The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-11-18
our COAST LIGHTS
These Beacons Are Invaluable as
Aids to Navigation.
THE SERVICE NEVER SLEEPS.

Warns the Watchfui Mariner.
The work OF safeguarding navigation
on the coasts Of the United States is a
far greater and more complex problem
than most people appreciate for there
is multitude of complex conditions to
be met, each one varying with the pc
culiarities of its location. The terri
tory to be covered is also unusually
great, as 1t includes not only the entire
ocean fronts of the country, both ON
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but of
Alaska. the Hawaiian Islands, portions
OF the West Indies and the great lakes
as well, and the service never ends
either by night or day. summer or win
ter.
The lighthouse service comprises a
force of 5000 men, on whom devolves
the duty of maintaining over 1900
aids to navigation of various kinds, In
GLIDING lighthouses, lightships, light
beacons and buoys OF various descrip-
lions, together with many fog signals,
and an important incidental duty Is
that of protecting the shores in the
Eeighborhood Of stations from damage
by erosion that might endanger the
structures.
The desirable distribution of lights
and other aids along a coast depends
on its maritime development and its
physical characteristics and is infiu-
enced by the prevailing meteorological
conditions. Thus the north Atlantic
coast has large foreign and coasting
trade, and the shores are intricate and
In part rugged, and along this coast
the main lights are. with few excep-
lions, placed at such intervals that
their arcs OF visibility overlap. On
portions OF the coast of simple con-
tour, and with smaller traffic, there
are unlighted stretches between the
lights which stand on the projecting
capes. The design and construction
of lighthouses vary with their loca-
ton and the surrounding conditions.
no two being exactly alike.
Next to the lighthouse, the lightship
10 one of the most picturesque objects
seen along our coasts. This vessel is
ninety-two feet on the water line,
twenty-five feet beam and has a
draft OF eleven feet four inches. 1t is
built Of steel and incombustible ma
terials throughout and has five water
tight bulkheads 1t Is self propelled,
being provided with an internal COM
bustion oil. burning engine OF 200
horsepower, and has an oil vapor or
gas light fifty feet above the water
located on tubular mast, through
which aooocc n, fha iioht oa., l,o SO folv
had In any weather. The fog signal
Is siren using compressed air, and
a submarine bell is also fitted. Fifty
two light vessels are maintained, and
that there may be no interruption of
the service there are fourteen relief
ships, so that II anything happens to
ship or station another can be quick
ly sent to take its place. All OF these
vessels are very strongly built to en-
able them to Withstand the severe
service they are required to perform
and have flush decks for increased
safety.
Only one light, tkat at Navesink.
N. j., Is equipped with electric light for
which current Is generated at the sta
ton. but there are thirty minor stations
where electric lights. either incandes-
cent or arc, are used which obtain cur
rent from outside sources. In most of
the coast lights oil vapor lamps are
used having nantes of either thirty
flve or ffty-five millimeters diameter
and arranged either singly or In groups
giving light intensities Of from 600 to
1890 candles. These lamps are not
only very powerful and reliable, but
are much more economical than the old
oil wick lamps, as they require but
from O.6 to O.S8 gallon per candle pow
or per year as against As to re gallons
for the old oil lights. The increased
illuminating efficiency Is about eight
times.
Beacons, both fixed and floating. are
numerous and depend on either gas or
electricity for their lights, and these
are especially valuable In inaccessible
places where attendance Is difficult.
These. however. are only put in sta
lions OF subordinate Importance The
majority of such beacons use gas and
are provided with tanks OF sufficient
capacity for storing supply of acety-
lene gas for about five months
Fog signals are Of particular value In
many places. and these are distributed
along the coast. according to conditions
prevailing. Thus on the coast Of Maine
there Is an average of LOST hours of
fog during the year, while on the south
Atlantic and gulf coasts the average Is
only $50 hours. There are 32S fog sig
mails from Cape Lookout northward out
Of total Of SCI maintained by the
service. There are 127 fog signals on
the American shores of the great lakes
and eighty-three on the northern Pa
cific and Alaska shores. while In Porto
Rico and Hawaii, where fog Is rare, no
signals of this kind are required.
The principal fog signals used are air
sirens. steam whistles. reed horns. bells
controlled by clockwork and submarine
bells operated by compressed air all of