The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-12
Capable Men Report On New
Lighthouse Tower.
C. H. KLUEGEL-JO JOHN OUOERKIRK
They Say 1t Is all Right-LegislatlVe
Committee Condemned lt-Rider
on an Expense Item.

\ good many Of the hours of the |
Senate during the last session Of the
! last LEGISLATURE were used in discus
sion on the new Diamond Head light |
house. There was strenuously urged |
the contention that Mr.. RowelI, Sup
erintendent of Public Works, had
raised I'D for the support of the light
q ffmsy structure that would tOpple
over at the first heavy wind. 1t was
solemnIy asserted that the frame or
tower as placed was wholly insuttici-
ent for strength. Some OF the re
marks were quite warm and with one
man particularly the condemnation Of
Mr.. Rowell was frequent and strong
as expression of adverse opinion on
the tower This tower, by the way, IS
the same as used for lighthouses every |
where. There are scores of just the
same kind precisely on the Atlantic
coast. Framework of iron or steel is
preferred over the masonry foundation.
Stone foundations are being replaced
on the New England coast by the metal
| towers, yet a few of the Senator's and
a number of the Representatives were
confident that Mr.. ROweIl had made a
mistake. After many speeches had
been made in the Senate a committee
was appointed 1t made a solemn and
formal report. Following is a copy OF
the serious document:
The item in line 45 is the estimated
amount needed TO complete the Dia-
mond Head lighthouse including the
installation of the electric light stOr
same.
Your committee have personally in
spected said new light house now be
ing constructed, and consulted differ
9nt authorities regarding the strength
and stability of the structure, which is
all of iron above the concrete founda-
ton and is simply four 4-inch galvan-
lied iron pipes, in 20-fOOt lengths,
from the ground. to the lighthouse
pro5er, 10 feet. 1t is suitably braced
and above this is the superstructure
with the lights, 20 feet high. The iron
= of he supports is IA inch thick, which
= is cut by the thread in each of the
joints at least half of its thickness,
l leaving Is inch in thickness at each
joint, which would appear to be a
weak point in the same.
1t may however, be strong enough
| to support the 15-tOns weight of the
superstructure and stormy gales while
it is fresh and new, but it is in pO-
sitiOn constantly exposed to the salt
i spray of the sea. which will sooner or
later cut the weak joints OF the iron
with rust and endanger the safety Of
the structure with final collapse of the
supports.
On general principles a lighthouse
, should be a permanent institution that
u can be relied upon, With its light al
ways on hand, especially in stormy
weather. To accomplish this. it should
be constructed in the most substantial
! manner and not in a way to do service
- for two, three, five or even ten years
and then be missing, having collapsed
or tOppled over.
The lighthouse now being construct
ed can be made substantial and as per
manent as possible by. building up a
; good substantial stone and cement
tower from the ground up to the super
structure and securely fastening the
upper structure to the stOneWOrk. II
would then be dOubly strong, anC
when the iron pillars become weak
from rust the stone tower viii con
tinue to hold all firmly in its place
This will require an addition to the
original appropriation, which wa:
$4,000. There has already been eX
5, pended for the foundation and tower
tools. etc. S1,S2429; for the lantern
So, $3.50, total, $7,3S6.19; and we arr
T. now asked to Inappropriate from tn
e unexpended balance to complete tn
construction and put in electric light
81 600, which will make the total COS
r SSSS6.19. To build up substantial
L stone tower as suggested above WOuI
require, say $500 additional. or abcu
- $4,000 besides the amount already eN
pended.
" It seems at first sight as if this IS
J large amount to expend in addition t
the present outlay on this structure
but if we consider for moment it !
only a drop in the bucket when com
pared with the loss Of any one Of tn
large steamers now coming to thi
port, as a result Of the collapse Of tn
new Diamond Head Lighthouse.
We cannot afford to run any chance
in such a matter and rely upon a cheal
! temporary structure. when We ca
u, have something permanent. Your con
mittea. therefore, recommend that !
addition to the $500 asked. the SUI
. of s.. 800 be appropriated to build
n | SUBSTANTIAL SLUuG LOW Il -Oi ScI-. Is II
! house, to be completed before the SUI
W erstrucrura is finished.
F. :. LYMAN
H p. BALDWIN.
J. A NcCANDLESS.
This report resulted in rider f,
the lighthouse appropriation iteI
making it read this way:
IN New lighthouses and lights,
Not to exceed $4,000 thereof to
first expended in erecting a substa
tial stone tower for support to SUI
nj 1=oE,+