The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-03

the lightship, and this determines the
course to be steerei, to lay straight
for, which, it is only necessary to head
the ship about until the sound is Of
equal volumne in both receivers, which
is certain to give unfailing direction
The observer is also able to closely ap'
proximate the distance by the distinct
ness oil the sound when it is first received
and its increasing volumne as the ap
proach is subsequently, made toward the
lightship.
The lightships, during heavy Jog
usually strike the bell so as to signify
their own official number; but in cases
where that number is made up OF toe
many numerals, recourse is had to an
understood code which reduces the sig.
nal to the numerals "two," "thrse,
four" and five" the principle OF ac.
tion being the same as applies to the
numerals in a municipal fire-alarm ser
vice.
The whole system is as simple as it is
beautiful and valuable, and is fast be-
coming a standard feature OF marine
equipment everywhere. Lightship No.
81, now berthed at the buoy-dock at
Tongue Point, was the first Pacific Coast
vessel to be equipped with the appara.
tus, and the relief ship, No. 76. now on
duty Off Umatilla Reef, was the first to
use the device in deep water service.
The lighthouse tender Heather will be
the next objective for Mr.. Richards fine
skill. and when she is properly rigged
out, he will install an outfit on Light
ship No. 80 now off the Columbia River
bar; and in turn, will serve the light
ships off the San Francisco bar, and
Blunt's Reef. He reports, also, that
Lightship No. IS, about to leave New
York City for this coast, to relieve No.
80, off this bar. is fully equipped with
the device, as are practically all the
light,hips on the Atlantic seaboard, and
on the Great Lakes
1t will be remembered that the sub
marine .telephoning test recently made
III the East as between the submarine
torpedo boats Of this government we're
fitted out with these same fine instru-
ments and the remarkable results at
tained were due to the precision and
perfection with which they worked on
the Octopus and her sister ship. The
test then made was under the manipula-
tion of the contracting builders OF the
vessels, anu IA conversational code was
devised and used for the occasion with
extraordinary success; and it is not be-
yond the possibilities, that sooner or
later, code of the sort will be arranged
and applied to the betterment of this
advantageous service.
1t is an American invention, but was
arst taken up by the Canadian govern
ment before the Washington authori-
ties; but it is such a character as to
make it amenable anywhere on the face
OF the earth, and its utility will be UNI
yersal before many years have elapsed
The lighthouse tender Armeria, which
was sent out from New York, to tnis
station, brought the marvel along with
her and it is in constant Use there.
Mr.. Richards is under orders to board
the steamship Rose City on her maiden
voyage here from San Francisco, and
survey her with view to the immediate
installation of fine plant; in TACT, he
indicates that there is plenty of work
ahead for him in the interests of his
company and the marine world of the
Pacific, for some time to come.