Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-30
ElEcrRIc cossr LieHrs.
Those Used IN France aiis,eadinE--Capthi
Eynns' Experience.


Evans Experience.
The plan to establish at Barnegat the
great electric light purchased from
France at tho Chicago Worlds Fair
and now heing tasted at Iompkinsville,
S. L., will probably he abandoned by
the United Statos lighthnuse board, IN
Difference, the Now York TIibune's cor
respondent at Washington thinks, TO
the opinion of experienced mariners.
Such lights have been in practical use
on tho north ana west coasts OF FRANCE
and Germany for several wears, and u
was thought that tho Institution OF
one on the New dorsey shore wouln
nrove of great advantage in had weather
TO both trans Atlantic and coastwlBe
vessels bound for New York which weie
deferred from approaching too near
Sandy Hook in heavy gales and storms
1t is known that the great light which
the lighthouse establishment owns
would give warning Of its presence at
least 30 miles out at sea, while the
present apparatus at BarnegHt is visible
only ~ nautical miles, and that at
Nayesink only q miles, the greatest
radius Of visibility Of all lights on the
coHst.
The Giroude River entrance light on
the west coast Of France is CLEARLY seen
q miles, hut it's Luminous range OF
visibility" is 56 miles, and u little
further north the Belle Isle light has a
luminous range of "a miles, its inten-
sity varying according to atmospheric
conditions. similar light near
Cherbourg, directly visible for d miles.
has luminous range vi 80 milea, and
there are several others OF like power
along the channel.
Capt Rnhley y. Evans, who com
mandeGl the New York at tho Kiel re-
view, taking that vessel on consider
able cruise through Northern European
waters, had experience with these great
lights, and now as member of tho
lighthouse board, he will probably
prevent their adoption in this country.
lie saya that instead Of assisting
mariners they contribute to the dangers
Of navigation. lie says the object Of a
light is to warn napigRtorH OF ita exact
location in order that it may be avoided,
and to display its characteristic features
30 that it's individuality may be
| definitely known, thereby enabling u
pilot, after seeing it, to SGT his course
true. The great French lights in all
bad weather utterly fail in these essen
tials. Their extreme visibility depends
| on the reflection of their great intensity
from the sky, the lantern itself being
below the horizon. At times when the
Nav York was going phi dly along on
safe course at night nverhanging
cloudH would catch the reflection of one
of tnuae lights and startle every one on
| the ship. 1t was impossible to tell the
direction Of the source of illuminationy
or whether it was 50 Or 100 miles away,
and for all any one knew it might have
heen searchlight signal from ship
dead ahead or astern.
Tho reflection of the Chorbourg light
has been noticed nearly IS miles at sea
without giving clew to its direction.
His Investigations and those of other
members of the board have led TO the
practical conclusion not to put the big
light at Barnegat at present, though il
might be utilized at soma othsr point,
preferably on the Pacific coast.