Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-06-23
MONOT0NQUS LIVES.
FOLLOWED BY 7tIoss w4o1gNO TIE
LIGHTHOUSES.

Qualifications sn,; OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
latiols which EIust ne Observed to the
Letto--P-ovjsio,,s zss,,o For the Conn
for. of These UsefaI Servants.
4 lighthouse keeper is appointed by
TIE secretary Of the treasury on the rec
oruuIendatic, Of the licbthouse board,
and at first receives only an acting ap-
Doir;rleHt. At the cEj cf'three months,
If he passes an examination by the na-
yal officer who is tie Inspector OF the
district, he receives = fsll appointments;
is he does iot pass, BE IS arcpped FROM
tie service. = keeper llu;t be able TO
read and write, keep GccoTits, sail and
pull "A boat ard have eGaa2h mechanic
ri i,i!ity to make the necessary miner
rep4i-s about tie sta5iCn AID keep 1t il
order. There is only cne Grade CT keep
CT recognized by law, bnt the custom of
the service has divided the ket pers into
different grades. with different pay ard
duties aud with promotion hom one
~rada to another. 4 man may be ap-
pointed 20 the service GEd assigned to a
particular station, Int he may be moved
at any tire If promoted or if tho inter
ests Of the servic2 demand it. st sta
ticns raqGiliHg but one Keeper = retired
seataring MAJ, with a family, IS usual
IS selected, and Ill general lncn ~ tire
segfaring class are most wanted. AZ sta
tio,s where there IS foS signal one of
the assistants is man who has an en-
giueer's license and IL something Cf Il
maChinist.
Keepers are paid on an average ab'ut
$500 n year, bat the individual StTas
paid vary froIa $lCG 20 @l,0G0 year,
according 10 the Importance Of the sta
ton and the anlonnt Of service render
| ed. Tie principal keeper at Minct's
| Ledge light, just outside CS Boston, re-
ceiycs 81, 600 "a year foc his SERVICES,
and this furnishes the only instance
where the pay Of a keeper is specified
by law.
The keepers who live at isolated
! lighthouses and "a the CiIsaoro light
ships lead very mclotouo0s life, bro
ken only hy tic sight of passing vessels
and the quarterly visit Ct TIE lighth2aa5
supply boat.
| These EcePers get considerable lcaT2,
about two weeks IL three months, Dr.
ing which tiIlc Tho visit Ii, Z fah..i!i:-
on fell pay. y lighthouse oa an outiy
ing reef, fc- instance, Is cn the :'azss.
status IS l;ghtship, czccpS that IL caE
not be blown away AID the keepers can
rot leave il except VIXEN they are re-
!iovcd, as = sgnrm might come ~ aa'
prgy ct t'ieir 81, i.-:i.
Much IS dcEa - tho liE!i; b"E.so board
tn further the CcciiUTt q au its em
rloyars, Eat most j. done for those VIZ
eGdEtc the solitary lie al t:I2 iso,e'e,
lights and Oh the Iishtships. Libri,'!e
aIe Furnished Tho keepers ard t-sei
families. Lac!i confirms shout 20 vls
umcs OF wu,I:s cf history, scieE"e a..
poetry, with {. fair supply cf Eooi uoY
els. This complete library is l,tt ~ :
staticn for tlI,C IicnIis, and j. IT,
truI sferrcu n another station hy al -
speC:or or Lis quarterly visit. There az
nearly I,GcJ # these li,z:;.iCs IL circJs
latioli, each II its ii.;ie portable case
ana, by their jaGicioHs interchange, IN
keepers CT stscicEs WEcIc they are tar
nished see abot.s 3G0 ToluIues a year.
Keepers are forbidden TO engage i
any br:inass which VIII prevent thei
presence G5 their stations CT interteT
with the proper performance OF be.
duties Many have useful and proii laol
occupations which ticy CRY npss--ls th
stations, while o;9;een we were az
} justices Of tha pesof our fellows tho tho
ed US a..s:Les- and il NJ" Of VIII
'moia: ....l.icG. IN scane csses theyyh
! furnished With food ard rations. Cth1
stn .inns i,cz.. ha-i.s fircl:si,a., fn.. cattI