The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26

Alcatraz lights in line and then steer the
same as vessels from the west.
Vessels from the north pass Point Bonita
on the port side and steer for Pigeon Point
until they have the range tights in line
and then enter the harbor the same as all
others.
In the daytime vessels from the north
change their course as soon as the north
ern end of Goat Island comes IN view in
stead OF going south until they have the
range lights IN line. But vessels from the
west and south take their bearings the
same as at night.
1t might seem difficult to decide whether
the Fort Point or the Alcatraz Island light
was the most important to navigation, as
botn are now used together and each seems
SO necessary to the other. But there was
q time when vessels entering the harbor
had only one light to take bearings on and
that was on Alcatraz Island. In fact
Alcatraz has always been considered one
OF the most important stations on the
coast, while Fort Point vas erected many
years later and cannot safely be used in
dependently if ANYTHING should happen
and the Alcatraz Island light fail to show.
There is little doubt, however, but that
regular ocean travellers would consider the
Fort Point light as the most i'm portant.
1t is different from most lights and after a
long voyage the first sight of it makes one
feel that he was almost safe in port and
welcome home.
The history of the Alcatraz Island light
house begins as far back as 1852. In that
year the Government commenced work on
the buildings that at present crown the
summit OF the island and in the wear fol-
lowing the lamp was first lighted. At
that time 1t was the only Lighthouse in the
bay. Its position was most advantageous
and had there been no Alcatraz Island
some sort OF expensive structure would
have had to have been erected.
Practically no changes have been made
IN either building or tower, so that the AL
catraz Island lighthouse looks the same
to-day as it did forty-three wears ago. But
the Surroundings have of course altered.
In the old days it was nothing but bar
ren rock and the keepers used to have to
go to the mainland for drinking water.
Now the whole island is covered with
frowning military structures and gardens
have been coaxed into existence in many
. places.
1t is not an easy matter to reach Alca.
traz Island lighthouse. The first obstacle
will be few military formalities, as no.
body is allowed to land on the island
without having first obtained permission
OF the officer IN charge. This will not be
given unless the person is known or has
the Endorsement OF somebody in the SER
vice.
Having reached the island there is
AOhs ClImD 10 the Top, winch Is LOU ieeI
above high tide. The road makes several
turns around the hill, so that the distance
is close on to quarter of mile.
The Alcatraz Island lighthouse consists
OF stone tower forty feet high, with
keepers residence of the same material
built around it. The walls of the structure
are about two feet thick, succeed and
painted pure white. The lantern is
reached by spiral stairway in the tower.
Alcatraz Island station is OF the third
order and has one of the finest lenses ever
built. 1t was made by Sautter e. Co. of
Paris, France, in 1852. under the direction
of Thomas Corwin. The glass used is most
peculiar, as it is so soft that a pocket-knlfe
will cut it. The advantage of this glass is
its remarkable cearness. With seventy
four candle-power Funk lamp the light
can be seen nineteen miles at sea, while
Point Bonita, which has nearly double the
candle power and an ordinary lens, can
be seen only seventeen miles. The reason
more OF these lenses are not used is on ac-
count OF The cost. Alcatraz Island lenses
cost $4,000, and at the same rate first
class lens like Point Bonita would cost in
the neighborhood OF $4,000. The local