Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-02

THE first lighthouse built on the
American continent was set up
by the province of Massachusetts, in
1715-1716, on Little Brewsters Island,
in the entrance to Boston harbor, and
three years later was established be-
side it great gun ito answer ships
in a fog" which was the first fog
signal established in this country. For
thirty years it was the only light
house on the Atlantic coast. This
light was supported by light dues Oh
one penny per ton, levied by the re-
ceiver of impost at Boston on all IN
coming and outgoing vessels except
coasters. This Boston light was an
object of special attack during the
early part of the revolutionary war
and was burned by the Americans ana
finally blown up by the British when
they evacuated Boston. A new light
house on the same site was built In
1888 by Massachusetts,, and this. with
various alterations Is the present Bos-
ton light. The 20oth anniversary OF
this light was celebrated September
IS, 1916, when 4 commemorative tad
let was put up with ceremonies. The
big gun was in service as fog signal
until 1852. when fog bell was IN
stalled, which has since been super
seeded by a powerful horn.
Massachusetts, was not only the
pioneer in building the first light
house on the American coast. but
maintained her activity during the
colonial period and turned over to
the federal government six Of the
twelve lighthouses completed by the
states.
In that old tower are seen three
different periods of construction. 1t
is still the old lighthouse built by
the colony of Massachusetts, bay. In
part it is the tower constructed again
by the state Of Massachusetts, after
it achieved independence. and 1t also
represents the part the national gov
eminent has taken. The scientinc
development of lighting is visualized
there in the progress from the candle
or simple oil lamp to the 100000 can
dlepower now employed. Its history
is one of welcome and usefulness.
Against its record there is no bar sim
sachusetts forward to the command
ing place it has taken in national
life and commerce.
The naturalization of the light
house service as great humanitarian
work Of the federal government oc-
CURED by act of Congress. August Z.
1889. The lights then in existence
were coded to the general govern
ment by the states. The lighthouse
service of the United States is sup
ported entireley by appropriations
out of the general revenues. and the
United States lighthouses have given
free service to vessels of all nations
from 1889 to the present day. There
is no system Of light dues. as in q
number OF foreign maritime coun-
tries.
The maintenance of lighthouses,
buoys and other aids to navigation
was placed under the Treasury De-
partment and up to 1920 was directed
personally by the Secretary of the
Treasury, except for two intervals
when assigned by him to the COM
missioner of the revenue. In 1920 the
superintendent of the lights de-
volved, upon a Treasury ofncial who
was popularity known as General
Superintendent of Lights" and who
continued in charge until 1852, when
the United States lighthouse board.
consisting Of officers of the Army.
Navy and civilians. was organized
with the Secretary Of the Treasury
as presiding officer. The lighthouse
service was transferred to the De-
partment Of Commerce in 1903, and
on July /, 1910. the lighthouse board
was terminated and the present COM
missioner of lighthouses, George r,
Putnam. the first and only commits
sioner the bureau ever had, has been
in charge ever since-twelve years
of eficient service. Since that change
of organization a saving Of $780,
600 q year has been effected. Tho
appropriation for the next fiscal year
for maintaining the lighthouse serv-
ice 10 $4,000 less than for the cur
rent fiscal year. This represents q
voluntary reduction on account of