The Portland daily press., 1896-02-19

vessel costing not more than $50 900, and
similar to that which is to be placed off Fire
Island, could be anchored there with GER
talnty of its weathering the fiercest gales
that snort in that latitude. Admiral Walker,
chairman of the Board, agrees with the az
mymen, and advocates the building of
great lighthouse costing upward of 81, 900 900,
which, when completed, will represent the
highest type of coast lighting In the world.
He proposes to make the light the most
powerful one that shines from q lighthouse,
and to connect the structure with the shore
by means of a submarine cable, SO that YES
sells passing up and down the coast can be
reported to maritime exchanges.
Whether Hatteras and its dangerous outer
shoal are to be guarded by a Lighthouse built
on the plan Of the Lighthouse Board or
simply by an inexpensive light vessel, prob
ably will depend upon Congress. The Board
has given its approval Of the proposed light,
and the plans arc complete. There is also
available about 100000 with which to begin
the work, and it is expected that the re-
mainder, to carry out the project, will be
asked this winter. If it is secured, OF If au-
thority is given to begin the work, the gov
eminent proposes to undertake it alone, and
not to ask for bids from contractors, as
did previously to establish the light.
The dangers attending the construction
of the lighthouse and the possibilities of its
being swept away before reaching the stage
when it could combat the seas have received
careful attention, and the engineers believe
that every precaution has been taken to in
sure its erection and strength. Surveys of
the shoal show that the water varies at
m aar tide from, forrtaa,, foot tn about thi1fv
year OF SO ago a four-pile iron skeleton
structure was driven down by hydraulic
pressure to distance of forty or fifty feet
and there a solid foundation was found.
This structure was allowed to remain for one
year, and, though it was but small target
for the seas, at the time it was seen last the
piles had been twisted and wrung as though
they were of tin, and they showed that it
was extremely questionable whether num-
Der of such piles on which it is proposed to
build the lighthouse would withstand the
force of the water for any considerable peri
cd. This, at least, is the view taken by the
Secretary and by other lighthouse experts,
although the army men on the Board still
contend that the piles were comparatively
weak, and it was to be expected they would
show signs of many years buffeting from
been demonstrated to the Board, and that
is, no structure of masonry could be erected
on Diamond shoal. -Four syears ago, when
the idea of building a lighthouse there was
new huge caisson of boiler plate, costing
500, 900, was built at Norfolk Va, towed to
the point of the proposed light, and sunk
few feet, when a stiff northeastern came
along and knocked it to pieces before the
sink this caisson several feet below the bot
tom, then pump it out and fill in the space
with concrete and stone. Such means of
constructing piles in deep water work sue
cessfully in most cases, but it is said that no
caisson put together could stand the Halter
as waves.
When it was decided that If a lighthouse
was to be placed off Hatteras, it must be of
some other design than that of the original
plans, the experts set to W ork to devise it.
They decided that the skeleton screw pile
system could be adopted, and with this as
base they have drawn up the plan of the
proposed structure. When located it will
bear close resemblance to the many big
lights seen in Chesapeake Bay and other
Southern waters, where solid foundations
have been obtained by sinking piles with
hydraulic pressure. The Diamond ShoaI
light at distance will look like great
spider with an immense head The light
will be visible at least twenty nautical
miles, and in thick weather the most power.
full steam fog siren will be blown at short
intervals. Three keepers will be required to
manage the highland keep it in order. There
will be room for eight people. On account
of the dangers attending lighthouse tenders
that come alongside, all supplies will have
to be hoisted in by an immense derrick pro-
jecting far out from the side of the light.
There will be supplies to last six months.
Within few weeks the Treasury will send
estimates to Congress for additional money
to be used in constructing the proposed
light, and some time this spring the Light
house Board proposes to begin work. Should
Congress fail to grant the required sum,
there seems to be an excellent chance for a
trial at least of a light vessel before the ex-
perts go to work expending $1,0Oo,OOO on a
plan which does not seem feasible to several
authorities on lighthouse matters.