The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30
KEEPERS OF LIGHTHOUSES.
Regulations of the Monotonous Lives
They Are Compelled to Lead.

Regulations of the Mon onors Lives
They Are Compelled to Lead.
A Iighthouse-keeper is appointed by the
Secretary OF the Treasury on the recon-
mendation of the Lighthouse Board, and
at first receives only an acting appoint
ment. At the end of three months, if he
passes an examination by the Naval Off
Ger who is the inspector of the district, he
receives full appointment; if he does
not pass he is dropped from the service.
A keeper aust be able to read and write,
keep accounts, sail and pull boat, and
have enough mechanical ability to make
the necessary minor repairs about the
station and keep it in order.
There is only one grade of keeper rec
ognized by law, but the custom OF the
service has divided the keepers into diff
fersnt grades, with different pay and
duties. and with promotion from one
grade to another. A man may be ap-
pointed to the service and assigned to a
part cular station, but he may be moved
at any time if promoted, or il the inter-
ests of the service demand it. At stations
requiring but one keeper, retired sea-
faring man, with a family, is usually
selected, and, in general, men of the sea-
faring class are most wanted. At stations
where there is Jog signal, one of the
assistants is a man who has an engineers
license and is something of machinist.
Keepers are paid on an average about
$500 year, but the individual sums paid
vary from 500 to $1,000 a year. according
to the Importance of the station and the
amount of service rendered The princi-
pal keeper at MInots Ledge Light Just
outside OF Boston, receives $1,000 year for
his services, and this furnishes the only
instance where the pay of a keeper i s
specified by law.
The keepers who live at isolated light
houses and on the off-shore lightships lead
a very monotonous life, broken only by
the sight of passing vessels and the quar-
terly visit of the Lighthouse supply boat.
These keepers get considerable leave.
about two weeks in three months, during
which they visit their families on full pay.
A lighthouse on an outlying reef, for
instance, is on the same status as light
ship, except that it cannot be Blown away
and the keepers cannot leave it except
when they are relieved, as storm might
come up and prevent their return.
Much is done by the lighthouse board
to further the comfort of all its employees,
but most Is done for those who endure
the solitary life a the isolated lights and on
the llghtships. Libraries are furnished the
keepers and their families; each contains
about forty volumes OF works of history,
science and poetry, with a fair supply of
good novels. This com plete library is left
at a station for three months, aud is then
transferred to another station by an in.
spector on his quarterly visit. There are
nearly 1000 of these Libraries in circulation,
each in It's little portable case, and, by
their judicions interchange, the keepers of
statioLs where they are furnished, see
about 200 volumes year.
Keepers are for hidden to engage in any
business which will prevent their presence
at their stations or interfere with the pro-
per performance of their duties. Many
have useful ands profitable occupations
which they carry on at the stations, while
soma fill pulpits, a,e Justices of the Peace
or teach school. All keepers are furnished
with quarters for themselves, and in so me
cases for their families. In some cases
they are furnished with food and rations.
Other stations have barns furnished for
cattle and horses, and boats are furnished
all stations inaccessible by land.
The discipline of the service bas been
always rigid, as befitting service where
negligence or inefficiency may mean the
loss of many lives and much Bile
property.
Dismissal instantly follows in two
cases-where keeper is found intoxicated
and where he allows his light to go out.
keepers are trained to consider the care
OF the light and the lighthouse property
above any and all personal considera-
tions. and it is rare, indeed, when they
Iali TO reaiize this high ideal. There have