The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-23
THE DIAMOND SHOALS PUZZLE.
How to Build n Lighthouse that VIII
Withstand the Seas on Hatteras.

From the washington Post.
From observations made by the light
house board It appears that the second
attempt 10 erect a lighthouse on the dan
gerOus Diamond Shoals, OF Cape Hatteras.
n. G. has failed. Just what steps will next
be taken TO guard the important coastwise
traffic. against the perils Of this place. a
veritable graveyard Of ships. has not been
determined These shoals lie of Hatteras
about ten miles. are I'm bad weather. when
aids TO navigation and most necessary. the
powerful Hatteras light is unable 10 east
its warning beams far enough out 10 sea
TO guard against disaster to ships.
Some years ago the lighthouse bureau OBJ
tanning a large appropriation from con-
gress made a contract with an eNperien-
ced firm of Eighth ouse builders to erect
lighthouse on these shoals. The plan of
construction was 10 sink vast cylinders Of
heavy boiler iron clear down through the
water and the many feet of shifting sands
below TO bed rock. These cylinders were
TO be filled with concrete and made prac-
tically a solid rock, upon which the light
house was to be erected. The constructors
took the job at their own risk, but, after
making several expensive attempts, they
threw up the work.
Last year the lighthouse bureau under
took the work itself. this time on a new
plan. This was based on the use of heavy
iron piles driven by hydraulic Jets deep
down in the sands, through which the seas
were to be allowed fun sweep. while the
lighthouse perched far above the waters
on top of the piling. A few weeks of the
fine weather last fall enabled them TO put
in a quadrangular pyramid, upon which
super-structure was erected, and at this
point the fall storms came along and the
work was suspended for the year. But
when an inspection was had recently, pre-
paratory to resuming the work, ii was
found that the great waves had played
havoc with this structure. Nothing re-
mained of the superstructure and the piling
that stood was twisted into corkscrews.
| The effect of the surges on the ironwork
was sufficient TO convince the inspectors
| that no structure of the kind could stand
| against it. The piles appeared 10 remain
! firmly in the sand at the bottom, but at
| the surface where they received the full
| swing of the waves, they We're carried
away and could not be maintained by any
/ device.
A prominent naval officer, who has had
| many years experience along the South
| Atlantic coast. in commenting on the de
/ struction by last winters storms of the
| steel framework. expressed the opinion
| that the scheme was wholly impracti-
cable. Tests already made had. he said,
| demonstrated that the bottom of the
| ocean az the place selected is OF "A pc
culiar drifting sand formation to the
4
| feet, which would not hold any struc-
ture against the terrific storms that pre-
| vail there every winter. But even if
/ secure foundation could be secured for
| a lighthouse. one was not needed. There
! is already a light and a beacon at Cape
! Hatteras, and these are amply sufficient,
| it is said, for all light purposes.
| What is really needed, it Is argued, Is
a powerful fog signal on a light vessel
anchored on the shoals. According to the
| estimates already made, the lighthouse
would cost $4,000 of which amount con-
gress has appropriated 100000 to begin
the work. The lighthouse, with the lat
est fog signal appliances it is said. would
not cost more than $4,000 with an annual
| expenditure of 5000 for maintenance. In
| proof Of the feasibility Of anchoring 4
| fog signal vessel on the Diamond shoals,
reference Is made to the lightshlp which.
for many years past, has been anchored
thirty miles cut in the open sea off the
Nantucket South shoals, where the storms
are even more severe than OFF Cape Hat
teras.
with the new methods of mooring light
vessels by means of the steel spring rid
ing shoppers, 1t is said, there is no doubt
whatever that one could be maintained Oh
| the Diamond shoals with no real danger
this last attempt all efforts to construct
| a lighthouse at that point will be aban-
dOned, and it is very likely that congress
| will be asked to authorize the construc-
ton OF a fog signal vessel to be anchored
on these dangerous shoals.
Birdie. dear what in the world are you
doing? Sprinkllng sugar on. the steak2"
Yes, hubby. II never cooked a steak
before, and I hate to put salt on it, Salt
is so common and cheap, you know
| New York Recorder.