Evening star., 1913-04-06
SHINING SIGNP0STS OF THE SEA.


In olden times those who went down
to the sea in ships risked themselves
whenever they drew near
Modern to land. They were in
49, peril Of sailing in the dar6
oS. into shoals and upon reefs,
however careful they might be in their
navigation. Gradually this danger has
been to some extent overcome as beacons
have been established to mark the'way to
harbors and to give warning of rocks
and treacherous sands. But in place OF
the blazing fires on far separated head
lands, kept alight with difficulty and even
at grave hazard, now stand massive
structures of steel and stone, from which
powerful rays spread far out to. sea to
guide the course of ships The modern
lighthouse. with its clockwork diaphragm.
its intensely brilliant lamps, its deep-laid
foundations, its efficient management, Is
a true epitome Of modern civilization.
The seacoast line over which the United
States has jurisdiction. measured in three
mile steps, is nearly 1900 statute miles
Along more, than IL 600 miles, however
representing the coast of the Philippine
Islands and the Panama Canal Zone, the
local governments maintain their. own
lighthouse systems. In addition to the
$4,000 miles along which the United
States government places lights or other
aids to navigation, must be added more
than 1900 miles representing the shores
of the great lakes, and more than 5000
miles representing interior and, coastal
river shores. The total range Of shore,
then, covered by the federal lighthouse
service is -46,S28 statute miles, almost
twice the distance around the world. In
that distance ,S24 aids to navigation are
maintained. These include l, ,462 lights.
above the order of river post lights: 1852
lights in charge of resident keepers, 81
light vessel stations and 43s lighted
buoys making total of more than 4,5OO
lighted aids. Nearly 600 fog signals
are also in use, of which more than half
constitute regular stations. 43 are SUBJ
marine bells, 124 whistling bueys and 256
bell buoys. To this must be added also
6,2S1 unlighted buoys and 1,474 day marks
or unlighted beaeons. More than 500
private aids to navigation exist. main
tanned by private agencies, but placed
under government supervision.
*. ~
Headquarters of the lighthouse service
are in Washington. the bureau being
part of the Department
Organization of Commerce. Under
of Sarv;oe George r. Putnam.
" 0eA sAce' commissioner Of light
houses. the territory covered by the serv-
ice is divided into nineteen districts. each
in charge of lighthouse inspector. In
each district, also. is maintained local
Office. and one or more supply depots and
lighthouse tenders. These tenders, Of
which there are forty-six, serve torcairy
supplies to stations, to place buoys, etc.
The service consists Of about $500 men,
of whom all but 211 are engaged in tend
ing lights or stations. or similar work.
Nearly 1,750~are keepers Of either lights
or edepots, and 1.500 are on vessels. Five
hundred constitute a construction and re-
pair force. The regular annual appro-
prfation for the maintenance of the sery-
ice is about $5,0O0,OOO and 81 ,0OO. 600 Is
usually expended additionally for new
lighthouse stations or vessels. Unlike the
majority Of other. countries, mo light tax
is collected from shipping, the money,
consequently, coming directly from the
general revenues.
:, Massachusetts,, the first state to lake
active steps toward assisting shipwrecked
mariners. was also the first state to erect
a lighthouse. 1t was in 1883 that huts
were built along it's shores by that state
for the use Of mariners escaped from
the dangers of the sea. but nearly seven
ty-five years prior to that, when Massa
house was erected. That was i'm i715.
the site being an island in the entrance to
Boston harbor. The light was built three
yea years after oaa, eoitts had reported to
Place for Erecting a Light House. whichs
will be of great Use. not only for the
Preservation of the Lives and Es-
tates of Persons designing. for the
Harbour of Boston and Charlestown,
but of any other Place within Massa-
chusetts Bay AS result, the
court resolved that the Protection will
be of general publick Benefit and Service
and Is worthy to be encouraged" Also.
that the lack of the said lighthouse hath
been great Discouragement. to Naviga-
tfon by the loss of lives and Estates of
several of His Majesties Subjects" The
lighthouse was built, and a few years
later the keeper asked the general court
for fog signal, requesting that great
Gun be placed on Said Island to answer
Ships in Fog
A history OF this particular lighthouse
Is to considerable extent the history Of
. progress in connection
The Earliest with lighthouses gen.
r:Ixr orally. At first it was
AasAtnouSe. supported by dues
levied on all Incoming and outgoing ves-
sells, except coasters, 4 penny per ton be-
ing the toll. The British blew it up in
l776 and a new lighthouse was erected
In 1783 which, except for certain altera-
tions, is the present light. While the
means of illumination during its early ex-
istence is more or less problematical. it is
thought that oil lamps were used In
1889 it is known that sixteen lamps were
employed, divided into groups Of four In
1911 reflectors and lenses were added, and
the light was changed from a stationary
to changing signal. In 1898 came an
other improvement, "a revolving light,
consisting of fourteen Argand lamps.
with parabolic refectors." Larger refiec--
tors were installed in 1899, and Fresnel
lens in 1859. Until 1852 as far as is
KNOWN the great gun" was the only fog
signal at this station. Then fog bell
was added, while seventeen years later a
bell was installed; in 1872