Year: 1860




This truly great national work is fast draw
ing towards completion. The mason-work is all


finished, the last stone having been set in its place
the 29th day of last month with safety, although
the waves were rolling and pitching the vessel at
the time the stone sent to its place, making it
a very dangerous undertaking, but still interesting
enough for those engaged in it. The workmen are
now busy ON the interior of the lighthouse and
in putting up the lantern, in order to have all
ready for lighting at early day. When all is
finished designed, the "Minot's Ledge Light
house, will be one of the grandest achievements
in the world; we shall not except the far famed
"Eddystone," in the English Channel.


The Minot lighthouse is built on dangerous
sunken rock, which bears the name of the "0uter
Minot" and at most states of the tide is covered
at high water it is covered to the depths of from
ten to fourteen feet, making it altogether verv
uncomfortable and difficult place to erect such
building upon the are about to describe.
This dangerous rock lies in the track of outward
and inward bound vessels, and is about twenty-five
miles southeast of Boston, in Massachusetts Bay,
and about three miles from Cohassett, where all the
works are carried on in conneXiOn with building of
the lighthouse. The operations were commenced
in the summer of 1855, and have been carried on
steadily since, Sabbaths as well as the ordi-
nary working days of the week, anxious were
those in charge to have this work of necessity and
mercy completed with as much dispatch as posi-
BILE.


We may mention here that the old iron light
house previously erected on this rock had been
carried away in the fearful storm in the month of
April 1851, and the two keepers were lost with it.
The first blow struck the rock towards the erec-
ton of the lighthouse on Sabbath morning,
July 1st, 1855. And it is remarkable coincidence
that the first stone laid the Eddystone rock
towards the erection of the lighthouse built thereon
was laid on the Sabbath morning June 18th, 1857;
the first stone being laid on Minots Ledge July
9th, 1857. Thus it will be that just about one
hundred years have passed, with all its shipwrecks
and sorrows incident thereto, between the two
great national undertakings of Britain and America
for the benefit of commerce and the safety of life
and property.


The Eddystone was completed and lighted up on
the 10th day of October 1859, ri only t,1enty four
candles The Minot's Ledge lighthouse will be
lighted up in all September, 1860, with one of the
first order of "Fresne lights" All the work per-
formed on this lighthouse, as well as the materials
furnished, have been of the first class. The whote
tower is constructed of granite from the Quincy
Quarries, Massachusetts. The system of bonding
is different from that used in the Eddystone light
house, and is thought by many to be superior, be-
ing almost one solid mass from bottom to top. The
stone used in Eddystone is mixture of granite and
Portland.


As already stated, the last stone was laid upon
the Mnot on the 18th day of last June, and it is
matter worthy of remark that no accident of any
kind befel the work the wOrkmen during the
years that this dangerous and important structure
has been in progress This under the providence
of God, must in large measure be ascribed to the
excellent management and direction of the accom-
plished engineer in charge, Capt b. 5. Alexander,
United States Army, who has personally conducted
all the operations, on and off the rock, from the
commencement up to the present time.


The diameter of the tower at its base is thirty
feet and at the floor of the lantern about twenty
five feet; the whole height from base to top of lam
teen is one hundred and seven feet. The design is
very handsome, and reflects great credit on the
designer, Gen. T0tten, Chief of the Engineer De-
partment, the details being all worked out under
Capt. Alexander's own direct superintendent.


The stones were all cut and fitted to their places
in the yard at the Government docks in Cohassett
harbor. The courses being thus all prepared and
fitted, were put on board the vessel, taken along
side the lighthouse, and put in their places with
great dispatch. The derrick and its rigging were
so contrived that in the event of sudden storm
coming up all could be "sent down. in few
minutes and replaced in as short time. That the
strength and stability of the tower the Minot's
Ledge may be known, it is only necessary to men
ti0n here that during all the storms of last winter
it stood exposed to the merciless pelting of the
waves of the wild Atlantic without stone or a
joint having been disturbed; this, too, when the
tower at the height of sixty feet its most weak
state. Having stood without damage in this naked
and exposed condition. nothing can prevail against
it when finished.


July 20, 1860.


Two fires occurred in Philadelphia on Tuesday,
destroying considerable amount of property;
the singular part of it is that both of the fires took
place in cotton waste storehouses, and both be-
lieved to be the result of spontaneous combustion.


The Comptroller of New York city has notified
the Board of Aldermen that an additional appropri-
alton OF S523 $50 will be needed for the city gov
ernment for 1860.


Senator Douglas has made a donation of $l0O
to the Lexington Monument Fund.