The Alaska daily empire., 1916-08-26
LIGHTHOUSE AT
 CAPE ST. ELIAS
 SOON BE READY
Great NavigatorS' Aid on the Alaska Coast to Be Soon Placed in
 Commission.
IN PATH OF STEAMERS

The lighthouse station on Cape st. Elias, at the south end of Kay ak Island and on the direct route of travel from Juneau to Cordova and other westward towns win be in commission shortly after September lst, according to the statements made by Captain w. C. Debren, who passed through Juneau southbomd recently.
 Captain Debrell is the superintend' ent of lighthouses for Alaska and spent the summer in the westward section personally inspecting the work of installing additional aids Co navigation in that section and making a general inspection of the aids already in place
 The Cape s. Elias light station will be one of the greatest aids 10 navigation on the northern steamer run. as all westward boats are forced to round the Cape twice each trip. The Cape extends several miles south Of tho mainland and directly across the route of travel. making it necessary for the steamers to run several miles out of direct course. In stormy weather or in roggy weather in the past steamers have frequently been forced to lay for hours off the Cape waiting for the weather 10 clear enough for them to get their bearings from the land.
 4 brief description of the station prepared by Captain Debren follows:
 This station consists of tower supporting the lantern. direct con- nected at one corner with fog signal building. back of which and continuous with it is storage building for oil, distillate, coal and water. The buildings named are all of reinforced concrete construc. ion. except the superstructure of he tower which is of iron and )ronze
 Other buildings located in proX- mity Co the tower, where they best serve their several purposes are a dwelling constructed of cement sand. brick on concrete foundations, boat house. and a hoist house both of the same construction. Carpenter and arge shops are accommodated in he latter two buildings. Rail trans .onnect the east and west beaches if the Cape with the various struc- ures and are served by oil engine ioists.
 The Tumnant is coal oil yapor- zed and burned on group of three nanues. showing from a revolving ems of the third order of modern make. a double flash every twenty seconds. The fog signal consists of first class air sirens sounding group of two blasts every minute rom double mouthed trumpets the blasts being four seconds long with foursecond interval between them. The air is compressed by oil engine ,ompressors in storage tanks whence is taken to the sirens. All equip ment is in duplicate to preclude de- lays in service due to possible break down of machinery.
 There will be three keepers resi- lent of this station without families. The wireless station which has been in operation during the past con struction season may possibly be com inued in operation until May next year. A regularly appointed licensed radio operator is in charge of the wireless installation.
 The station is constructed from a special appropriation made by Con gress in thes sum of S1l5,OOO. Com truction began June ]. 1915, the pre- 'immary surveys having been made in May Of the same year. It is an hid much desired by mariners, for III vessels bound westward. whether rom the inside passage or direct, must make Cape St. Elias before proceeding further
 As supplementary aid and to mark South East Rock, lying be- tween two and three miles off Cape St. Elias. a large gas lighted, whist ling and submarine bell buoy has been established in about 24 fath- oms of water off the Cape Tho whistle and bell are acluoted by the