The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19

alike, securely anchored, just beyond the
bar, and within easy view of the Cliff
House.
In all probability this vessel will be built
in the Potrero or Harbor View yards.
Plans and specifications will come from
Washington, and shipbuiiders here will be
given an opportunity to bid upon her con-
struetion. The cost, as allowed in the
sundry civil appropriation bill, is $50, 900.
With that amount at its disposal the
United States Lighthouse Board will be
able to build lightship of the latest and
most approved pattern, and equip her fully
throughout for her long vigils off the
Golden Gate.
The United States Lighthouse Board
has adopted type of light vessel which
compares favorably, if not indeed excels
the types of other nations, and this ship
will be on the same lines with some small
Improvements added. She is to be trim
built, powerful vessel, of quite graceful
outlines, resem bling 8 steam schooner.
Unlike the old lightships, she will be
provided with auxiliary engines and pro-
pellers so that she can take care of herself
should her moorings give way in storm.
Besides, she will have schooner rig with
main and foresails. Her length will be
liz feet, breadth 28X feet, depth of
hold IS feet. In construction, she will be
composite, her frame, keelplate, sheers-
trake and bilge to be of steel, like the deck
framing, stringers and tie plates. The
covering will be wood with a copper
covered bottom to prevent fouling. This
popularity of construction furnishes the
needed strength to Withstand the longitu-
dinal, transverse anc twisting movements,
all of which must be borne by ship
moored as she will be in the open sea. BY
the introduction of wood, the possibility
of corrosion of steel plates is avoided, as
well as frequent docking, and the con-
sequent absence of the ship from her
station.
The propeller engine will be capable of
driving her at speed of nine miles an
hour and in the case of heavy seas or
storms she will be thus enabled to face the
wind and so relieve the strain on her
anchors.
The anchor will weigh 5000 pounds. The
fog signal will be a 12-inch whistle of the
chime class, giving out distinct and differ.
ent notes, produced by either steam or
compressed air
On her two masts day signals of globular
shape will be hoisted, and at night clusters
of electric lights strengthened by lens and
powerful rehectors. The hull will be
divided into a great variety of compart-
ments, as every bit of space must be
utilized.
There will be ar after cabin. engine,
boiler, oil and sail rooms, large fresh
water tank in the hold, chain locker,
fore hold, storerooms, crew space, ETC.,
with lockers of many kinds on the top
deck; bat there is to be no obstruction
above this hurricane deck.
The lightship will be moored outside
the ba. about seven miles from Point
Bonita and the Cliff House, at the present
location of the whistling buoy. Ships
coming into the harbor after dark "pick
up'' this buoy and then steer straight
ahead for the Fort Point light. This
course is pursued until point about mid
way between Point Bonita light and Point
Lobos is reached, when a tack is taken
toward the Lime Point light, which
brings the mariner inside the harbor. The
rest is easy sailing.
Orders from the Lighthouse Depart
ment in Washington regarding the new
ship may be expected at the local office
almost any day now, since the appropria-
ticn has been made.