The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-30
DIAMOND SH0AL LIGHT
PLANS ARE REIDT AND the WORK
no BEGIN ar ONCE.
The Most Dificult Feat Of Engineering
Ever Attempted by the Army Engi-
neers-The Difficulties.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Oct. S9.-Spccial.
Plans for the Diamond Shoal lighthouse
have been completed by the army en-
gineers, and everything Is In readiness
TO begin work on the most difficult en-
gineering feat attempted In lighthouse
construction. The height OF the focal
plane above water will be just 100 feet.
ard the structure is 10 stand In 50 Feet
Of water and supported on disc piles sunk
TO a depth OF 80 feet in the sand. Ihe
diameter from centre to centre OF vertical
members OF the foundation series Is TO DE
~ feet and the height OF she hoor or me
house above water AZ feet. Inc main POT,
lion of the structure Is 10 be constfoctri
of forged steel members, with pIiHcipai
joints and connections formed OF steer
castings. a. -
A special feature OF the design Is 10
make all essential parts below the wat. ,
line OF massive dimensions, as wen as al
those parts above the water hhe, VIM
will be subject to the action OF the wihus
and water. The use OF poilS, Ne! :,
screws and other small sections, which
would be rapidly weakened by cOfrcSioh,
will be avoided SO far as possible. JOINTS
and connections are TO De mside aoso-
lutely rigid TO all possible strains ana a.
strong as the members themselves. rms
IL TO be effected by Joining ends OF mem-
hers To steel-cast hubs 10y use OF massive
steel rings shrunk on In a manner ap..
proximating that followed In "Duiit-up
gun cons truC ton.
massive members necessary Tor the
strength OF the tower when IN place.
there VIII be certain other tie rods OF
lighter section, WHICH are AIDED lol
greater security to stiffen the frame WORK
while it is afoat and while being placed
and grounded on the shoals.
now IT WILL BE DONE.
II Is proposed by the board to construct
the screw pile structure IN harbor ana
float il out by steel cylindrical calssons
secured TO the outside ana CALCULATED 70
give a draft Of 20 feet when at sea. ms
part OF the light is then TO be sunk pro-
baby fifty feet down In the bottom py
hydraulics until firm hold Is secured.
III * then proposed TO build UP from ms
skeleton arrangement unul the u.h',,
keeuer's APARTMENTS have been coWpitttu
ana The height for the great lens. when
is to throw its light twenty-five mics III
all directions. Is reached. ~ ,,
The work is to begin this winter, ana
IL Is proposed to complete the hshl III
two or three years. ..,,,, "a
gariing the practicability Of THIS plan
Naval officers declare lighthouse can-
not be successfully estaohsned on w
Shoal and say that a lishtshp Wou'u
serve 81 cry purpose and cost much icss.
The army engineers, however, ptuv ~,
they can build a lighthouse TO STAND ior
all time.
WILL, HARDLY STAND.
II the proposed structure s'a''os ~ h
wears the navy will be SURPRISED anu "a
II should fail the engineers VIII oe pi.
MA re.d with excuses The navy has r,soh I,
homes that leading skipping interests VI
baltimore. Norfolk. Philadelpina, 10"
York. and Richmond will petition oon-
gress 70 annul its former al'Pr.i',,'"'' ~
or AT least 90 refuse addltiohai ino.e oyf' bc
mat the proposed structure may not pc
atfcmpted and instead that the iiedsuls
peparment will be directed 70 place oi,
Diamond Shoal lightship. II inns N .ss,y,
should break away the g0'efhh'nt 49, ~,
he a small loser. and II IL was proven en1'
tIaateras IL too bOiStcrous for llght yes
els there would have been httle oulld.
ia making the experiment bu' ~ -
claimed by several members OF tHs -. ~. ~ ~,
house Roars that If igntship is 70 ~
,ia~.d her. or pending the erection OF
p ughthouse. II would be demonstr s ,s
that there was this method or Ruai"il7
This danger point, 1t Would sc NOT 1911
factory 10 shipping interests, ana sow'u
A.. orourplished with comparatively sHali
Expenditure on the part OF the govern
"' ~ $ White, Of Virginia, is at the RAJ
leigh. .. x,,.ato,. Of Rich
-, ~. arc ar the Howard House
&; Hancock and wife, OF itlchlnohu'
are at the Rigs. 49, g. ~o,,stered
J. =. CLARK, OF Charloil'' -
AZ the Hotel Enrich .oo,etered
The following Nrsinlans are resis'ei,,o -. '
at the 81 James: r.. G. bTooNe, ~,
Thomas l.. Taylor, and }. H. @io'"' ''''
latter from Charlotte. -. CT, arl
AL al uo.yte. of Richmond. W. scott Az
Nfesher from different parts OF inc
state are AT the National .,,tod most.
f. b. Gayland has been appointed pos ~,
master al Gaylsni Beaufort COUNTY