lenses at St. Petersburg. All the Rus- addition to the countries named, Italy, General table of the distribution of light-houses, arranged geographically. this act, at the entrance of, or within any bay, inlet, harbor, or port of the United States, for rendering the navigation thereof easy and safe, shall be defrayed out of the treasury of the United States." It also directs the secretary of the treasury to provide for rebuilding, when necessary, and keeping in good repair, the lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers, in the several states," etc. This law has fixed the administration of all aids to navigation in the treasury department, to the present hour. At that date we had only eight lights, and the secretary took personal supervision of them until 1792, when a "commissioner of revenue" was by law authorized, and the secretary assigned light-house matters to him. In April, 1802, this office was discontinued, and Mr. Gallatin, secretary of the treasury, took personal charge of the lights. It was revived in 1813, when the law reassigned the light-house duties of the former commissioner. In 1817, it was finally abolished, and these duties reverted to the secretary. In the same year, the office of fifth auditor was created, and on July 1st, 1820, the light-house establishment was assigned to that branch of the treasury. Mr. Stephen Pleasanton was then fifth auditor, and, as such, filled the post of general superintendent of the lights, until the law of August 31st, 1852, created the present organization, withdrew all charge of aids to navigation from the auditor, and lodged the whole establishment in the hands of the Light-house Board. Cape Henry light was the first one erected under the federal government, and in 1800 the whole number had only reached sixteen. In 1812, it had grown to forty-nine, scattered from Maine to Louisiana. To this date, only common spider lamps had been used, and in 1812, the patent of Mr. Winslow Lewis, for "magnifying and reflecting lanterns," or for spherical reflectors and lenses, was purchased by the government for $20,000, after which reflectors became a chronic rage. The introduction of parabolic reflectors, such as had been used for nearly thirty years in France, was a long stride in the right direction; but Mr. Lewis's plan, not original at that, of placing a heavy plano-convex lens of bad greenish glass, two and a half inches thick, at the centre, and nine inches diameter, in front of a spherical reflector (sometimes paraboloids seemed to have been absurdly used), was simply an expensive way of making a light worse. He was, however, paid for fitting thirty-four lighthouses with this failure, several specimens of which were in use in 1838, and one so late as 1840! In 1816, Mr. Lewis contracted to maintain the lights on receiving one half the oil previously consumed; and again in 1821, for one third of the old allowance. In 1822, the United States lights numbered seventy; in 1838, they numbered 204 light-houses, and twenty-eight lightboats. In 1849, there were 270 lighthouses, and thirty-two floating-lights. In 1856, the list has grown to an aggregate of 431 light-houses, built and building, and fifty light-boats. We have subjected ourselves to the task of examining many documents relating to the operations, condition, and efficiency of our light-house establishment, prior to 1852. In November, 1837, Messrs. E. and G. W. Blunt, the well-known chart and coast pilot publishers, addressed an able letter to Mr. Woodbury, then secretary of the treasury, arraigning various faults in our light-house organization, condition, and administration. In June, 1838, the auditor made a rejoinder, which, as the Messrs. Blunt demonstrated in a surrejoinder, was by no means a reply. In 1837, the light-house appropriation act directed the Board of Navy Commissioners to have examinations made of all the sites of new works then appropriated for, and in case any of these works should be considered injurious, unnecessary, improperly placed, or unimportant to navigation, the Board was directed to suspend them. The examination was made, and thirty-one items out of one hundred and thirty-four were suspended. The Board took occasion to suggest the advantage of procuring such information as would secure the greatest public advantage from such appropriations hereafter, and the Hon. John Davis, of Massachusetts, as chairman of the Senate committee on commerce, made an elaborate and able report, urging various inquiries and improvements. The lighthouse appropriation act of that year provided for a complete special examination of our lights. The President arranged the coast in six districts, and assigned a naval officer for the exami nation of each district. Their reports, submitted in December, 1838, showed that much was wrong in our light-house matters, and we would specify that of Lieut. G. M. Bache, as a model of fairness, clearness, and intelligent comprehension. Capt., (now Com.) M. C. Perry, under this law, made the purchase in Paris of the Navesink Fresnel lenses, and obtained much valuable information. Col. B. Aycrigg, about the same time, made a full report on the Barfleur and Ostend lights. : In May, 1842, Mr. Secretary Forward, under an item of $4,000 in the lighthouse appropriations, directed Mr. I. W. P. Lewis to make a survey of the lighthouses in executing this trust, Mr. J. A. Adams took the levels, and Mr. C. O. Boutelle observed for latitudes and longitudes. Mr. Lewis began at the N. E. boundary, and had proceeded as far as New Bedford, when the survey was suspended. The results were reported in Feb., 1843, and they were in the highest degree condemnatory of our light-house management. Mr. Winslow Lewis's review of this report does not make a good case for the existing organization, and, like the document reviewed, too much abounds in sweeping accusations and personal side-issues A committee of the House of Representatives, to investigate the affairs of the New York custom-house, in 1842, brought out considerable strong evidence against the light-house administration. In June, 1846, Mr. Secretary Walker took up this subject with earnestness and