The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-05-27
IN THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE.
eminent 10 without an Equal
In the World.


protection to vessels along seacoast
of excessive length has resulted in
the development by the United States
government of q lighthouse system
which is generally admitted to be with
out parallel on the globe, says the
Chicago Daily News.
Employed in one way or another in
the supervision and maintenance of
the lighthouse system are upward of
so vessels and between 1000 and 5000
men. The phase of the operations at
once the most interesting and the most
picturesque is performed by the light
house tenders-vessels of various
sizes within the range of the opera
tions of which are found all manner
of tasks from the conveyance of ma
terial and supplies to the most isolated
lighthouses and lightships TO the re-
Punishment of the gas supply in those
novel buoys which are illuminated
continuously for several months as the
result of one charging.
There are now in the service of the
United States 35 steam tenders, II
steam launches and two sailing ten.
ders---a lighthouse fleet without
gregate of the officers and crews Of
which amounts to nearly 1000 men.
If the recommendation of the United
States lighthouse board is carried out
the fleet will shortly be increased by
the addition Of four new steel tenders.
One of these will be handsome vessel
to be constructed at cost of $131.-
900 for carrying on the Porto Rican
lighthouse service. The vessels now
on this unique squadron, in addition
to the important part which they play
in all works of construction under
taken by the engineer branch of the
lighthouse board, and the care gisen
to the thousands of buoys maintained
by his government, also distribute each
year supplies valued at about $500,
900. vi
In the lighthouse feet are vessels
several distinct types and, indeed, tire
development of the tender to its pres.
ent high plans of efficiency may be
traced by means Of vessels yet in serv-
ice. One of the pioneer craft is the
wooden sidewheel steamer Geranium,
which is in service on the coast of
Maine. This vessel was built in 1863
and is Of only $50 tons burden, but she
steams, on an average, about 5000
miles year in discharge of her
duties, which consist principally of the
maintenance of hnoys. Another wood
en- sidewheeler, the Verbena, built in
1870, is also in service on the New Eng
la0d coast.
An adequate appreciation of the
characteristics of the latest approved
type of craft for lighthouse service
may be gained from the stipulations
in the specifications for the steamer
Magnolia, to be constructed at cost
of about $125,OOO for service along the
Florida coast and in the Gulf of Mex
leo. This tender has length ever
all of 173 feet;s length between per-
pendiculars, 1875 feet; beam nodded, -
80 feet, and depth of hold of 10 feett
She is fitted with two compound SUI
face condensing engines and steamS
is furnished by two Scotch boilers
capable of developing about $50 indi-
Gated horsepower.
This vessel is unique and of special
interest from the fact that the natural
conditions of the district in which she
is to operate render it imperative that
the steamer shall be so constructed
as to make it possible to alter, when
necessary, not only her trim, but her
draft of water. A vessel with great
draft could not, for instance, act as
q tender in the lakes and inland bays
with which this coast abounds, while
on the other hand, light-draft craft
would be inefficient and even danger
Gus in performing her duties in the
open sea Of the Gulf Of Mexico. The
problem has been solved in the case of
the Magnolia by the construction amid
ships of ballast tank extending from
the bottom of the vessel to within
about three feet of the main deck
and the provision of trimming TANKS
forward and aft The relative capacity
Of these three tanks is such that the /.
draft and trim of the vessel may be&
changed from six feet six inches or
an even keel for inside work to niI Y
feet aft apd seven feet six inches fofs,s
ward for gulf service. A powerful
pump fills or empties these tanks
while the vessel is on her way to or
from the gulf. The displacement Of
this ingenious craft is 72O tons, or $50
tons, as her tanks are full or empty.
Salary and Wages.
Daughter-Yes, pa, there are two
young men who have asked me to mar
nv, and both are nice fellows.
Father-And are both in way to
support you?
II think so. Phil tells me he has
tidy salary and George says he is
receiving good wages"
you choose George and you'll make
no mistake, think. At any rate, it's
safer to marry man who has wages
than one who has salary" Boston
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