Evening journal., 1906-11-12

steadfast, serene. immovable-the same
Year after year, through all the SILENT
Burns on forever more that quenchless
Shines on that inextinguishable light.
-LONGTELLOW.
when the setting sun has cast It's dy-
ing rays across land and sea and the top
Of the orb has passed below the horizon.
or. rather. when the clock points TO tho
oflcial hour OF sunset, there springs into
life a thousand lights along the shores OF
the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, the Gulf
OF Mexico the Great Lakes and on
hundred rivers.
These are the beacon lights that mark
the pathway Of navigation as plainly as
the streets Of the city. From the EASTERN
most point OF Maine along the coast to
Cape Hatteras the lights are the thlckeat
and. with lightships lying ont upon the
most dangerous shoals and with the men
OF the United States Life-saving Service
constantly patroling the beach, there Is
really but little excuse for the skipper
who piles his craft upon the shore.
The United States waters are best
buoyed and lighted IN the world. The
annual appropriation for the Lighthouse
Department runs into the millions, while
nearly 5000 men ind constant employ
ment keeping the service up to the high
standard that has been maintained dur
sng the past few years.
Along the Atlantic Coast, from Maine
10 Mexico, there is scarce n point that Is
not fully covered by a light. and from
the time the steamer leaves one light
over her stern another appears ahead.
and thus. from light 10 light, she feels
her way along, secure IN deep water.
Each distant CLEAN tells it's story. Each
10 the skipper with a coastwise manual.
n. -. a.
waters. has certain characteristics that
Informs the watchful seaman the point Il
Is covering. Il may be a plain red light.
II may be a plain white light II may be
nret one and then the other OF Il may
suddenly appear and then fade away.
But, whatever Il does. no light within a
hundred miles behaves like IT, and by It's
action the light Is known and the eager
captain closely times the seconds be-
tween the flashes, notes the change OF
white TO red and red 70 white aud rs
pleased 10 learn that be "a close 10 the
coast. but Just where his reckoning the
day before told him he would be and,
with lighter heart, he bears away on his
proper course.
BY day each lighthouse tells its story
by its Individuality and by its colorlngs
neighborhood. etc, for the same book
that tells Of the characteristics OF the
light also tells Of the style, color and
general details Of the lighthouse The
great tower that rises hundred or more
feet may be Identified by its markings.
For instance, Cape Henry Lighthouse Is
an octagonal tower and each OF the faces
are colored half-back and hnlf-whita al
ternately, thus giving It a FAR dlnerent
appearance from the next important light
house In the neighborhood- -Bodie Island
which Is colored with black and white
horizontal bands, while Hatteras Light
house has black and white spiral bands.
giving IL the resemblance OF a barber
pole.
The large proportion Of lighthouses arc
erected upon solid land well above the
wash Of the sea. where the construction
Is simple and the ability required is onlv
that Of the mason, lronworker ana car
penter. and these structures cost from
M,Ooo to Slo0o00 according to their size.
importance and location, the latter IRE.
quently increasing the cost because OF Inc
dihcuity In getting the material 10 fhe
site and maintaining the workmen while
building IT,
The remaining lighthouses. erected IN
the water and built on the most difHcnit
and dangerous places that can be selec.
Yea, are the most expensive and have cost
more In construction and subsequent main
tainance than all the others combined.
These lighthouses are upon rocks ana
shoals that stand directly 10 the path of
navigation, within the scope OF heavy
waves, running Ice and all the dangers
OF the sea. and IN the erecting OF such
structures there has developed trade
known as the sea bulders-men who. In
order that the government might be served
and the mariner aided daily take their
lives In their hands and labor under cir
cumstances that would make the ordinary
man quit within 10 minutes.
It Is no wonder that the sea-builder
looks with contempt upon the ordinary
shore light and speaks with pride upon
the subject with which be has 70 deal
which represents all OF the best that Is
In human being. for not only must the
sea-builder be a skilful and rcsourceful
engineer, with a thorough knowledge OF
his craft, but he must also possess the
mysterious elements OF courage, execu-
tive foresight and perseverance In sur.
mounting the hundred and one obstacles
that nature throws In bis path
While England may well boast OF her
coastwise lights and hold them up as
maryels OF skill and construction. the
United States government has not stood
sui, and 10 this country the building OF
lighthouses has progressed greatly and
there Is scarcely n Congress that does
not make an appropriation for the cree
uon OF beacon upon some menacing rock
and shoal and so, year by year, the work
goes on. and In time no waters Ia the
world win be so well marked by day or
lighted Dy night.
The last Congress made arrangements
TO have lighthouse placed upon Dia.
mond Shoals, the graveyard OF the At
lantic, and the most dreaded place In the
seven seas. A properly placed beacon
light at that point IS an imperativey ne.
cessity, for the lighthouse located on the
beach Is too far Inward from the Diamond
Shoals. while the lightship Is too distant
seaward. In rough weather the lights
are not easily discernible
for -FOUR or We years past Can't. AL
oeft +. Eells, Of Boston, Mass. has
given the subject much study, and has
recently been successful in persuadine
congress 10 give him an opportunity Ia
1aiid lighthouse at his own expense
ne act specifies that Captain Eelis and
us associates shall build the light sta
lon AZ heir own cost, maintain the
seLecture ana operate the light in nc-
S1lqance with the regulations Of the
tdshthouae Board for one year also At
tnelr oWn cost. after which II shall he
R.aeeo under tie control OF the Light