The morning news., 1897-06-06
OCEAN STATIONS.
A Plan to Make the Ocean as safe IA
"A Roadway.


From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
A project. as bold as it is magnificent
has just been invented for providing a
series Of stations across the Atlantic
which will enable steamers at sea to be
communicated with. just as a railway
train is on dry land,
Al certain intervals OF about 100 miles
Mr.. Reuben II. Plass, for that is the in
ventors name. proposes to place what he
calls central stations"
They are two-storied structures, with
quarters In which a certain number OF
men will live. just as they do in the light
ships round the coast. Each of these sta
tions win be supplied with stores capable
OF lasting a long tima and is TO be equip
ped with a lifeboat manned by three sail
ors, which Is to be availabie for use when
ever necessary.
There are also to be attached to these
stations two steam or naphtha launches
to patrol the interval from one station to
the other, keeping a lookout for ships In
distress and for wrecks as well as ice
bergs All information gathered on these
points win be conveyed along the line by
means of al telephone apparatus, with
which It Is proposed to connectthe chains
OF vessels. Between each GENITAL station
there will be a series Of small floating
lighthouses al Intervals Of a mile. These
are TO be provided with foghorns, whose
working Will be by means of compressed
air, stored by ansautomatic apparatus as
the edihce rocks, while the light which
they furnish at night win require atten-
tion only two or three times year
These lighthouses will be furnished with
ladders reaching to the sea, so that should
an individual be unfortunate enough
through shipwIeck or accident, TO get into
the water he would be able to climb into
the lighthouse, which viii contain tood
and the means OF preparing IL as Weal as
supplies of dry clothing.
THE opening Of the door OF any one or
these lighthouses in the chain Will au-
tomatcally convey a message to this ef-
feet down the line TO the central station
on each side, and will also indicate the
lighthouse which has thus become the
shelter Of some one needing assistance.
As soon as the storm subsidies, should
one be raging at the time, the hfeboat
will be put off from the nearest station
in order 20 take the man off the light
house and place him on board the hrst
passing steamer going In the direction In
which he was bound.
While the human side OF the project IL
thus Indicated, its unitarian advantages
will be by no means lost sight OF. on
every one OF these lighthouses or buoys-
for such they will practically become-au-
tomato Instruments will record he tenn
perature Of the air and water. the RAIN
fall. the velocity and direction OF the
wind and current, as we'll as other facts
which II is desirable 10 register.
These will be telegraphed to both sides
Of the Atlanta, and knowledge OF the
climatic conditions advancing 10 the coast
likely TO obtain on shore will thus be Sc
cured several days ahead. Everything
which can be done automatically will be
done in this way, 50 that as little routine
work as possible viii be left for the men
al the different stations 10 look after.
They will thus be able TO give the greater
part Of their attention TO the patrol OF
their district and the lfe-saving work.
which will naturally be one Of the chief
considerations rendering The adoption OF
the plan at all feasible.
In order 10 keep the Nghtships and foat-
Ing station IN position they will. OF course,
have 20 be anchored 20 the bottom of the
ocean. To make them as comfortable and
as steady as possible for the men living in
them, huge iron tanks VIII form an es-
sentlal feature. Of their CONSTRUCTION.
These will be hled with oil. which, in
stormy weather. viii be poured on the
waves In order To break their force and
keep the SEQ from running too high. thus
endahgerlng the safety OF the stations or
causing them 10 drag their anchors.