Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-04-28
OUR COAST DEACONS,
Cheering Lights That Warn and
Guide the Mariner.
A BLAZE OF KEROSENE Oil.
The Wonderful Lamps and Lenses
That Produce the Brilliant and Far
reaching Flsme-why Electricity Is
Not Used In Lighthouses.

mousse DOclru OF THIS country ~ striving
Is continuous chain OF lights COM
pletely encircling the United States
and possessions and I'm the case OF riv-
ers and inland seas bounding the wa
tiers on all sides, so that a ship may
never leave the area OF a light thrown
by one lighthouse before entering the
circle OF the light OF another AS fast
as congress viii appropriate the money
the gaps are being filed.
But what makes the light2 When
the curious inquirer Is told kerosene
he naturally wonders why his own
student lamp does not give better
light II the same oil In the lighthouse
sends its beam from 1--WE to twenty-five
miles
Various methods OF lighting were in
use until 1910. when a new system
was introduced Of employing nearly
true parabolold refectors and better
glass lenses. In some cases these re-
Electors gave light which Is not sur
passed even today except when han
died with intelligent care. In 1852.
when the present lighthouse board was
instituted, the Fresnal system OF len
tcular glasses was introduced from
France aud still remains. The first
cost Is great. but by the saving OF oil
over the reflector system this Is soon
reduced With any reasonable care a
fine light always results. and Il Is I'm
possible for a keeper TO maintain 2
poor light with this apparatus without
fragrant dlsobedience OF instructions.
Even with such an apparatus no
common lamp can supply the light
First order lamps have Ave wicks. one
inside the other. and are fed with oil
by pump and pipe system. The oil
Is fed TO the wicks so that II reaches
the ends where the flame is In the
right time and in the right quantity
II Is difficult TO look at II. so intense
Is the light. In the lenses r4ther than
In the lamp Is the secret. for they pick
up and utilize nearly all the rays Of
light which ordinarily so astray. The
Fresnel apparatus collects almost all
OF this waste light and reflects and
refrncts Il out In one great broad
beam Of light. parallel to the surface
OF the sea. where IL Is needed.
The flames which come from the
lamps are largely transparent So. Of
course. are all other similar flames. II
flames were not transparent there
could be no advantage I'm having one
flame inside another and a third inside
the first two. etc. The lights from
the inner flames could not get out and
would do no good.
In Soma lfubfhNrreo-
range light purposes. the light is all
TO be concentrated In one beam. This
Is done by concentric rings OF prisms
and central bullseye and a reflector.
Vessels getting such n light In range.
either by itself or with another light
and running down the beam. are safe
from instructions which may be near
by, the range lights or beams OF light
marking out the channel TO be fol-
lowed.
1t is frequently asked OF light keep
ers why electricity Is not used in
place OF mineral oil. An electric light
Is expensive TO install and difficult and
expensive 10 maintain. There is al
ways difficulty In keeping the arc ex-
actly In the focal point OF the lenses.
the caroons never burning twice alike
and constant watching being neces-
sary. Failure 10 have the light source
exactly In the focal point OF the lens
results in sending the light rays up or
down instead Of straight out. where
they are wanted. Electricity. while
superior In penetrative power In a
fog. has no advantage over a power
ful oil lantern in clear weather. Min
eral oil, COLA oil or lard oil lights of
the first order could be seen a hun
dred miles were II not for the curva-
ture OF the earth. and as long as the
light is visible long before the coast
is all purposes are served.
IL Is only within recent years that
mineral oil has been IN use. Lard oil
succeeded COLA oil and was used ex-
ciuSiyely up 10 1880 and with mineral
oil up to 1889. Since the latter year
mineral oil has been used entirely, ex-
cept where electricity has been expert
mented with, or coal or acetylene gas.
So far coal oil. for power. efficiency.
cleanliness, ease of operation and
cheapness, holds its own against all
other means OF light making.
Electricity. II 1t can be successfully
Installed, is the best light. but through
expense OF maintenance and In the in
ability TO get skilled attendants for
such a light for the price set on keep
ers' services II makes slow Roadway.
The traveller who cruises up the
coasts and who sinks one light before
picking up another must know that
somewhere in the dark circle is a spot
picked for the foundation OF & light
which VIII be erected as soon as funds
and time allow.-Scientiic American