Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-10

&htx ~ &48A Il billlldHl pdlU OF
800 SsS light completely
around the world.
y" other government on earth main
tains such an elaborate lighthouse serv-
'cc rs the United States Consider that
III" coast line Of the United States and IFS
possessions is nearly $4,000 miles long
almost twice the circumference of the
carth-1ud YOU will understand why. And
still Uncle sam does not do fun Justice to
those who go down IT, the sea in ships.
The cry comes from the Florida reefs and
from tho tortuous channels If Alaska for
more lights that lives may he saved; it
COMES from every IIarter of the coun-
try whore there are navigahle waters. the
use If which is increasing
The government Of the Philippine Is
lands maintains its own lighthouse estab-
lshm,nt the Panama Canal Zone has its
aids To navigation as a part Of canal adj
ruinistration. but all the remainder of the
coast line Of the possessions of the United
States is protected by the bureau Of
lighthouses Of the Department of Com
merce.
This remaining coast line is iG,S2S miles
long. There is included If this mileage
tn" 1910 miles If American shore on the
great lakes and 5.i.S miles of interior and
coastal ~ivers that need protection. Near
y $500 lighthouses. lightships. fixed
lighted bcaconS. gas huoys and float
lights are maintained on this water 'front.'
age. in addition there are more than
500 unlishted aids, such as fog signals.
Submarine signals. buoys and daymarks
Kept M by tho bureau.
\ smart little navy Of forty-fve vessels.
called lighthouse tenders. is supported to
'ook after these And the total cost Of
the whole service to Uncle Sam hereto
FORE has not exceeded S6obo.en a year.
the construction Of new tenders light
houses. works of various sort included.
This wear the bureau is asking Congress
"a appropriate about s1.OnoOnO more
about So.motn of the total amount to be
expended in new work. At S6nnOOOO a
wear the per capita cost to the people Of
tho United States. estimating the present
population al lo,oOooOn. Is cents Only
an actuary % powerful imagination can
calculate the return in lives and property
saved.
Five thousand five hundred men and
vomen-for there are a few woman life
keepers-make up the personnel of this
picturesque and highly efficient lighthouse
service. Most OF these are actually with
the lights and beacons: only oil are in
the executive. engineering and clerical
directing heads. or light keepers there
are I .133; 1.5To care for the little post
lights one finds on rivers, lakes and bays;
3ls are on the Ightships and light
house tenders. and 4s9 are in the con-
Sfruction and repair force.
At the head OF the bureau of light
houses Is George r. Putnam. long trained
N the work, who is known as commits
siorer. with George S. Conway as assist
ant commissioner. Both are distinguished
civil engineers members OF the American
Society of Civil Engineers.
Just now the bureau Is making up the
record II the winters work along lis far
NnE beacon line 1t is a record of trag-
e6F. heroiSru, heart -wrenching tales Of sur
t"f.HG and devotion 10 duty. Every win
ttr IL - the same. the only variation
beng names and localities and minor de-
ais Uncle Sans lighthouse and light
sup men are hose who. TO save life.
court death IN many forms Arduous
lonely. strenuous lives they live. but lives
lighted frequently by opportunity TO do
@-eat service 10 humanity.
The WINTER that closed so recently was
n"' . particularly disastrous one as win
'"'s 60. mt il had is meet OF woe, death
$3.50 suffering.
Tile greatest tragedy was that which
3't"I ASEt vessel No. So the station Of
Nhl@a IS thirteen miles southwest from
EEfai' harhor. north entrance. y Y.
A4rlus the severe storm of November =
. a1d 10 last the snip was sunk and the
50 men an board drowned. Their names
written ia the bureaus long list Of those
WHO disd at their posts. We're Hugh NJ.
Williams. master: Andrew Lcahy, mate:
tlaE,"s W. Butter. engineer. Cornelius
'4c4Gw. assistant engineer William Jcn-