The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-08-07

tract for the erection of the original lighthouse at Cape
Henry signed by Alexander Hamilton behalf
Of the United States Government and it the first
contract for the construction of a lighthouse ever
entered into by the Federal Government
Throughout all the years there has been very
pronounced continuity of program a singeness of
purpose due to the always existing necessity guild
ng signals upon the coasts and other navgable waters
of the country. The maintenance of these naviga-
tona aids has continued without interruption for
the safety and efficiency of the countrys waterborn
commerce has always depended upon them
In the first days of the republic the lighthouses
and other aids were administered directly by the
rotary of the Treasury with numerous matters sub
mtted to the President for the early documents have
been found frequently to bear the signatures and
endorsements of George Washington Alexander Ham
ilton and others Existing documents with their en-
dorsements demonstrate Washington's careful super
vision over the expenditure of Federal funds and his
personal attention the details of government Even
personnel matters relating to early keepers of light
houses under the eyes of Presidents Washington
and Jefferson, the records show.
In 1910 Congress created the Bureau of Light
houses of the Department of Commerce to administer
the United States Lighthouse Service result of
which important economies effected through
simplfication of organization and the development
of service under the merit system of Civil
Service procedure
On July of this year an0t;er important change
became effective. This was accomplished as a part
of the Presidents reorganization plan through which
the United States Lighthouse Service together with
its functions and its equipment and personnel were
transferred to the United States Coast Guard and the
Lighthouse Service ceased to exist as an independent
organization after uninterrupted activity covering
period of nearly $50 years.
In the conduct of lighthouse work as a Federal
function during period of a century and half there
can be traced constant development and expansion
concuTently with the territorial and commercial
growth of the nation, the development of the en-
gneerng arts and sciences and the initiation of i'm
provements in administrative methods and personnel
procedure But likewise through all these evolutionary
developments there can be traced noteworthy adher-
ence to the examples of economy discipline decen-
trazed organization and singeness of major purpose
which set up in the earliest years of the republic
From the comparatively small beginning confined
to limited stretch the Atlantic seaboard the
vities of the Government as to navigaona aids have
gradually been extended to other parts of the con-
tinental shores of the expanding nation and TO the
acquired outlying possessions until there about
10000 marine aids of all kinds maintained under the
direct supervision of the Federal Government requr-
ing the services of approximately 5000 people and the
maintenance and operation of fleet of about light
house tenders and 40 ghtships besides large number
of small launches
The Lighthouse Service has served Alaska we'll
providing aids to navigation in waters which must be
safe for ships if Alaska is to carry commerce with
the rest of the world
The Territory joins heartily in celebrating $50
of accomplishment by the United States Light
house Service.