The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-05
Men and Affairs in Washington
Lighthouses and Lighthouse Tenders. The
Maine DELEGATION,

Maine Delegation.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 80. Con-
gress will hear much, before adjourn
ment, about the needs of additional
lighthouses on the coast of Maine. An
omnibus lighthouse bill, carrying total
of 81, 100, 900, has been reported to the
House with an item Of $14, 900 for light
of the fourth order and fog signal
operated by machinery at Otter Island
and will undoubtedly be taken up in the
Senate and efforts made to obtain ad-
ditional items for the Maine coast.
The House committee of Interstate
Commerce was little surprised to find
one of its members especially familiar
with the Maine coast when it came to
talk about the needs of lighthouses there.
The committee was in the midst of in
quiries about Otter Island, when Repre-
sentative F. c. Stevens of Minnesota,
who used to live in Bangor, broke in with
some explanations. ''As recall it,"
said Mr.. Stevens, there is considerable
coasting business past Otter Island; con-
siderable Penobscot river business goes
up there" Admiral Mark, chairman Of
the lighthouse board, interposed to say
that 10000 vessels q year sailed past the
point, and q Wisconsin member wanted
to know between what ports those YES
sells were mostly engaged. ooh, l can
Tell you about that" continued Mr..
Stevens, "Penobscot river ports from
Bangor down, and down the coast from
Boston to Norfolk
The government wanted to spend Sl9,
00O in building light at Otter Island,
but the House felt it could not spare that
amount of money. There was an urgent
appeal also for powerful fog signal on
the high bluff at the entrance to Cutler
Harbor, which would make that harbor
more of boon to vessels as a place of
refuge This was not voted, because
there were many other urgent projects
1t is proposed sometime to have siren
there. operated by an oil engine.
Admiral Mark estimates that it will
cost $50, 600 for proper light and fog
signal at Clark Ledge, near Eastport.
Like Otter Island, it is an inland point.
The House committee voted against this
appropriation, as it did on proposition
for light at Boon Island, off the Maine
coast. below Cape Elizabeth.
The time seems not far distant when
all the lighthouse activities along the
Maine coast will be conducted from
central office in Boston. That idea is
Favored by Chairman Mark of the Light
house Board, who claims that the bust
ness could be conducted more economical
ly if some of the present lighthouse dis
tricts were consolidated. 1t was on that
account, in part, that the House recently
refused an appropriation of 5000, 900 for
the construction of a new lighthouse
Gender for use on the Maine coast. Sew
saral efforts have been made in recent
years for new lighthouse tender for
Maine. Senator Frye has tried for an
appropriation. The House leaders this
session pleaded that the demand for
economy was too pressing to allow the
money, and they also pointed to the
probabilities of consolidation of dis
tricts before long. In recent years the
along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
have become pretty well worn out and
there has been great pressure upon Con-
gress to appropriate for new ones. Some
of the old tenders have been sold by the
government. as new ones have been au-
1horized
IF the contemplated consolidation of
the Offices at Boston and Portland takes
place" said Admiral Mark recently be-
fore a House committee, "as it surely
will, whether the bill before Congress
passes or whether they reorganize the
Bureau of Commerce and Labor, we will
have only one district Office for that
coast"
Lieut.. Col. William E. Craighill, the
army member of the Lighthouse Board,
dissented from that opinion, but Admiral
Mark insisted that he had his informa-
zion from authoritative sources in the
Department of Commerce. eff the light
house tender for the Maine coast could
be built for less than 5000, 900 we would
urge that it be done now," continued Ad-
miral Mark. 'They must have new
tender for the Maine and Massachusetts
coasts
Senators Frye and Gallinger may try
to get an appropriation for the newlight-
'aouse tender put upon the omnibus bill
when it gets before the Senate and there
would be fair chance of success.
As far as Maine matters at the Capitol
go, there is still little thought of anything
except the recent announcement of Sena-
tor Hale that he would not stand for re-
election. 1t caused such shock to the
eantire Maine community in Washington
shat the activities of the Congressman
from that State have been temporarily
suspended Probably no Maine man here
has any sympathy with the fight upon the
senior Senator. Those who know how