The Republican journal., 1905-12-28
LIGHT HOUSES FOR MAINE.
Adverse Report on q Light at Stockton
Springs.

Adverse Report on a Light at Stockton
Springs.
PORTLAND, Me-, December 20. The
United States lighthouse department
has recommended that two lighthouses
be erected along the Maine coast and
decided adversely on one petition for a
station. The board has asked Con-
gress for an appropriation of 5000 for
the erection of the two towers decided
upon.
The petition which was acted ad-
versely on was the most interesting of
the three. This was the request for a
lighthouse to be erected at the new port
of Stockton Springs, at the mouth of
Penobscot River, where the new North
ern Maine Seaport Railroad Company
has started what it is claimed by it's
promoters will be in the near future a
big port with large amount of COM
merce. Colonel W. S. Stanton of the
corps of engineers of the first and
second districts came to this city
several weeks ago and boarded the
United States lighthouse steamer
Myrtle for Stockton Springs to look
over the demand of the petitioners for
the light, and his report has only inst
been received here.
Colonel Stanton found on going there
while the railroad had erected inn
mense Wharfs and made every prepare,
ton for big amount of traffic, that
traffic was not yet assured and that
there were not evenadsequate facilities
for vessels of any size. While the
wharves had been built at low tide and
up to the time of his visit Colonel
Stanton found that the traffic to the
port was of little consequence. He de-
cided that he could not recommend
that lighthouse be constructed at the
great expense necessary until the docks
and channels were dredged out so as to
accommodate traffic, or until traffic be-
gan to go there, thus assuring that the
port was to be generally used by ship
ping. AS it is rare indeed that a
measure is passed by Congress con-
tlary to the recommendation OF the
officer who makes the investigation the
outlook is now that Stockton Springs
will not get her lighthouse until such "a
time as her channels and docks are
dredged deep enough to accommodate
shipping and until there is shipping
enough going to the port to indicate that
it is to be generally used by vessels.
The United States lighthouse board
has recommended that a lighthouse be
established on Isle au Haul. This is in
the lower Penobscot, east of Vinalhav-
en-, and the recommendation is made
because of extensive fishing grounds
which have been discovered off the
island. The fishing fleets on these
grounds are greatly in need OF light
to guide them back to port and the
board recommends that a light station
and fog bell be established at cost of
$4,000
The second recommendation for a
lighthouse on the Maine coast which
will be brought up at the present ses-
sion of Congress will be for one at
Buckle Island Harbor at the entrance
of Yorbs Narrows, also near Nlnal-
haven. 1t is recommended that light
house be erected with a white light and
four red sectors and also a post range
light located about 100 feet in front of
the main light. An appropriation of
$4,000 is also recommended for this
station.
Another important recommendation
to be made by the lighthouse board and
which will be of the greatest benefit to
Portland shipping, will be that for an
effective fog station at Boon Island, re-
tanning the present bell station in ser
vice in case of the disability of the fog
or hot air station, whichever it is decid-
ed to adopt. This it is said will cost
$4,000. A fog bell has also just been
established on the Isles of Shoals as a
result of the fight started for fog sig
nal station on Boon Island.
These are the only recommendation
that are to be made to the present Con-
gress by the lighthouse board for the
Maine coast, and if the money asked
for is appropriated it will mean much
for coastWise shipping in this vicinity,