The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-18

Another lighthouse OF similar construe-
ton is that which stands upon Spectacle
Reef. in Lake Huron. near the Straits OF
Mackinac. There difficulties were not
tides nor !. but ice. which In thou
sands OF acres ana two feet or more In
thickness moves under the influence OF
currents at several miles an hour. and
exerts almost irresistible strength.
The site is upon a limestone reef 10h
miles from the nearest land and 10 miles
from Scammons Harbor, where the stone.
etc. prepared. Az the rock on
which the structure stands Is IL feet be-
meath the surface. the principal difficulty
lay. at Minots Ledge. In the preparing
of the foundation.
This was overcome by a pier of protec-
ton inclosing a cofferdam. The crib,
great box "a feet high and % feet square.
divided into compartments for ballast and
leaving an open space 4s feet square In
the center was built In Scammons har-
Dor and flowed to the site. where with
stones and gravel, IL was sunk around
the rock. The top of the compartment
thus formed platform IL feet above the
water
Then the cofferdam was made. This
was bottomless tub with slaves each
II feet long, inches thick and inches
wide. held in place by three Iron bands
inside and out. loosely twisted rope
of oakum one and one-half inches in
diameter, then tackled on the lower
edge of the slaves and the tub was then
lowered The bed rock was Irregular on
its surface, In some places the difference
In vertical height being three feet, but
by carefully driving the slaves they took
up the Irregularities to a great extent.
Then, between the outside OF the Golfer
dam and the crib n four-fDch rope or hay
and canvas was fastened Mt the bottom.
and as the pumps cleared the cofferdam
the pressure of water forced the canvas
against the slaves and the inside was
practically watertight
The founda ton stones. which had al
ready been prepared and cut TO ut one
into the other, were lowered and cement
ed. This required much time. and winter
upon them just after the first few
stones were laid and work had to be
abandoned. The wisdom OF the crib was
shown and the following summer the
structure was In fairly good shape. so
that by the end of the warm weather the
tower was well up.
The work on the tower was started In
May 1870, and the light was first lighted
on the finished structure I'm June. 1874.
but as the actual working time WIS but
about 20 months, 1t Is considered that
the structure was well and quickly erect
ed. 1t cost s375,o00 The plans for the
light were prepared by Gen. 0. n. Poe
and they hare since been used for other
similar lights on the lakes.
Another type of lighthouse. known A.
the spider" and of which those on the
reefs of Florida are splendid examples.
has become popular Of late years as the
skill in Ironwork construction has ad-
vanced. The lighthouses on Fowey Rocks
and Alligator Reef stand guard over the
treacherous Florida Reefs. They are miles
from shore and are exposed TO the full
sweep Of the Atlantic, which Is only
broken by the reefs a few hundred feet
away but the great seas frequently throw
clouds of spray as high as the lanterns.
over 100 feet above the water.
These lights were erected with much
~ nd nh
years for each. much OF the time being
lost on account OF storms. and they cost
about $4,000 apiece As the structures
rest upon live coral , sock a,aa. dozen sssa feet
the driving OF six great iron piles 10 feet
into the rock. The piles together with
s ses e ep aed sted IN the North and them
shipped to the nearest point on the main
land. whence they were carried out TO
The contractors nrst built a working
Of iron sho a wooden plies. but even this
was rendered exceedingly di1icult on ac-
count of sudden storms, and every few
danger the brave spirits never Jagged.
and at last the platform was completed
i IRON 'I piles began. It was painfully SLOW
and tedious, as they had to go down per
opera tons were suspended to make the
Under the bii.terins sun. suspended
near the work was pushed as rapidly as
possible and yet 1t was IL months be-
fore the foundation was pronounced I'm
tshed-
As is usually the case. the erection Of
the superstructure was comparatively easy.
Each piece of iron fitted. and with bolts
and rivets 1t was placed together bit by
bit until the end. when the lamp was
lighted and another beacon shed its well
come rays across the Atlantic. Such
were the experiences Of the builders of
the Fowey Rock light. and. indeed. such
were the experiences of those who erected
the Alligator Reef light.
Is IT any wonder then that the light
house builder il proud Of his work.
THOMAS WILSON.