under way.
This building, when completed, which, by
the way, has been a source of trouble to
the supervising architect, as it has been
difficult to get contractors to do the work,
will have cost s240, 900, of which but
77.i9 was paid for the site. The super
vising architect says that efforts will be
made to secure the most rapid progress of
the work
The lighthouse board has several projects
on hand which will prove of material BEN
eft to navigation interests. The first of
these looks to the establishment of a light
and fog signal on Patos island, north
entrance to the Canal de Haro, the cost of
which will be $4,000. This is very
dangerous point, as every mariner fire.
quenting these waters knows, and a light
here would greatly benefit the considera-
BILE number of vessels that use this passage.
Another improvement projected is the
construction of light station and fog sig
nal at Turn point, west end of Stuart
island, Canal de Haro, the expense being
$4,000. This hight will mark place where
change of course is necessary in passing
through San Juan channel, and in con-
junction with the improvement just men,
toned above, will complete the marking
of the channel
During the past year the board kept in
operation on Puget and Washington
sounds system of post lights, which, it is
claimed, were of great benefit to nayiga-
ton. They are of much use during fogs,
it is said, as the lights can be seen, except
in very dense fogs, at a distance of 100
yards or more, and the pilots rely on the
lights for new departure There are
thirty lights in operation on the sounds,
the distance lighted being 265 miles, The
demand for these lights on the tributary
rivers is increasing with the growing COM
merce, and the board, therefore, will estab-
lish the system on the Snohomish, Skagit
and Nooksack rivers, and La Conner
slough, and along such other channels as
may be necessary to meet the requirements
of commerce.
Now we come TO the most important. as
well as most costly, improvement pro-
Jected in the state--the dry dock on Puget
sound. Under the law the government
acquires tract of land upon which to
build dry dock at least 900 feet in length.
not less than seventy feet in width at bot
tom of entrance, and capable of admitting
vessels drawing thirty feet of water. The
cost is not to exceed 500, 700, but only
100000 is available for the present year.
Indeed, none of the money can be spent
until the state of Washington shall cede
to the United States exclusive jurisdiction
over the land for all purposes, except the
administration of the criminal laws of the
state and the service of any civil process
thereon.
This completes the statement of public
Pre- yerasn ats II prospect Ia the state
in Alaska the necessary buildings for
the transaction OF the public business at
Mary island and Sand point, at cost of
SIS, 900, will be erected. These are newly
established ports of delivery.
While it is matter of the future, it can
be said that the lighthouse board are in
favor of the establishment of light sta
ton and fog signal at st. Mary's island,
coast of Alaska. The commerce of Alas
kan waters is rapidly increasing, the chair
man of the board says, and ship masters
and vessel owners have petitioned for the
establishment of a Lighthouse and fog sig
nal at this point 1t is estimated that the
project would cost $500
1t might also be added that the board is
in constant receipt of requests for an in
crease in the number of post lights on
Puget sound and its tributaries. The
chairman Of the board says that the neces-
sity for more lights is recognized, but the
applications have been denied because the
appropriations have been insufficient for
the maintenance of more These aids are
of great benefit to navigation. he says. and
without them it would be impossible for
the regular passenger and mail boats to run
on the rivers, Puget sound and adjacent
waters.