Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-11
AT SEA IS
HAZARDOUS TASK
FOR LIGHTHOUSE
EMPLOYEES
Representatives of Depart.
ment of Commerce and La
Dor Pay Visit to Pacific
Coast and Learn of Work.
MEN ON TENDER HAVE
TO TAKE MANY CHANCES

washington Letter to The Herald.)
Washington, Jan. Ii.-Traveling
representatives OF the bureau Of light
houses, department Of commerce and
labor, have returned 10 Washington
after an inspection OF lighthouse work
on the coasts of Washington. Oregon,
and California. Such trips are made
for the purpose of standardiging the
engineering and business methods
throughout the lighthouse service, and
! for learning nj first hand. for the III
formation OF the bureau and the de-
partment. the actual working cOndi-
tiens Of the service.
Many meritorious features I'm De.
/ tails OF the work have been Develop
ed In the different lighthouse dis
tricts and are gathered and dissent
mated by means Of these trips. Sug-
gestions with regard to handling The
work are received from the local OFF
Gals ana discussed with them In q
more satisfactory and complete man
ner than can be developed through
correspondence. By' bringing the field
Offices in closer touch with the bu-
reau al Washington a strong feeling
OF cooperation Is engendered. whlcl
| Is beneficial In conducting the regular
business with accuracy and prompt.
ness. W.
on part OF their journey the bu-
reau representatives accompanied the
tender Manzanita on regular rip
of coellng the light vessels at sea In
the vicinity "a Gape Flattery. OF the
entrance to the Straits OF Juan de
Faca, al the extreme northwest cor
ner of The state OF Washington. One
of these vessels Is located on Swift
sure bank. close TO the International
boundary, about six miles of Van
CONVEX Island. and the other vt Una.
tilla reef, marking dangerous rcoks
south of the cape.
Risk and Hardship involved.
10th vessels are In exposUn posi-
tions. and the question OF Receiving
coal ana other supplies during the
stormy season Is a matter involving
rick and hardship on the part of The
officers and crews Of both the tenders
aud the lightships. Small boats are
lswung overheard, and the coal RE
lviously sacked In hurlap bags weigh
ling about 100 pounds each, Is tossed
into them from the decks OF he ten
lder The crew then row the cargo
boats alongside the lightship, aud
lthe bags Of coal are lifted aboard. u
Is not generally possible 20 take more
THAN two or three tons al one boat
load, and as from % to 30 tons are
usually delivered TO the lighiship q
number OF trips are necessary AFTER
the work Is finished the boat crew Is
brought aboard the tender and sent
below for dry clothing, as Il rs quite
J lcoImon for the beat to return more
than half full OF water
While the coaling Is In progress The
llightships are inspected 10 see tha'
everything on board Is maintained ~
lproper condition. especially in regard
TO the lights fog signals and moor
lngs. as well as the general condition
and state OF repair OF the ship.
Landings Through the Surf.
; On the present trip coal was sup
piled to the lighthouses ard fog sig
nails on shore In much the same man
ner. except that landings are usually
made through the surf on the heacl
: and the coat carried ashore and Wheei
{ ed TO the bins These stations are a's'
, inspected and the keepers question:
In reference 90 their duties ana main
I ltenance OF apparatus III thelF Nale
! Many of the stations visited are equip
! ped with automatic recording gauge
for fog signals. which Indicate b.
meana of suitable clockwork and reg
istering apparatus the actual TIM
during which the fog signal was u
, operation. As controversies occasion
ally arise IN regard 10 the soundin
of fog signals. Nioh are often inter
fered with considerably by wind an
other weather conditions, such dc
, vice Is very useful in fixing exact re
! spohsihlllty
In addition 20 noting the progrea
! being made lu the current work @
. the service, careful study was mad
of the needs of the Pacific coast 70
. additional aids to nayigalion' whic
will be undertaken as circumstance
lpormit.
An important point visited 10 thl