ability, and procured the detail of Lieutenants Thornton, A. Jenkins, and Richard Bache, to make a special examination of improvements in light-houses, and other aids to navigation; for which purpose, they went to Europe, and visited numerous British, French, Baltic, and American lights. The result was, a report, in Aug., 1846, which we consider superior, in grasp, clearness, fullness, and precision of knowledge, to any light-house essay with which we are acquainted. Its conclusions were, that we were wholly in arrears of the civilized world, in most of the elements of a good light system, and especially in the illuminating apparatus used. An act of March 3, 1851, directed the organization of a Board, to inquire fully into the condition of our light-house establishment, and to make a full report thereon, as a guide to legis lation in improving our system. This Board consisted of Com. W. B. Shubrick, President; Gen. J. G. Totten, Lt. Col. Jas. Kearney, Capt. S. F. Dupont, and Prof. A. D. Bache, members; and Lieut. T. A. Jenkins, secretary. They visited many of our lights, procured a great body of information, made many important suggestions, and treated the whole subject with a fullness which can only be appreciated by examining the report of Feb., 1852. This report exposed an array of faults in our system, which makes the list of arraignments in the Declaration of Independence seem quite meagre. This led to the act of Aug. 31, 1852, which entirely reorganized our light-house establishment, and constituted a light-house Board, for its governing head. In procuring the passage of this act, the Hon. Alexander Evans, of Md., took the lead, and to him our present organization, in a great degree, owes its legal form. We have been surveying a battlefield, from which the smoke of conflict has cleared. The battle resulted in a complete revolution. We should fail in allegiance to sea-going humanity, if, in a matter of such vital moment, we did not speak out plainly, especially as we are sure that impartiality is a qualification which we can truly claim. The battle was between obsolete ideas, coupled with low conceptions of what navigation required, and a clear insight into possible improvements, elsewhere fully realized, joined to wider views of the great commercial movement along our shores. There is something unspeakably absurd in an auditor's being charged with the administration of light-houses. We have heard a pertinent story of the late third auditor, who once endorsed on a voucher for some grass seed, which had been used in sowing the slopes of a fort, "The auditor does not know what use can be made of grass seed in building forts." The endorsed reply ran thus, and we commend the principle to special consideration, "auditors are not expected to know any such things." Now, why should the fifth auditor be expected to understand a Fresnel lens? It was cruel to suppose that he could, and certainly he never did. How could an officer, whose legitimate business was with the accounts of the state department and the Indian bureau, take time to gain that precise and comprehensive 652 knowledge of our entire sea-board The relation of Mr. Lewis to our light-houses was very singular, and, if he had not been an honest and honorable man (as we fully believe he was), he might have safely committed extensive frauds. A contractor to an unlimited extent, for reflectors, lamps, oil, building light-houses, etc., there seems to have been no effective or responsible supervision; but the auditor relied chiefly on his own report relative to the execution of these contracts. No man, however saintly, ought ever to be thus situated. Among the worst features of the old pseudo-system, was the mode of originating appropriations. Whenever a few sea-coasters thought a light-house and its perquisites would be a good thing for themselves, a petition was started, the would-be keeper circulated it, it grew, went to Congress. Mr. M. C. presented it with a telling speech, an item was incorporated into the appropriation bill, and duly passed. The auditor directed the local collector to contract for the building according to the stereotyped plan, Mr. Lewis or Mr. Snooks took the contract, ran up some rubble walls, innocent of cement, or some rude clapboard spider-web, the job was certified by a selected pliable mechanic, paid for, profits pocketed, Mr. Jones appointed keeper (if orthodox), and thenceforth the U. S. light-house list included a new name. Every year, Mr. Jones's salary, a bill for supplies, and a round sum for repairs, was the consequence-and all without the first real precaution being taken to ascertain if the light was needed, where it ought to be placed, how it should be discriminated, what kind of structure the site required, what height of tower should be given, and whether the work was executed faithfully, or was only a specious sham. The Collector was, ex officio, superintendent of lights in his collection district, and, as such, was expected to establish and purchase sites, make contracts for buildings, etc., nominate and pay the keepers, attend to placing buoys, insure the discipline and fidelity of the keepers, etc.-for all of which, he, probably, had not the first special qualifica [June, tion, and knew this fact so well, that he let things pretty much take care of themlocal influence caused lights to swarm selves. This state of organization and on the thickly-inhabited portions of the coast; while dangerous headlands, lonely islands and sandy spits, having no zealous Mr. Jones to urge their claims, wrecks, and to give business to wreckwere left to be strewn with unguided ers. It is now reported that the Carysfort and Sand Key lights, with the iron reef, have driven a large portion of the beacons lately established along Florida Key West wrecking vessels from their old calling, and that the increased secuin the rates of marine insurance for the rity authorizes a considerable reduction Florida passage. All this, however, is due to no diligence on the part of any views of navigation in men who, probalocal Jones: it has resulted from larger bly, never saw Florida. ganization and maladministration still