The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-06
our IN rnE OPEN SEA.
A Lighthouse TO he Erected WIN can
Forth Daring Engineering.

N"fth hAFihg engineering
A difhcultvand costly piece Of ensi.
neoring has been undertaken by the
United States government In the pro
lecied establishment OF a great light.
house In the open ocean of Diamond
shoal, seven miles from the prcsen,
Hatteras Light and bearing almost due
east. says the Washington Times. Thu
Ia one Of the most daring schemes that
army officers have dealt with since Goa.
Casey chief Of engineers. successfully
undermined the great Washington
monument and placed there a soiif
foundation expected TO support IN
structure for ages 10 come. Surround
Ing this new plan. however. there IA /,
forebOding Of failure. aud It Is pre-.
dictod this early that 81 900 900 Is "a
be sunk literally as we'll as metaphor.
tcally In the ata.
II such a structure Is placed there ant
stands without serious damage the ON.
slaughl Of the sea for ave years. 40
cording 10 leading army engineer. thli
government will have accomplished nc
greatest triumph In this branch Of
science.
The helgh, OF the focal plane above
water In the prospectus Is given rs loo
feet, and the structure Is TO stand In
thirly-three feet Of water aud to b
supported on disk piles sunk TO a depth
OF thirty feet In the sand. The diane.
ter from center 10 center OF vertical
members OF the foundation series l. lS
be sixty feet, and the height Of the flooi
OF the house above water forty sever
feet The main portion Of the s,rue.
ture is 10 be constructed OF forged steel
members VITA principal Joints and con.
uections formed OF steel castings.
4 special feature OF the design Is tc
make all essential parts below the
water-line Of massive dimensions, at
we'll as all those parts above the wattr.
line which will be subject to the action
OF the wind and waves. The use Of
bolts. keys, screws and all small sec.
tons or dimensions which would he
rapidly weakened by eorroslon VIII be
avoided as far as possible. Joints and
connections are TO be made absolutely
rigid to all possible strains and 10 be as
strong rs the members themselves.
This Is to be effected by Joining ends
Of members TO steel cast hubs by the
use OF massive steel rings shrunk on In
a manner approximatlng that followed
IN "bullt-up" gun construction.
In the foundation series. beside the
massive members necessary for thu
strength 81 the tower when IN place,
there viii be certain other tie rods Of
lighter section, which are added fAf
greater security 10 stlflcn the franz
work while Il Ia iloated and while being
placed and grounded on the shoal. Il
Is proposed by the board 10 construct
the screw-plle structure In the harbor
and feat Il out by steel cylindrical calls
sons calculated to give a draught Of
thirty feet when az sea. This part Of
the light Is then 70 be sunk probably
lfty feet down IN the bottom By hy.
draulics until firm hold Is secured.
Il IL then proposed to build up from
the skeleton arrangements until the
llghtkeeper's apartments have been
completed and the height secured for
the great lens which Is 10 throw he
light twenty-five miles In all directions,
The work Is TO begin this winter and
Il Is proposed to complete the light In
two or three years