The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-06-13
AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSES.
Uncle Sans Beacon Service is the
Most Extensive of its Kind.

The sea coast line under the juris-
diction of the United States is 4S,88l
statute miles, measured in three-mile
steps. The general government pro-
vides lighthouses and other aids to
navigation along all this coast, with
the exception of the Philippine IS
lands, 11,511 miles, and Panama,
where the marking of the coasts IS
maintained by thel ocal goverenmnts'
In addition, the United States pro-
vides lights along the American shore
of the Great Lakes, 1920 miles and on
interior and coastal rivers, 5,47S miles
The United States lighthouse ser
vice thus maintains lights and other
aids to navigation along 46,2SS miles
of coast line and river channels a
length equal to nearly twice the cir
conference of the earth. In this dis
tance ii has 1884 aids to navigation
of all classes, sufficient to place one
every two miles around the equator.
In respect to territory covered and
aids maintained, says George R. Put
NAM commissioner of lighthouses in
the National Geographical Magazine,
It is much the most extensively service
of its kind under a single manage
ment. There are 1852 lights above
the order of river post lights, and
there are 762 lights having resident
keepers, 81 light vessel stations and
43S lighted buoys, The total lighted
aids of all kinds is 4,516.
There are in all 933 fog signals, OF
which SO are for signal stations, 43
submarine bells, 124 whistling buoys
and 256 bell buoys. There are 6,2S1
unlighted buoys and 1,474 day marks,
or unlighted beacons. There are also
SIG private aids to navigation, main
tained at private expense; but under
government supervision.
This service is carried on through
an organization Of nineteen districts,
nnder a central office in Washington.
Each district is in charge of light
house Inspector and has a local Office
and one or more supply depots and
lighthouse tenders. In all there are 46
of these small vessels which carry the
supplies to the stations and place and
maintain the buoys and light vessels.
About $500 men are required for
the lighthouse work, of whom 211 are
in the executive, engineering and cler-
icaI force, 1888 are keepers OF lights
and depots, 1870 care for post lights,
1916 are on vessels and 4S9 are in the
construction and repair forces.
The entire personnel is under the
civil service rules, and appointments
and promotions are on strictly mer-
it system. This is of great Importance
for the maintenance of good organiza-
tion and rigid descjoline in purely
technical service, on the efficient con-
duct Of which is directly dependent
the safety of all the lives and all the
property carried on the seas and the
navigable waters of this country.
The annual maintenance cost of the
entire service is closet O. $35,0OO,O00,
and in addition in recent years there
has been expended ebout $1,0OO,O0O a
wear on new lighthouse works and
vessels.
At all important light stations there
are from two to five keepers, who
maintain a continuous watch of the
light all NIGHT and at the approach OF
fog at all times. At less important
are from two to FIVE keepers, who
sometimes a single keeper cares for
several lights.
The first lighthouse on this CONT
nent was built by the province OF
Massachusetts, in 1715-171S, on an is
land in the entrance to Boston harbor.
Although candles and even coal fires
appear to have been used in light
house illumination ip England to a
much later date, oBston light was
probably illuminated from the first by
oil lamps. In 1889 the light was pro-
duced by sixteen lamps in groups OF
four. Crude lenses and refectors were
fitted in 1911, and also revolving me-
chanism, it having previously been a
fixed light. Several other lighthouses
were built and maintained by the CO.
1onia1 government.