The accumulated effects of malorhave between two hundred and three survive to a very great extent. We hundred light-houses and light-vessels, of the worst construction the world lights, in 1852, had illuminating appacan show. All but four or five of our ratus, which was entirely behind the times, and its replacement yet lacks very much of being completed. al. The keepers' houses are mostly poor lanterns almost uniformly require renewThe and inconvenient, and demand incessant repairs. But, worse than all, our seacoast lights are, in great part, still unequal to their duties, are not sufficiently times misplaced, and sometimes useless, distinguished from each other, are someor injurious. We cannot safely criticize lation of auditors' rubbish is replaced by Scotch lawyer Boards, till our accumuthoroughly systematized, durably conwhat our national dignity demands-a terial of aids to navigation. The formastructed, and faithfully administered mation of such a material had to be begun in 1852, almost de novo, and several years administration must precede a complete of liberal appropriations and vigorous expurgation of obsolete contrivances, shabby constructions, and traditional reprehend the misorganization which perversion. We cannot too strongly has brought us to such a state of light-house matters as that exhibited by the report of the Board in 1852. With all the liberality of Congress, and with all possible zeal on the part of the new Board, years must elapse before we can challenge comparison with the French lights, or the English buoys. Our present organization is on trial, and must be judged by its fruits; but if, on fair experiment, it be found unequal to its task, why, then, let us find some other plan, which will compel success. In the name of drowning mariners and surftossed passengers, let us make sure of the main result; let us demand the best possible system of aids to navigation; and let whatever opposes this consummation be sternly pushed aside. The task is Herculean, and we must have some patience; but it must be done, and that, too, with all reasonable dispatch. Congress has always been liberal in appropriations for aiding navigation, and, thanks to the law of 1789, we are free from all reproach of light-dues; a few years more, and we may rightly expect to lead the nations, as surely as we have hitherto followed them, in whatever concerns this branch of administration. The new organization, enacted in 1852, is now fully established, and has vigorously entered on its mission. Its position in the treasury department gives opportunity of associating the labors of army and navy officers, collectors, and civilians, in such manner as to afford the best results. The law requires the Board to consist of two naval officers of high rank, one engineer officer, one topographical engineer and two civilians of high scientific attainments, with an officer of the navy, and an army engineer as secretaries. It now consists of Mr. Secretary Guthrie, ex officio President, Com. Shubrick, Gen. Totten, Lt. Col. Kearney, Prof. Bache, Prof. Henry, and Capt. Du Pont, members; with Capt. T A. Jenkins as naval secretary, and Capt. E. L. F. Hardcastle, U. S. Top. Engs., as engineer secretary. The law assigns to the Board all administrative duties "relating to the construction, illumination, inspection, and superintendence of light-houses, light-vessels, beacons, buoys, seamarks, and their appendages." paratus, supplies, and materials for building, renovating, and repairing, are included in its charge. It holds a quarterly meeting, and special meetings whenever required, for transacting business. the previous light-house clerks and office material were transferred from the fifth auditor's office. The Board was directed All ap All by the law to distribute the Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific, and Lake coasts into lighthouse districts, not exceeding twelve in number, and for each district, the President was required to detail an army or navy officer, to act as a light-house inspector under the Board, who, as also each member of the Board, serves without additional pay or emoluments. All rules, regulations, and instructions concerning light-house matters, proceed from the Board, also all plans and estimates must emanate from, or be approved by it. In districts where the inspector is a naval officer, the duties of construction, as of location, plans, and estimates for new works, etc., are assigned to officers of engineers, or topographical engineers, who are either detailed for the purpose, or have these duties assigned, in addition to their other labors. Thus, in some districts, one does the duties of inspector and engineer, while, in others, these functions are divided. Each inspector has charge, within his district, of the issue, expenditure, and preservation of supplies for lighting, etc.; of the administration of the lightvessels; of locating, repairing, and maintaining buoys; of the police of the buildings and grounds; of the discipline and instruction of keepers, and of enforcing their conformity to the established rules. He has also to examine sites for proposed improvements; to report whatever deficiencies he may discover; and by all the modes which his frequent inspections may indicate, to advance the improvement of navigation in his district. The collectors retain their old titles and a portion of their former duties, as superintendents of lights in their respective collection districts. They disburse the keepers' salaries, purchase and procure the jurisdiction of new sites, and recommend nominees for keepers' appointments. The two secretaries of the Board are highly important officers. On them devolves the general care of the office records and materials; the preparation of light-house lists, and notices to mariners; the providing of administrative forms; the daily care of fiscal, administrative, and miscellaneous correspondence; the preparation of business to come before the board, or before its several committees, on finance, engineering, light-vessels, etc., lighting, and experiments, besides the daily direction of the office clerks, draughtsmen, and messengers. |