The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-04
DIBRELL GIVES
 OUT PLAN FOR NAVIGATION AID
Fog Signals for Guard Island any Many Other Minor
 Improvements.
(Ketchikan Chronible.)


 Regarding the appropriations re ported from Washington which arc going through with the department of commerce apprc riation, Captain w. C. Dibrell, sIperin 9ldent of light houses for Alaska, gave out the plans of the bureau as to the allotments of the funds anticipated His state ment was as follows:
 "A measure now pending in Con gress includes an item of $125, 900 for aids to navigation in Alaska. Thi; item is in accordance with detailed estimates heretofore submitted to Congress by Nthe lighthouse service If the appropriation is made the funds thus becoming available will provide for number of important and worthy projects for improvement in the marking of navigable channels in Alaskan waters.
 "The two most important projects contemplated are fog signals for Guard Island and Point Retreat The former is located at the western el- trance to Tongass Narrows and it very important that a good fog signal as well as a light be maintained u assist both steamers and gasboats i7 making the entrance to Tongass Ma rows en route to .Ketchikan. At present a fog bell is maintained at Guard Island but it's value to naviea ton is very limited owing to u , comparatively short distance which the bell can be heard. It is the in this station and to improve the pre5- ent light A reinforced concrete fog signal building will be created, sur mounted by a tower and lantern foi the light, and another dwelling will also be erected in order that two the station, instead of one as at pres ent, and thus provide for continuous night and day watches.
 "A similar installation is contem- plated for Point Retreat which is an important station at the northern end 1 from Juneau All vessels bound be l tween Juneau and the westward pass 1 this point whether proceeding by way of Skagway or direct. At present | there is only an unwatched blinkcr 1 light and no fog signal at this sta l tion. It is proposed to erect a dweii- | ing for keepers, and reinforced con crete structure for the light and foS signal, and to install an air diaphone similar to that proposed for Guarf 1 Island.
 "In addition to the two important projects just mentioned it is the in | tention to use the remainder of the appropriation for the purchasey an | l installation of a number of automatic acetylene lights, and perhaps one or two gas buoys if funds permit. It is also probable that one or two auto nlatic fog bells will be purchased and installed for test
 'The automatic lights will be e5- tablished at various places through out the district where most needed The following localities have been un- der consideration and it is probable
 
 be established: Slate Island at the entrance to Boca-de-Quadra, about 25 miles southeast of Ketchikan; en- trance to Snettisham Inlet; four post lights to mark the chanpel across Mendenhall Bar, near Juneau; prob ably one or two lights in Peril Strait or Sitka Sound; and several lights in Southwestern Alaska and along the | Alaskan Peninsula.
 "All of the new aids under consid- eration have been requested by ma riners and. if established. they will ibe of great assistance to vessel op- erating in Alaskan waters. They will | benefit not only the regular steamers but also the large fleet of gas boats which make their headquarters at he various Alaskan ports and which contribute an important part in the development of the commerce of the Territory