Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-05
LIGHT HOUSE BOARD.
Recommendations Made in its An
nual Report.
MATTERS THAT ARE OF LOCAL INTEREST.
Lights and Buoys in the Chesa
apeake Bay.
INT E RE STIN F A CTS

The report Of the light house board for
| the fiscal year ended June 80, 1893. was to-
day made public. A detailed statement of
the work done in each of the sixteen light
house districts shows that the board has
| brought the numerous and varied aids to
navigation under its charge up to the
proper standard, and has done all that was
possible with the funds provided to meet
the requirements of commerce and naviga-
| ton.
| The board renews it's recommendation
that steps be taken to prohibit the estab-
lishment and maintenance of private lights
and buoys in navigable waters of the
United States, except in such cases as the
consent of the board is given.
The board again recommends the appro-
priation of $4,000 for the erection of oil
houses hopes for an increase in light sta
tions this year. and asks that the appro-
priation for that purpose be increased to
$4,000.
In speaking of the salaries Of light house
keepers the report says that the present
force is too small; the men are overworked
and cannot put the complicated fog signal
ing and lighting mechanism at work in
proper time. A higher grade of skill is re-
Quired to care for and operate the delicate
mechanism, and that involves higher sala-
ries. But even to employ sufficient num-
Der Of men of the present grade of ability
will require an appropriation of $6SO, 900, an
Increase of $4,000, to be divided among
] 200 keepers.
An appropriation of 100000 is requested
for the maintenance of light vessels. and
5000 is asked for expenses of buoyage.
Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
it is estimated, will be required to properly
light the rivers of the country this year.
The board urgently recommends the pas
sage of the bill now before Congress APP
propriating $l5O,OOO to provide and main
tain communication by telegraph or tele-
phone between light ships. light houses and
life saving stations on the coast. The gas
buoys experimental with. the report says,
proved satisfactory, and appropriation
of 10000 is recommended for ten gas buoys
of large size.
In Local Waters.
In regard to the service at points along
the Chesapeake bay and the coast in the
district which includes this locality the
board has the following to say.
Some difficulty and much delay were ex-
perienced in acquiring title to the land need
ed for building a wharf and roadway at
Hog Island. The deed was not executed I'M
til January, 1893, and the title had not been
finally passed upon by the United States
attorney up to the date of his resignation
In April. His successor is now engaged
upon review of the papers, and IL is ex-
pected that a decision will soon be had
Meanwhile plans for the proposed wharf
nave been prepared, SO that there may be
no unnecessary delay after the site shall
ure of the same class that at Cape
Charles. Va, to be built of iron. had al
ready been completed. Contracts were made
for both these structures, and the construc-
ton of the ironwork was commenced. Ne
gotiations are progressing for the acqusi-
ton of a new site for the Hog Island light
station. The owner of the needed land Of
ferS to exchange il for the present light
house tract, although it is inferior in value.
1t is recommended that Congress be asked
to grant the necessary legislation to au-
thorize the exchange as the government
will be benefited thereby. By act approved
March 3, 1888, Congress appropriated $50, 900
for replacing by a frst-order light the
fourth-order light now at Hog Island, and
authorized contract therefor to the amount
of s125,OO0. The board now recommends
that appropria ton be made for the balance
of the Sl2J,UOO-that is, for S95, W0-that
Hog Island light house may be duly COM
pleted.
Lambert Point light, Elizabeth river, Vir-
ginia, was of little or no value because of
its obstruction by the coal piers of the Nor
folk and Western railroad, and Of it's being
overpowered by the electric lights The
light was discontinued, therefore on De-
cember 81, 1882.
The recommendation is renewed that
proper measures be taken for establishing
range lights at boilers Point to guide YES
sells through the narrow and shallow chan
nels known as Goose Hill slough, between
Hog Island and jamestown Island; also for
the establishment of an inexpensive light
through another difficult channel from Deep
Water shoals light to the north point of
Hog Island where an abrupt turn is made
to enter Goose Hill slough. The estimated
cost of these lights is $3.50
The board recommends the establishment
of red light, to be shown from an iron
beacon placed at the entrance to Carriers
creek, Rappahannock river, at a cost not
exceeding 5000. and of three beacon lights
to be shown from poles placed on or near
Sharp's wharf, below Suggett Point, on
Tappahannock wharf and on Taylor's
wharf, at an estimated cost of 500 each.
The new structure at Maryland Point,
Potomac river. Maryland is hexaConal IN
plan; il consists of a wooden dwelling rest
ing on seven wrought iron screw piles forty
feet long and varying in diameter from
seven inches at the top to ten inches at the
bottom or screw end. The light is flashing
white Of the fourth order. A fog bell is
struck by machinery during thick or foggy
weather double blow at intervals of nf-
teen seconds.
The recommendation that light house be
erected on the Shoal off Point No Point be-
tween the Cove Point and Smith Point is
| re al