The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-05
A LIGHTHOUSE OFF HATTERAs.
Plans for the diamond ShonI Strus.
turc About 10 BE Executed.

Army engineers are about to under
take n most difficult piece OF work for
me government. Formal approval hav-
ing been given by the Lighthouse Board
to the plnns for n light on Diamond
Shoai, which juts into the sea seven
miles OF Cape Hatteras, an engineer
OFFICER has started out to inspect steel
manufactures To determine whore the
best material for the structure can be
obtained.
Whether This light car be erected, or.
II erected. can withstand the heavy seas
and winds, is a question which has
rough about n wide difference OF on
tnion even among The members com
posing the board. The majority. how
ever, old that 1t Is feasible. The MI
nority, composs1 exclusively jf THE
naval representatives and one civilian
member. are of the opinion that no light
can be built which Will stand. and tina
even IL 1t can, there is no necessity of
the Governments going to an expense
or over 81 200. 600 when Il lightship cost
ing but $50. 900 void serve every urpos
Admiral Walker, Capt. Wide and
Capt. Dewey, all Of the navy. arc nd-
Nocatcs of the light vessel, while Col.
wilson and the army contingent favor
the lighthouse. Congress has old the
board to 10 ahead and prepare plans
Tor Il light. authorizing the expenditure
of $500. 900.
One of the leading engineers in Wash
inEton stated that there was no more
reason why Il light vessel should not he
placed on Diamond Shoal than off San
dy Hook, and pointed out thai the Nam
tuckct Shoal vessel had stood up I'm the
teeth of Il I5-mile-au-iour gale without
breaking her moorings. N~otwithstand-
ing all opposition. however. work on
the great structure will begin with the
opening OF the spring. by which time all
the preliminary plans. will have been
completed. and n part of the structure
constructed ashore, ready to be towcd
out to the shoal and there forced down
by hydraulic power.
The design of the structure contem-
plates an immense skeleton uffair
through which wind and waves can
play. meeting but little resistance. Eight
great iron tubes will he sunk in n cir
Gle to Il depth of thirty feet beneath the
seas bottom ana so fastened and
strengthened as To he proof. the cnEi-
neerS say. against the heaviest sands
ana seas. The height of the focal plane
above the water will be i00 feet. and the
structure is designed to stand in thirty
three feet of water, ON In deeper water
than any other lighthouse on the At
lantic coast. The base OF the lighthouse
VIII he supported by piles sunk to n
depth of thirty feet, the diameter OF the
base being sixty feet, and the height
of the floor above high wnter forty
V feet.
The building Will he entirely of forged
steel, Il special feature of the design
being to make all essential parts below
the water line Of massive dimensions,
as well rs those parts above the water
Subjcct to the action Of waves and sea.
The use of all bolts ana rods and other
sections which would he weakened rap
idly by corrosion has beer avoided i'm
the plans. Quarters will be provided
for three Keepers and the head Keepers
family. several boats will swing
from davits a hundred feet in the air
for their use. The lens will be The
most powerful lighthouse lens in en-
t%Stcncc, and should throw the rays about
twenty-threc miles in all directions. The
most powerful steam fog siren Will be n
part OF the equipment. and it is proha-
Die electricity will be the lighting power.