The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-13

| ciNlizatlon III any marltlnc nation tina
In the increase In the number of light
houses and lighted buoys along its coast
The value of these aids To safe ayigatio
has long been recognized and thore cal
be no doubt that even in the earliest az
man-guiding lights of crude natur
! were employed. The most celebrate
| light house of ancient times was tina
erected by Ptolemy Philadelphus on th
Island OF Pharos, opposite the wonderful
| city or Alexandria, and the famc OF thi
Deacon was probably due in large degrc
20 the conspicuousness Of its situation
lhe light was produced by fire made o
such combustibles as would emit th
brightest flame, and was allowed Il
shoulder by day, being renewed at sun
down and continuously supplied during
the night OF modern structures th,
Eddystone light off Plymouth, England
completed in 1853, may be taken as tn,
opening OF a new era in lighthouse con
struction. 1t was erected under enormous
engineering difficulties, and was first
lighted by tallow candles of 81 candl,
power unaided 10y optical apparatus; but
the power of the beam from the present
tower Is equal TO $4,000 candles The
lighthouse system of this country began
with the settlement of the earliest colon
lists, who recognized the necessity for
TO n safe anchorage. Point Allerton, a
prominent headland near the entrance to
Boston Harbor was selected for the loca-
ton of what was probably the first beacon
TO illuminate the shores of this country.
The first lighthouse proper was
also built at the entrance to Bos-
ton Harbor during the years
levied on all incoming and outgoing
vessels. The light in the majority of the
light houses of today is produced by
various styles of mineral oil lamps, aided
by reilcctors and by lenses on the principle
proposed by Fresnel. As long ago as 1917
an attempt was made TO introduce gas as
an illuminant for lighthouses, and in
1914 rosin gas was successfully employed
IN the Christiana light station near Viii
mington, Del, but was afterward aban-
uoned. AT the present time "a number of
lighthouses use gas notably those on
Currituck Sound, North Carolina, but
as general rule its use has not been ex-
tended as rapidly as might be expected.
AS applied TO the illumination of buoys,
however, gas is rapidly and successfully
displaclng all other methods. Until a
short time ago the entrances to our sea-
ports were marked by simple wooden or
can buoys, and n vessel arriving off a
harbor, such as New York, after nightfall
I'm wet or heavy weather. was of necessity
morning light enabled her to get her bear.
ing. In thisway "A vast amount of time
was lost, connections missed etc. the
loss in money being of course commensur-
ate to the length of the delay. All this
has now been changed by the planting of
system of lighted buoys, under the guild
ance of whose beams the largest and un-
wieldiest of ocean steamships can enter "A
harbor at night except in very foggy
weather, with the same confidence us in
the day time. The lighted buoys which
permit of the most general use are the
Pintsch Gas Buoys, which have been
adopted by foreign countries and by our
own government for use on the coasts
and the grcHt hikes. OFT lighted buoys
are unsatisfactory and unable TO meet the
requirements and electric lighted buoys
are very expensive to maintain and liable
TO constant disorder, due TO accidents to
the cable or the machinery on shore. In
case the cable should part all the lights
would be extinguished, and this might
most needed. The Suez canal was
first lighted by electricity, but it
was found too costly and unreliable and a
change was made To the Pintsch system.
The Pintsch buoy is made without
rivets. its body forming "a compact wrought
iron vessel. 1t is filled with compressed
Pintsch gas, and on the top is "a patent
storm proof lantern, supported by a strong
iron frame work. The flow of gas from
the reservoir into the lantern is controlled
by the Pintsch regulator by means of
which clear light Is maintained no mat
ter what may be the position of the buoy
1r how much 1t may toss in heavy seas.
The storm proof lantern is so contracted
hat while the necessary air Is admitted
10 feed the flame, not a particle of water
'an enter. no matter how high or heavy
5he sea. The most searching trials have |
shown that the lantern answers its pur-
bose TO the fullest extent. Neither the |
hardest gales, the force Of the waves not |
wen the momentary submerging of the |
antern Is able To extinguish the light |
3y means of a Fresnel lens the light is |
brown to such distance as to be dis |
lnctly visible for six or seven miles i'm |
lear weather. The Pintsch buoys are of |
'arious sizes, and burn continuously and |
eliably night and day, without attention, |
rom three months 70 one year, depending
N their size The refilling of n buoy is |
one by tender by passing compressed
'intsch gas from tank through fexi-
'lc tube into the buoy. This gas is the
anne as Is now used to light the
ars of nearly all our principal
and is obtained from the
umerous Pintsch plants in opera
ion In all parts of the country. Within
he last few years the Lighthouse Board
{ Washington has introduced large
lumber of Pintsch buoys around the
rincipal harbor mouths and channels on
nc Atlantic coast, including New York,
'oston, Charleston, Savannah and in
delaware and Chesapeake Bays, and
lany of the buoys have also been placed
! the great lakes and the st. Lawrence
ivcr They have given uniform satisfac-
on, both to the lighthouse authorities
nd shipping interests. Not requiring the
'rvices of light keeper, they are mex
ensivc 10 operate and are coming more
nd more into vogue to mark turning
Dints and distractions in channels and
J the course OF vessels. They minimize
le dangers of navigation at night, and
ave saved an immense amount of money
, commerce. The lighthouse and buoy
stem of this country is one that will
,mpare favorably with those Of tho
der nations of the world, and Is some
ling TO which all marine men can point
ith pride. While there are yet many
anger points in our waters which need |
he marked so as To be easily distin.
at night, this will undoubtedly
} done as rapidly as possible by the light
)use authorities, provided they have tho
lpport and cooperation OF the shipping
1t Is certainly work which |