New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-24

one hundred and eighty -nine lighthouses and beacon
lights and seven ghtships maintained and Snpphed
from here Besides this thirty SIX day or unlehteu
beacons thirteen steam fog Whistles forty seven clock
work fog signals six eectic-light buoys five whstllng
buovs thirteen bell buoys and 5O7 other buoys have to
~ looked after kept In position. repaired or replaced
by the Inspector
one OF the things to which particular attention Is
paid at the station IS Of oil. The star Of tho
lighthouse which, constant the North star. guides
IN. soor safe 10 port must be fed by oil. and tiec
must he no possibility Of getting inferior quality OF
OIL for then the lighthouse light might be the light
that failed"
Tie specifications for oil for the station for period
from October 20. 1891. 10 May ,. lo02. call for
3o5 600 gallons There are usually 100000 gallons
in the oil storchouse the station awaiting to be sent
to lighthouses and lghshps Nearly all the oil used
Is mineral OIL though lard oil is used. The lard
oil is required 10 ba made from tho lard Of cOrn-fed
hogs The mineral oils subjected to three tests a
photomctric test determine It's candle power. fash
Ing test and tcet for acids. samples are taken at
random for these tests from each lot Of oil delivered
For the photometrc test the Tagiabue instrument is
uscd For the standard a London sperm candle is
used burning about two grains Of It's substance Il
minute 4 lamp called n " fifth order HLncs lamp
Is filed with the sample and must give. in order that
the oil NAV be accepted light equal to that OF eighteen
candles when put in the photomctrc machine. AfteY
the lamp has burned five hours It's light is again tested
ard II there is no dlmnution OF brliancy the oil 10
pronounced Ill right far that test goes. This
test Is conducted In a dark room by experts
with the utmost and nicely.
A sample OF the oil is next subjected 10
Gn shing test Of 40 degrees and fire test Of 15t
degrees Then ltmu' paper * PIT in a sample and
left there Tor five hours. II the ntmuS paper changes
color /, the presence OF acids in the oil and IL
Il rejected. although II may have stood all the other
tests When the oil is accepted IL Is pumped into
m, oils who Is semi n feed
the lamps which FASH from towers on misty hcadlands
or rock above the ghtshps' tossing sparS along thu
coast. But oil is only one of the things which I'LL
the biz storchou>cs the station and which
from there to the lighthouses ard lichtShips.
Among the things called for in the specifications of
last March were 36I blocks and shcayes 7O04 brushes
$500 lamp chimneys. :37co lamp wicSs besides IA
bales Of the thousands OF pounds II MANILA rope.
bath towels. bun Hollands for shades Ia lanterns.
shecting pillows. quilts sheets, comfortcrs. table
cloths and towcilng thousand and one things In
the nature OF engineers stores. nails carpenters tools
wheclbarows. spades lamps, lumber. paint, ship
chandery giaeS. clocks, matches aud nautical nstru
mcnts. Besides all this. buoys and their APPENDICES
arc constantly required. This will give some idea
Of the business transacted at the ghh station.
While the Inspector and his forces worllng TO
maintain the Fights and bu0ys the coast Major Heap
and his staff planning and executing the building.
rebuilding or repairing Of the lighthouses and beacons
Altogether the station IS busy place and lots Of WORK
/, dorr there. No one would think so 10 visit tito
place however. for Army and Navy discipline make the
wheels OF industry run smoothly that deep peace
se,n, always to brood over the station. There Is
neither hustle. confusion rushing about. The work
moves in deep and wcll marked channels. and goes
dny after day and year after. year In quiet ard
tany The larger part Of the waterfront of
the station Is taken up by basin inclos'd
ly wide piers. which lie piles OF bu0ys
or supplies, ready TO be shipped supply vessels
or lenders Thence TO the foot OF the high green
bhR stretches a broad. level space which
numerous large and substantial buildings. There
coal sheds for the Inspector and engines store houses
lamp shops blacksmith shops, paint shops laboratory
aud a threestory Office building Of stone and brick
Tie first thing which strikes visitor Is the scrupulous
mntncss which Is everywhere. The general appear
ace of the place Is II Il had just been thoroughly
s,r,ibbed with castle soap
4 high blur rises up back OF the Office building
md from the edge OF the blum the land gradually
slopes to the high wall which marks the limit OF
ne Government property Here are sbndc trees,
uwnS. driycways and winding walks In front OF the
Two old IA !Oncd Houses, and back of the houses
tardens stables ana greenhouse. The two houses,
one for the Inspector and for the Engineer
eharac teristc They look II they had been built
BY the same architect who built the commandments