Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-02
"A LIGHTHOUSE
IN THE OPEN SEA

Since General Casey. who died year
or two ago chief OF the engineer corps
Of the United States army, successfully
undermined the great Washington mon
ument in Washington and placed there
n solid foundation expected to support
that stone structure for ages to come
there has been nothing so gigantic in
conception and so daring In purpose as
the proposed establishment of mass
i've lighthouse by the government natu-
rally in the open ocean. off Diamond
shoal, seven miles from the present
Hatteras light and bearing almost due
east II will not only be a difficult hut
costly piece of engineering. and sur
rounding the plan is the foreboding of
failure. The prediction is already wide
ly made that sl,00O.O0O Is to be sunk,
literally as well as metaphorically. in
the sea. II such structure is plac-
ed there and stands without serious
damage the onslaughts Of Neptune for
i've years, this government Will have
accomplished, in the opinion of lead
ing army engineer, the greatest tri-
umph in the history OF this branch OF
science, for lighthouse building is some
thing more than an art.
The Minot's ledge mariners beacon,
off Cohnsset, Mass. not far from Bos-
ton harbor and the celebrated Eddystone
light. off the Cornwall coast of England,
in the channel. although considered
great engineering feats, Will be trifes
compared with this projected work. The
shifting, treacherous sands Of the Caro-
lima coast are well known, and the long
lists Of wrecks, including that of the i'll
fated Huron. when naval officers lost
their lives forms most tragic history.
The height of the focal plane above
water in the prospectus is given as 100
| feet, and the light is TO be placed in
80 feet OF water, supported on disk piles
sunk to depth of 30 feet in the sand.
The diameter from center to center of
the vertical members OF the foundation
series is to be 60 feet. with the height
of the floor OF the house above water ~
feet The main portion of the structure
is to be constructed of forged steel men,
hers. with principal joints and connec-
tons formed OF steel castings.
A special feature OF the design is to
have all essential parts below the water
line of massive dimensions as well as
all those above which will be subject
to the action Of wind and waves. The
use Oh DuliH, hfgSt HNi'No 'th''
small sections or dimensions which
would be rapidly weakened by corro-
sion will be avoided as far as possible.
Joints and connections are to be made
absolutely rigid to all possible strains
and to be as strong as the members
themselves. This result will be obtain
ed by joining ends of members to steel
cast hubs by the use of massive steel
rings shrunk on in a manner approx
mating that followed in built up" gun
construction,
In the foundation series, besides the
massive members necessary for the
strength of the tower when in place
there will be certain other tie rods OF
lighter section. which are added for
greater security to stiffen the frame
work while II is floated and while being
placed and grounded on the shoal. II
Is proposed by the lighthouse board to
construct the screw pile structure in
some harbor and float 1t out by steel
cylindrical caissons calculated to give a
draft of 20 feet when at sea. This part
OF the light is then to be sunk prob
ably 90 feet down in the bottom by n.y.
draullcs until firm hold is secured.