Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1904-07-29
LIGHTHOUSE SYSTEM.
That Of Our Government j Without
an Equal n ths World.
Upwards - EAAv vesesls aAA Over
Four TAo usend nen Ea9aOsA ~
the sesvlss-lAtsssseaA1
PaSticulArs.


protection to vessels along = seaeoast
OF excessive length has resulted In
the development by the United States
government Of . lighthouse syAtem
which is generally admitted to be with
out a 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 Grward Of
so vessels and between 1000 and 5000
men. The phase OF the operations at
once the most interesting andth most
picturesque is performed by the light
/ house tenders--vcssels 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 10 the re-
plenishment OF the gas supply in those
novel buoys which are illuminated
continuously for several months ~ tho
result OF one charging.
There are now in the service Of the
United States IS steam tenders, II
steam launches and two sailing ten
ders--a lighthouse feet without .
counterpart in the world--and the ag-
gregate Of the officers and crews of
which amounts to nearly 1000 men.
II 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 a handsome vessel
to be constructed at cost Of $751;.
900 for carrying on the Porto Rcap
lighthouse service. The vessels now
on this unique squadron. in addition
20 the important Part which they play
IN all works Of construction under
taken by the engineer branch of the
lighthouse board, and the care given
to the thousan of buoys maintained
by his goyernme mt, also distribute each
year supplies valued at about $500,
600
In the lighthouse fleet are vessels Of
several distinct types and, indeed, the
development Of the tender to its pres
ent high plane OF efficiency may be
traced by means of vessels yet In serv-
ice One of the pioneer craft 10 tho
wooden sidewhcel steamer Geranium.
which is in service on the coast Of
Maine. This vessel was built In 1863
end is OF only $50 tons burden, but she
steams, on an average, about 5000
miles year in discharge OF heI
duties, which consist principally of the
Of buoya Another wood
en- sidewheeler, the yerhena, built in
1870, Is also In service on the New Eng
land coast.
An adequate appreciation of ths
ris tics Of the latest approved
type Of craft for lighthouse service
may be gained from the stipuAtons
in the specifications for the steamer !.
Magnolia, TO be constructed at . cost
of about s125,00O for service along the
Florida coast and In the Gulf OF Mex
co. This tender has length OveP
iii Of 173 feet; length between per.
,endiculars, 165 feet; beam nodded,
10 feet, and depth OF hold Of IS feet,
She is fitted with two compound sur,
face condensing engines and steam
s furnished by two Scotch boilers
'apable of developing about 7s0 indi-
ated horsepower.
This vessel Is unique and Of special
interest from the fact that the natural
ondltions Of the district In which she
! TO operate render II Imperative that
he steamer shall be so consfructed
3 to make 1t possible to alter, when
not only her trim, but her
raft OF water vessel with great
raft could not, for instance, act as
tender in the Lakes and inland bays
Nth which this coast abound~, while
n the other hand, a light-draft craft
,ould be inefficient and even danger
us in performing her duties in the
pen sea of the Gulf of Mexico. The
rohcm has been solved In the case OF
he Magnolia by the construction amid
hips of ballast tank extending from
ne bottom OF the vessel TO within
bout three feet Of the main deck
nd the provision of trimming-tanks
,rward andaft The relative capacity
these three tanks is such that the
rift and trim of the vessel may be
langed from six feet six iachss on
! even keel for inside work TO nine
ct aft and seven feet six inches for
ard for gulf service. A powerful
mp fills or empties these tanks
bile ahe vessel is on her way to or
ON the gulf The displacement OF
is ingenious craft is 720 tons. or $50
ms, as her tanks are full or empty