The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20
WOULD BUILD LIGHTHOUSE
TO DIVIDE FERRY COURSES
United States Government Makes Offer to Construct
Beacon Half Mile South of Goat Island, but Bay
Pilots Say the Scheme Would Not Be Practicable

The United States Government Of
fcials whose duty lies with the prob
lens of navigation have been devot-
ing their attention to safeguarding the
ans-bay ferry traffic. Since the yell
low boats of the Key Route commenced
operation the complexity of the situa-
ton has increased and with some
months of fOggy weather in prospect
the always imminent danger of fatal
mishap has increased many fold.
AS the boats are operating now
each pilot is the sole judge Of the
course of his own boat and as most
Of them have different and conflict
ing ideas as TO the best way of ap-
preaching a slip under the various
conditions of the tide, passengers
travelling between the Alameda shore
and san Francisco have been interest.
ed if not entertained at some OF the
close shaving involved in the carry
ing out Of the pilots ideas.
The boats Of the Key Route are fast
e. than some of the Southern Pacific
boats. some Of the canary pilots
like TO come into their slip with the
tide. The navigators of the Southern
Pacific prefer to paddle to their
berths against the current. To carry
out these ideas one boat takes a south
erly course and the other goes toward
the north star. The yellow and fast
er boat passes the more sober gated
railroad steamer before getting into
position for the shoot to the slip and
TO gain that position crosses and re
crosses the Dow of the rival passen-
ger carrier. Al times the margin left
for this naneuverino IS narrow and
Y hile the pilot of the hare may tri-
unph in the abasement of the pilot
Of the tortoise the passea agers on both
boats derive from the operation thrills
not born Of joy.
The United States inspectors Of
hulls and boilers have witnessed some
of these nerve rocking episodes. The
members Of the lighthouse board have
also part2ken of the excitement. Both
branches are now on the scene with
suggestions, the promise of more to
follow and the prospect OF some new
and rigid regulations if the sugges-
tiOns are not assimilated.
/ ne local inspectors nave ordered
the boats of the Key Route to show
two yellow lights on their forward
smokestack at night and the boats of
the Santa Fe system, plying 10 Point
Richmond and crossing the courses
of the othe,- ferries. must hereafter
exhibit two blue lights in similar po-
sition.
The first suggestion Of the light
house board has not been received
with open arms, all but one of the
ferry captains declaring it to be i'm
practicable. In the name of Uncle
sam the lighthouse board offered to
build a lighthouse half a mile to the
southwark Of Goat Island, the South
ern Pacific boats to go to the south
and the Key Route steamers to the
north of the beacon. This offer, it is
understood, has been declined, but the
lighthouse officials are not satisfied
that the courses Of the rival lines can
not be kept clear of each other and
they now have the matter under con-
sideration.
Meanwhile the growing army of
commuters IS pinning its faith TO the
good luck that has carried the boats
safely so often through the trackless
darkness of some pretty thick fogs.