Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-01-05
GAs-LIGHTED BU0YS.
An Improyed Method Of Marking
Coasts Adopted in America
and Europe.


A number Of interesting facts con
corning illuminate buoy are brough
together in IA article in the Times
From this description il appears tina
Mr.. j. Pintseh was the first 10 sue
cessfully construct a buoy 10 show {
light at night The light is produced
by gas. which is stored in a compressed
state in the body of the buoy, anc
passed up TO the burner through
small pipe controlled 10y an ingenious
automatic regulator which causes the
gas to be emitted at low and uni.
form pressure. Stored up in the buoy
in compressed state-the pressure
being equivalent TO that of about five
atmospheres-and passing out very
slowly, the gas viii last some two or
three months burning always by day
and by night.
Coal gas cannot be used for his pur
pose because compression robs It OF
more than half of its Illuminating
power. while in the case Of oil gas the
loss is so slight that il is practically
immateriaL The light itself is sur.
rounded by a small leuticular arrange
ment Intended to enhance he illpmi.
mating power, inclosed in a glass Ian.
tern, fixed about eight or ten feet
above the sea level, and in clear wealth.
or is visible five miles. At first il was
found desirable 10 use only fixed
light, but more recent experience has
shown that it is possible by suitable
mechanism 10 show a quick, flashing
light and an occulting light, these
variations being extended by the use
Of colored glass.
Recognizing the great value 70 nav
igation Of lighted buoys which could
be depended upon. the Elder Brethren
of the Trinity House 1--WE learn from
the article referred so in the forego.
ing notel have done muchto encour-
age the development Of the system in
This country, by placing gas-liehted
buoys at many important points IN
the channels at the entrances Of the
Thames. in the Solent and elsewhere.
These guides 10 navigation have also
been established BY the Scottish light |
house board the local authorities for
The Mersey. the Clyde, the Tees, the
Ribble, Kings Lynn and sundry other |
and now on the coasts Of the |
United Kingdom there are close upon |
100 gas-lighted buoys in position. I'M
The Suez canal, in Canadian aud Aus
ralian waters, these buoys are in use.
In America, also, a considerable
lumber are employed, but The United
states lighthouse board has also SOME
Electrically lighted buoys N Gedney's
.hanne approach TO New York. These
luoys are connected 10 each other
md with the suore by submarine ca.
lies. through which the electricity
generated on bore is transmitted &c
he buuNs In France. the lighting Of
,uoys bg means 81 gas has been largely
dopted OF late years the lighthouse
OF HAT country having
aiken up the matter with their usual |
igor. and having placed such buoys in
many parts OF their coasts. In Ger
many Denmark Russia. Holland and
tally numerous gas-lighted buoys
ave replaced unlighted ones; and, IN
act, ihe system is coming into use in
u parts Of the world II may be truly
aid that tie development of this sys.
EN- Of Illuminated buoys is the most
improvement in our coast.
iaking arrange ments that has taken
lace in the last FIVE and-twenty years
Nntnre.