The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-06
BUSY
United States Leads World
in Protection to Mariners.
DEVELOPMENT ONLY RECENT
Season Of Year at Hand when Great
Lake Navigation Is Open and Iron
Ore Traffic In PrOEress-Great
Heroism and skill often Dis
played-Divided Into Districts.

This Is the season OF the year when
practically all the lighthouses IN America
are In active service.
When Great Lake navigation Is open
and the iron ore traffic is Ia progress the
lights begin TO shine from more than 200
lighthouses which at other times are
darkened. Ia all there are IN the United
States more than 1900 lighthouses and
beacons, and between 5000 and 5000 men
employed In the service.
The United States is to-day claimed TO
lead the world in the protection she az
fords her own mariners. and conse-
quently that afforded those coming TO her
shores from other countries, says the
Marine Journal.
Like many other OF our institutions, the
development Of this service. though COM
paratyely recent. has been both rapid
and thorough. not 10 say marvellous
Other countries, however. have also made
notable strides along the same line, with
the result that the old dangers OF travel
upon the seas of the world have been
reduced
Begin to Multiply.
For more than 200 years after the dis
covery Of America only one lighthouse
had been built In this country though
the value Of such an aid to navigation
had been known since the days of the
ancienfs
Since they began to multiply many al
most unsuFmountabie obstacles have been
overcome in establishing some OF the
most important lights. and not a little
heroism has been chronicled in the work
OF construction as well as in the subse-
Hlfn guFrr . 49,.
most notable feats Of engineering skill
have also been chronieled.
The greatest heroism and skill has, Of
course. been demonstrated In the erection
of those lights which stand upon the reefs
or hugs boWlder. While as passengers
on passing ship We watch the waves
and heavy seas dash over these rocks on
which now stand stsnch lighthouses, we
marvel ar fbW the construction was ever
accomplished.
The history OF such houses usually in
eludes the loss by drowning OF several OF
the builders. not 10 speak OF exposure
and unusual hardship on the part OF all.
Nor have All the obstacles been upon
the ocean coasts. On one OF the FIVE
Great Lakes-Lske Huron-there stands
a lighthouse on Spectacle Reef which for
nearly forty years has been outstanding
also pressure Of great packs Of ice
Built of Steel
Other lighthouses built under much less
difficulty, however, are Of the greatest
Importance. Buildings OF much less size
built not upon the rocks. but perhaps
upon artificial cribs a mile or so from
shore, are to be found at many points.
especially on the Great Lakes. and their
lights iilumlne the paths OF the immense
steel ships which carry the ore from
Lake Superior TO the ports on Lake Erie.
Some of those now building on these
waters are said 10 be a forerunuer OF
many other Of Ike construction which
the government will build They are con-
structed OF steel and concrete along the
lines OF modern Office building. one OF
these modern buildings has Just been
completed. and is known 10 mariners as
the White Shoals lighthouse. Steel in
stead OF stone and brick means much 10
modern lighthouse building as il does in
so many industrial lines.
The cost Of lighthouses ranges from
$1,000 to SS00,00o, and there have been A
few which have cost more than double
the latter amount. this depending largely
upon the construction required, and
especially on whether or not they are
located on a reef or rock where the
hazards heretofore referred to are neces-
sary. over our 5000 miles OF coast line the
latter are in the minority.
Divided Into Districts.
The lighthouse territory Of the United
States is divided into districts, each dis
trict In charge Of an inspector under the
Navy Department and an engineer under
the army department Of the government.
Unlike the IAfe~saving Service, the figures
for the amount OF life and property IL
saves each year cannot be readily com
puted, but could the story be written Il
would I'LL volumes
Speaking or the Great Lakes, three dis
tricts are represented in the service Of
these bodies of water-the NINTH TENTH
and eleventh. Vessels with supplies and
which do construction work and make
repairs are plying constantly TO the vari-
Gus lighthouses IN these districts The
one which looks after new construction
and repair work is under the engineers
department in the army service