The Washington herald., 1922-04-20
RADIO CONCERTS
FOR LIGHTHOUSES
new POSSIBILITY
Installation of Sets on
Pacific Coast Expected
To Begin May 1.
SOME NOW IN USE
Fog Signal Service Proposed
To Warn Ships in Fog of Ap-
proach of Other Vessels.
SOME NOW IN USE

Radiophone concerts for the light
house keeper-holder OF the worlds
solitary confinement record-are
seen by government officials as the
latest possibility of the new art in
conjunction with radio fog signal
stations now in course of construc-
tion.
Already several lightships have
turned their wireless telegraph out
fits to good use through the long
evenings, and enthusiastic reports
have reached Lighthouse Commits
sioner Putnam from liChtship cap
tains who listen-in regularly on
concerts from Pittsburgh from their
anchorage of the Middle Atlantic
Coast.
As yet. probably not more than a
score of the $4,000 lighthouse keep
ers have installed radio receiving
sets. but the opening Of the San
Francisco light vessel fog-signal
service May 1 is expected to mark
the beginning of the "radioizing'
of Pacific Coast lighthouses and
ships. just as the three signal sta
tions in the vicinity of New York.
now in operation a year. marked
the 'rradioizing" OF the Atlantic
coast beacons-
scheme Entirely Possible.
Wherever there are radio tele-
graph outfits. radiophones are pos
sible. and. according to Commits
sioner Putnam. "the Lighthouse
Service purposes. as means are
available and needs are developed.
to install similar groups or single
radio fog-signal stations in the vi
cinity of important entrances on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and on
the Great Lakes, as well as on some
OF the principal intermediate capes
and light vessels"
Lighthouse officials say they can
readily see the introduction of
radiophone receiving sets in many
an isolated station. but the concerts
made available to the keepers must
he OF the highest character. because
lighthouse keepers are usually old
men of the sea, delighted with the
security of their present stations.
given to thinking serious thoughts.
and very often highly educated
through the slow process of years.
The keeper of Tillamook Rock
station- fifteen miles OF the Oregon
coast. on rocks so steep and in a sea
so heavy that he must come and go
by means Of a basket swung far
out from the ledge: and the keeper
Of Minot's Ledge. standing alone in
the heavy sea. off the Massachusetts
coast-on duty eight months of the
year and of four months; and those
keepers up in Alaska on duty three
years Eunning out OF every four.
would certainly enjoy sermons or
concerts by radio.
VIII Warn Vessels.
The proposed radio fog signal
service would operate in connection
with the radio compass on ships at
sea. BY this means ships in heavy
fog are accurately warned of the
approach of other vessels. Fixed
stations along the coast send GER
tain fixed radio signals. such as a
series of double dashes for 80 sec
onds and silent 80 seconds. as in the
case OF the San Francisco service
about to be opened. BY means Of a
chart. the captain of a fog-bound
ressel Is able to locate the source
of these signals and thereby get his
bearings.
As this service. develops. all radio
stations used therein will be built
by the government and will be con-
sequently powerful-using the long
distance 1.000-meter wave length.
Such stations would be able to re-
ceive concerts from a great dis
tance. But the isolated lighthouse
Keeper. for the present at least. will
have to rig up his own set out of
his own pocket.
For fifty years the government
has provided 10000 a year to main
tain lighthouse circulating libra
ries rotated among the various sta
tions in cases of fifty to 100 vol
umes. with the introduction of
radio as really constructive edu-
cational force, as well as source
of entertainment. il is thought that
some day soon the government may
supplement the lighthouse library
with a lighthouse radio set.