The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-10
A GREAT ELECTRIC RAY
WHICH WILL flash sFAWAE
From FIRE ISLAND.
The New Light will Guide ship, that Pass
In the Night ut ID ,ance OF Twen-
ty-pive Miles.

The tall lighthouse which stands on the
point OF Fire Island has long been regard
ed by navigatCrs and the United States
Government as one OF the most impor-
tant and valuable betcons TO mariners
Oh any along the coant. From its con-
struction IL has been lighted with oil,
but very soon that method viii be reyo-
luliorized. The immense oil lamp win
be replaced by electricity, and the power
Of the light will be increased TO a great
extent, When the apparatus for the new
nsnt IS set up ana In good working
order. according to the government ON
GERS under whose control II VIII be- the
nght Will have the combined orihancy
OF 2JO.OO,0O candles Of standard power
TO the lay mind this statement IL aston
ishing. For another example: The ngnt-
house Is very tall structure. staining
near the open sea. The new light, when
adjusted In A.. viii stand about 10 feet
above the surface Of The water. The d.
rect light from II. under ordinarily fair
conditions IL Is estimated. Will be visible
twenty-five miles. This In no way repre-
sents its power. however for the giare,
which the clouds will reflect. viii be
visible at one hundred miles.
This new lens which has been recently
purchased by the Government Is the same
that was on exhibition at the worlds
Fair last year IL IS called second order
bi-valve lightning light by its makers,
Henry Leparte Sons, Of Paris, who drew
and executed the cooperation and agree
ment Of the French lighthouse board
II has been called q bi-Yalve because us
two surfaces correspond exactly 10 the
shells Of a clam or an oyster. The total
diameter OF each lens is, In rough figures,
7 IL feet. In the centre Is buls eye
for the purpose Of adjusting the focus
The glass OF the bulls eye possesses
magnifying power. The outer portions
OF the lenses are built up % rims OF
prismatic glass. one succeeding the Other
and so adjusted that each one reflects the
light in angles 10 produce at every point
right lines Of dispersed light. In technl-
cal phraseology, the lenses are catadloplc.
All Of the light generated by The electric
circuit is magnlhed thousands Of times by
these prlsmauc glass sections and totally
dispersed In right lines from every point.
The lens itself weighs In the neighbor-
hood Of two tons. To insure perfect sta,
bility in It's foundations and 10 aNold al
possible friction in It's movement, TINS lens
Nis foated by central rod Of small diameter
upon a cylinder of mercury. The oniy
other supports are, at certain intervals,
guard points. which insure the equilibrium
Of the lens. The mercury foundation has
been found greatly superior TO any known
ball-beaItng device In It's et Sc and light
ness of movement and IN the marked de-
crease of friction resulting from rapid
movement. The lens which will be re
volved by a clockwork arrangement Will
make one complete revolution every ten
seconds. Every five seconds. therefore.
the fash will be visible only for about
one-tenth OF a second In duration. how
ever. This is about the velocity and dura-
ton Of ordinary chain lightning. Taking
the 25-mile limit as the point OF contact
of the flash win the horizon, there Is
diameter Of fifty miles for actual horizon
space. This gives in round numbers q
circumference Of $50 miles. The fash OF
light must travel this periphery in ten
seconds or one-siXth on one minute. That
CIV Hf "a mil "A
horizon line or $4,000 miles an hour for
the pont OF light 10 travel.
The light itself inside the lense is 70 be
electricity supplied by a single arc light
against any emergency there VIII be three
arc lights Of the same capacity In con-
slant readiness. but only one will be used
at the same time. An engine OF z'-hprse
power and dynaWOs OF suitable Size VIII
be used 10 generate this light. The clock
work, by which the revolution OF the
lens and its regulation Will be accom-
plished. is very ingenious IL has an ilu-
tomato arrai cement by means Of when,
should IL break down or become disar-
ranged, II wakes the keeper before the
machinery has actually stopped running;
The Government paid between MV,WO ana
$1,000 for the lens itself. and. with the
accessories, new machinery, necessary
changes IN ITS erection, It's total cost VIII
be about $4,000. The construction viii be
entirely in the hands OF the major OF
engineers Of the Third district. Major u.
=. Heap who is already perfectins plans
for the early commencement OF the work. !
The new light will be under the control
Of the lighthouse inspector for the Third
district Captain W. 5. Schley. who is
much interested in the experiment which
the new light represents.
The great lens IS now IN the supply
yard at Tompkinsville. staten Island. Ma
jOr Heap expects TO put u in place during
the summer. There will be a great deal
Of preliminary work, building houses for
the machinery, etc, and the actual set
ting in place itself Of the lens involves
no small amount Of time II Will be
necessary to hoist # 10 the top Of the
lighthouse on the outside Of the build
ing. and great care and ingenuity will
have TO be exercised in accomplishing this
in safety.
The new light will be given n thorough
trial before any others are ordered, as
they are very costly experiments. The
light will be in the hands Of three men.
Ezra s. Mott, Howard Poe and Urah l..
Brown, the keeper, and his first and
second assistants-Brooklyn Eagle.