The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-21
cAIssoN on DIAMOND SHOALS.
Huge Conc VIII be Embedded I'm sand.
captain EeI's Project to Build a
Light House On Hafteras. III Sue
ccssfui. VIII Prove the Greatest
Engineering Feat OF the Century.

an engineering feat that viii attract
the attention of the whole world. is
the proposed lighthouse that viii be
erected on the ireacherous Diamond
Shoals. by Captain Eels, a down east
Yankee.
Congressman John I'll. Small, of the
First Congressional District Of North
Carolina. who was instrumental in 81
curing a Congressional appropriation
of $4,000 for the erection of tn.
lighthouse, gave a very interesting in
teryiew to a representative of The
Landmark yesterday in regard TO its
magnitude.
TT erection of the lighthouse
proper said Mr.. Small. lis a very
simple proposition, only involving such
knowledge as is primarily required in
such constructions. 1t is supplying a
base for the lighthouse that requires
the brains of a genius to solve the
problem and Capt. Eels is the man.
I'm order to get a proper idea of
the construction of the base, il must
'C ~ eS SAtN IL
feet high with a base one hundred
feet in diameter. The cone will be
what is known as a 'frustum,' or a
Hal surface at the top upon which the
lighthouse is to be erected.
The mammoth base, the largest Of
the kin ever built, will be construct
ed either in Norfolk. Sparrcw's Point
or Newport News. probably at the lat
ter place. which is equipped with u
shipyard and which is the nearest
point to Diamond Shoals, to which the
base will be towed when it is COM
plcted.
The construction of this huge one
is in itself an engineering feat, but
the two greater propositions will he
to tow the caisscn to the Shoals an !
the sink it to a depth CT forty O.
moro feet in the sand. During its
journey down the coast it will appear
like a great iceburg rearing nearly &
hundred feet in the air
Upon arrival at the Shoals all will
he in readiness for sinking it to the
bottom. Flooding valves will be open
ed when it will sink to a depth Of
about fourteen feet under the wafer
with it's base resting on the oceans
bottom.
WILL PUMP SAND FROM BASE
4 unique task will then begin, by
pumping AVA the sand upon which
it reposes, and for this work urner
Gus ocean tugs with powerful pumps
will be engaged. JUS as the sound
fishermen sink their sharp pointed net
poles in the sand, will the cone, with
RS hundred feet Of diameter or the
l,ase. be gradually settled until it
reaches a depth Of about thirty-five
feet below the surface of the ocean
bed and forty-fve feet below the
ocean surface.
It will only require a few hours
time 70: the tickle sands to close
around the cone and hold it with an
everlasting grip. The cone will then
be pumped out and flied With con
crete, carefully mixed that is harden
ed by the action of the water. This
composition will be poured in until q
space of about fifteen feet from the
apex is left which will be used for
the purpose Of storing fresh water for
use in tne lighthouse. This compart-
ment will be connected by q water
pipe On the lighthouse for the pur-
pose Of boarding rain water.
With forty-five feet Of the light
house base under the surface OF the
water. there will still be forty-five feet
above the raging waves and the still
greater heighth added by the light
house will insure the daring keeper OF
immunity against seas, which will
at times roll mountain high and ire
mendous force against the little struc-
ture which las been built by the
hand of nan to warn his fellows of
the t~reachery of nature lying unseen
beneath the waters Of Hatteras Cape.
PROJECT ENDORSED BY INsUR-
ANCE COMPANY.
as the project considered a practi-
cal one" was asked?
In reply, Congressman Small said:
"It has the full endorsement of the
Boston Marine Insurance Company,
which Il assumed the risk of insur-
ing it for five years, OR until such
time it IS turned over to the Govern
ment. While Captain Eeis is the de-
signer. n to him is accredited the
plan. yet the Government before max
ing the appropriation of $3.50, 0G0, call
ed several Of the greatest engineers of
this country to work out the little de-
tails. These have now been perfect
ed and the plan is not only considered
practical. but is bound to prove a sue
cess.
Their is a strong element of pat
rIotism in h project" continued Mr..
Small. Those Yankees who are back
ing Captain Eels know that they are
not going to be enriched in putting Up
their money for the project. in fact
n may lose on it, but they have the
satisfaction of knowing that if they
succeed they will have accomplished
the greatest feat Of the twentieth
century,"
The contract for the construction OF
he conica1 caisson viii be awarded
Immediately. 1t IS hardly probable that
Norfolk will get 1t, as there is no plant
here equipped for the mammoth UNDER
m Efnxr N0r~~ 49, -- C----~-4