The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-24
THE NEW LIGHT SHIP
Will be Built in Portland by
John F. Stefen.
FOR USE AT MOUTH COLUMBIA
Untiring Efforts Of Commander
Fartnholt Successful-Old Ship
to Go to Umatills Reef.

spector of the thirteenth lighthouse dis
trict, on Saturday last signed, on behalf
of the government. contract with John
F.. Steffen, of Portland, for the construc-
ton of a steam composite light vessel, at
a cost Of $50, $50.
This vessel is intended to be stationed
on the coast Of Washington, and will be
known as Umatilla lightship, No. 81, and
will be built of the best soft steel of do
nestle manufacture, planked with sea-
soned Oregon pine. Her length is liz fe' t,
breadth, 2Sh feet: depth of hold, 13 feet;
tonnage, 450
She will be of the most modern con-
struction made up to this date in light
vessels. She will be the first on the Pa
ciflc coast and the third in the country
lighted by electricity. Instead Of the Cd
16 oil lamp inclosed in an octagon frame
hoisted and lowered on each of the two
masts Of lightship, she will be supplied
with four incandescent lamps at each
masthead, of 40 volts and 100 cardle-
power each. Attached to the dynamo is
an alternate opening and closing of the
circuit at the masthead, thus making
flash at from Is to 20 seconds at Will.
To supply this, as well as other parts
of the vessel with electric light, and to
guard against breaking down, there will
be two independent electric 5x4-inch dou-
ble-cylinder Sturtevant engines.
For fog-signal. she will be fitted with
modern Hornsby-Akrogel oil engine,
blowing a Pinch whistle every is seconds
The main engine will be of the vertical
inverted surface, condensing type, with
single cylinder; steam pressure of 100
pounds, making 150 revolutions of the
four-hladed propeller On her trial trip
of 12 hours duration the eneine must de-
velop $50 indicated horsepower, and 100
pounds steam pressure per square inch,
at a coal consumption of IA pounds per
Indicated horsepower.
The vessel is to be fitted with a steam
capstan, and the hawse-pipe through
which the cable passes securing the ship
to the moorings, is in about the same
place Qevel with the main deck) ss IN or
dinary vessels, instead of being level with
the water as is the casee in all Fight
vessels butt heretofore. The 200 ia thoms
of chain to which the ship rides at her
6,OOO-pound mushroom anchors is 1 SIS
inch STEEL instead of 2 1-2-inch iron ca
bles, as heretofore used in lightships.
The interior fitting of the ship is in
hard wood, The quarters of the officers
and crew are remarkably cozy and COM
fortable-a great Improvement on the
light vessel at the mouth of this river.
The complement of crew is the same-one
master, one mate, one engineer, one as
sisteant engineer. cook and six scam n.
The total payroll per month Is about $575.
The specifications and plans for the
construction of this new lightship are
very minute in every particular. and the
contractC: as we'll as the superintendent
of construction cannot be cnvied
Although the ship is built for service
and stationed at Umatilla reef, Captain
Farenholt, U. s. NJ, the inspector of this
lighthouse district states that the ship
when completed will replace the present
light vessel, No so, at the mouth of the
Columbia river, and the latter will be
stationed at Umatilla reef Lightship
No 50 has been stationed at the mouth
of the river since April, 1892. She has
sail, but no steam power. Should she
break adrift during any of the prevailing
southerly gales, 1t would be imposs BILE fer
her 10 cross any bar, and make a harbor
All she could do would be to run" before
the gale and make for Neah hay, IL the
straits of Juan de Fuca, 140 miles Prom
her present moorings. Should she part
her moorings while stationed at Umatilla
reef, she would have to run but 2 miles
to the anchorage at Neah bay.
Umatilla reef, the proposed new site
13 miles south of Cape Flattery, at T. Q
entrance OF the strait of Juan de Fuca
The steamer Umatilla struck on this reef
some seven years ago. The neighhoi hoo,
so near the strait of Fuca, the great
highway to the north, is d7rg rous
ground for shipping. particularly ring
fog. when the conflicting currents Often
drive vessels among the rocks, islets and
submerged dangers on this part OF the
coast
AS soon as Captain Farenholt. thor
oughly acquainted as he is with the needs
of the Pacific coast, came to this dis
trict, he urged this necessary aid, and his
persistent and untiring energy was re-
warded by the last congress passing an
appropriation Of $4,000 for a light vessel
at Umatilla reef. When placed at her
station she will be hailed with fervent
thanks by every mariner bound up or
down the coast and into the strait Of
Juan de Fuca.
AS all depended upon the recommended
tion of Capten Farenholt as to where
the light vessel was TO be built, it is jus
tice to mention that II is due to him that
Portland has the construction of the ves-
sell 1t will be a help TO deserving me-
chanics, who are not overburdened with
work at this season Of the year. The ship
must be ready for service in ten calen-
dar months. or else a forfeit of s25 per
day is exacted for each day over that
time.
The following firms bid on the con-
struction Of this vessel:
Delivery to be made at Tomkinsville.
N. Y
Path Iron Works. Bath. Me.........S 6s,9c
George avley & Son. Corporation.
Boston, Mass ........ ......,....... 1850
John II. Dialogue & Son. Camden,
n. J.. for delivery at camden.... 1900
Atlantic Works. for delivery at
Boston ........ 80. ................. 1880
W p woodaH & Co. Baltimore y. "a
{. Deeder & Sons. Baltimore........ s3.750
Pusey & Jones Co. Wilmington, 500
ReIls steam en0ine works. Bunaio $50
Atlantic Works. Boston, power or