The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-08
! Sry LIGHTHOUSE DISTRICT.

For some time there has been an EFFORT
made 20 establish a new Lighthouse district
on this part of the North Pacific coast, In
the doing Of which II has been hoped ire
lighthouse supervision might not be m
paired. and the general service might POS
s,bly be considerably improved The ois-
trict as Il now exists is one created years
ago, and. II we are not mistaken. extenos
from the northern boundary Of California
70 Alaska. With the growth OF commerce.
Improvement Of lights and increase OF buoys
al along the coast line, IL has become
very important district, and one which
saoula demand a very high state OF eifl-
c2ency Ia its workings
Up TO the present time the headquarters
OF this district have been In Portland and
Astoria. which places. when they were Sc
iected. were probably the most available OF
any on this part Of the coast The recent
expansion of commerce on Puget sound.
however has given rise to demand for
new lighthouse district, and without douot
there will soon be a recognition OF this de-
mand The state legislature in 1898 petit
Squire introduced a bin providing for It,
but thus far the matter does not seem TO
have been pushed so vigorously as 1t should
have been. The lighthouse service has been
looked after as carefully as IL could have
been under the circumstances, but those
who have investigated the matter do not
hesitate to say that It might be greatly i'm
al TOD cf.f
more direct supervision might be exer-
cised over the separate important localities
In 1t.
AS II is now, the headquarters. with Of
fciaIs ana lighthouse tenders. are practical
ly on inland waters These tenders. the Co
Eumbine and Manzanita, shoot out from the
Columbia river from time to time to supply
lighthouses and look after buoys, having
done which. they seek a retreat in fresh
water remote from some OF the most i'm
portant parts OF the district IL they are
needed they come out, provided the weather
Is such as to allow of it, If not. they re-
main inland until the barometer rises and
tho sea is stu. IL IL said, for example.
that one OF the tenders was ordered to the
Washington coast early IN last month. This
order was renewed three times UP to the
first Of January, and again issued this year.
but because OF stress of weather the vessel
has remained at Astoria. practically bar
bound.
This condition OF affairs is no reflection
on the seaworthiness of the government
vessels or the officials under whose direc-
ton they are. 1t merely suggests the alb
surdi;y OF having these coast vessels tied
up In fresh water. where 1t is impossible TO
use them at certain seasons OF the year.
Capt. Farenholt, who is now in charge of
the lighthouses in this district. is eaergetic
and attentive, and the service. under the
circumstances, has been as good as human
ingenuity could make II. but he cannot be
expected 10 overcome obstacles which must
present themselves so long as the district
remains so large and comprehensive as II
now Is Whenever the light house tenders
have been asked for in work OF search or
rescue. they have invariably been fur
nished. wind and weather permitting. and
the willingness OF the lighthouse service Of
hciais TO do all IN their power within and
without their strict line of duty, has never
been questioned
Tho difficulty Hes. however. in the fact
that the necessities of the times have out
grown the old district. 1t has become too
large to be directed from inland waters,
and should therefore be divided. There
should be lighthouse tender on Puget
sound. Aside from the ordinary lighthouse
| and buoy work, which has increased very
! considerably. there are occasions when a
| tender can he Of invaluable service to the
| commerce of these waters. When one Of
| these vessels Is needed. II Is needed badly.
| and the present demands OF Puget soundare
sufficiently important 10 make 1t desirable
/ to have a tender at once without trusting
| 20 the vagaries or the Columbia river bar
/ FOR suocor. when IN time OF storm or stress
| the need 81 IL Is very urgent. Tho moe
ment 70 have a new district should not lie
| allowed 70 lag and a lighthouse tender
| should De demanded for Puget sound ana
adjacent waters where Il can always be
relied upon for service whatever the
weather or the time Of year.