Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-28

BUT A FLASH OF LIGHT
Yet 1t Brings Hope to the
Storm-Tossed Mariner.
THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE.
AGovernment Bureau in Touch With
the March Of Progress.
TALLOw DIP TO ELECTRICITY
0eacons That Are Marveis OF Mechnn-
zeal slSiiI-wondcrfuI Fog sirens
Tint Are Helps TO Poor Jack.

II is only n light flashing out on the
waste of waters, but the landsman
who has never gone down TO the sea
in ships. cannot appreciate the emo
lions to which 1t gives birth in the
breasts Of those who have been far
from tho sight OF land and friendly
faces. He Is unable 20 understand the
joy OF the mariner who, on the verge
Of shlpwreclS and destruction. is saved
from death by the Hight that issues
from the lighthouse tower. He knows
not OF the keen, vigllant and often
fatiguing vigil OF the keeper who sits
silently in the dead watches OF the
night when the deep roar OF the horn
or the vibrant clang OF the bell. In
'og and storm, brings hope to the heart
II the sailor man. He is stranger
to the knowledge Of lives, merchan-
disc and gallant ships saved by the
brave mon who are enrolled IN the
service Of the United States Light
house department
Ever since the days NJ Grace Darling.
thelighthouse keeper has been Invested
with The halo OF bravery, and the
tribute ig deserved. The men OF the
service, and. the women, too, for many
monitora OF the deep belong "a the
grntlcr sex. are courageous. loyal and
vlsiiant
The growth OF the department has
been In touch with the progress ~ the
age. The lighthouse system OF this
country commenced with IT'S commerce.
The carly culonists recognized the ne
cesslty for heucOns with which TO
guide English and Dutch merchant
men and their own smaller craft, mnk-
aF &C.. HItssF
age.
The first lighthouse on this contl-
ncnt was bullt NJ the entrance TO Boss
ton llnrhor, on Little Brewster laland,
IN l7ld-'l6 at cost Of &li.925. II WINS
erected by the order and ut the cN-
pcnae OF the General Court OF the
Province Of Massachusetts Bay, and II
was supported by lght-dues of
two cents per ton on all incom-
Ing and outgoing vessels. except
cousters levied by the collector
Of Imports Of Boston The maritime
colonies followed the example OF Mas
sachusetts. and whom the United
States by the act OF August 2. 1859.
accepted the Ccsslon OF the title TO-.
and Joint jurisdiction over. the light
houses on the coasts, and agreed to
maintain them thereafter, they were
eight IN number and comprised the
Following lights, all or which are still
IN existence, though so greatly I'M
proved that they are the same only in
purpose and In site
Purtmouth, New Hampshire, Hnrbnr
Light. Boston Light. on Little Brew
Htcr Island the Gurnct Light. near
Plymouth, Mass; Hrant Point Light
on Nantucket. Massachusetts. Benver
Tan Light, ON Conunicut Island RlAldc
Island, In Long Island Sound, Sandy
Hook Light, New Jersey, entrance to
New York Harbor; Cape Heulopcn,
Delaware, mt the entrance to Delaware
Bay; Charleston Main Light. on Norris
Island entrance TO tho harbor OF
Charleston, y. g.
When the lights came into the pos
session OF the general government.
they We're pllNcd under the direction
Of the SccretatN OF the Treasury.
With the creation Of the position VI
oommiFsiHner 81 the revenue the duties
ni superintendent OF lights was trans
ierred 70 THIS officer, tpon the nbuli-
ton OF the former Office. In 1902. the
lighthouse service reverted To the con-
troll Of tho Treasury Department.
whore II has since remained
In the early days complaints N de-
fects In the lighthouse system We're
continually pouring IN on Congress-
and the secretary Of the trcnHury. The
lights were feeble and INADEQUATE. the
buoys We're always out ~ position. tho
methods of inspection were crude and
uusntsiactorY' In short, IL was a sys-
tom without n system
Congress, reused to the necessity of