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MARBLEHEAD (MASS.) LIGHT STATION.--EIGHTH DISTRICT.

But, as for that, romance is a part of the daily lot of all the more than 4,000 men and women who serve Uncle Sam's lighthouse establishment, for the lights

MISS HARRIET E. COLFAX. Keeper of the Light at Michigan City, Indiana, the Oldest Lighthouse Keeper in America.

are the street lamps of the ocean; and back and forth, to and fro, along the watery thoroughfares which they illumine, pass nightly thousands of vessels, deep-laden not only with freight and passengers, but with that immemorial mystery and romance which forever clings to those who "go down to the sea in ships."

Your typical lighthouse keeper is a quiet, taciturn man, wedded to solitude so long that he has fallen in love with it. He is weather-wise beyond all other men, for during long days he has watched the clouds and smelt the changing airs and felt the constantly changing pressure of the atmosphere, until a far-off coming storm affects him even more quickly than it would the barometer. He is the true hero of duty. The soldier may lead a forlorn hope against an unconquerable fortress, and die an instant later secure in the consciousness that history will embalm his name. But the humble lighttender has no such sudden inspiration. His is the heroism of daily, nightly, unending, unforgetting, commonplace toil. Occasionally, indeed, he may be called upon to face some great danger in the performance of his duty, and he rarely

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fails to rise to the emergency. For, to him, that the lights are lit and burning counts more than anything else in life. He plays the "ounce of prevention" to the "pound of cure" of his more spectacular but hardly more heroic colleagues of the government Life-Saving Service.

Origin of Lighthouses

The origin of all lighthouse systems may be traced back to prehistoric times when fishermen built fires on the beach to guide their absent comrades back to shore. It is curious to note that two of the seven wonders of the world were lighthouses-the Pharos of Alexandria, and the Colossus of Rhodes.

The Lighthouse System of the United States commenced with its commerce; and private lights and beacons were set up very early in our history; but the first authentic record of this being done at public charge was on March 9, 1673, when the citizens of Nantasket, Massachusetts, petitioned the General Court for a reduction of their taxes, because of the labor and material they had expended (over and above their proportion) in building a beacon on Point Allerton, the most prominent headland near the entrance to Boston Harbor.

The first regular lighthouse on this continent was built at the entrance to Boston Harbor in 1715-16, by the General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and was supported by light dues of one penny per ton on all incoming and outgoing vessels, except coasters. The other colonies followed the example of Massachusetts; and when the United States in 1789 accepted the cession of, and the title to,

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the lighthouses the coast, and agreed to maintain them thereafter, they were eight in number, as follows-Portsmouth, N. H.; Boston, Plymouth, and Nantucket, Mass.; Beaver Tail, R. I.; Sandy Hook, N. J.; Cape Henlopen, Delaware; and Charleston, S. C. All of these lights are still in existence, though so greatly improved that they are the same only in purpose and in site. The service was at first placed under the Secretary of the Treasury, and so continued until July 1, 1903, when it was transferred by Act of Congress to the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor.

Expansion of the Service Between 1789 and 1820, the number of lights was enlarged under congressional enactments from 8 to 55. Between 1820 and 1852, the establishment increased from 55 lighthouses and a few buoys to 325 lighthouses, 35 light-vessels, - for all numerous buoys, etc. aids to navigation, as well as lights, are included under the jurisdiction of the Light-House Establishment, such as buoys of various kinds, beacons, fog signals, day marks, post lights, etc.

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But while great progress had been made in the number of lights, etc., no system had been adopted. Congress authorized new lights in a haphazard way; some were built where not really needed, and the whole establishment grew too large for one man to manage properly. Complaints were made that our lights were confusing in character, and that they were not equipped with the most modern apparatus.

A Board Organized
In 1845, two naval officers

CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT STATION, NORTH CAROLINA.-FIFTH DISTRICT.

taries, serve without additional pay, i. e., without any other than the regular pay of their rank or position. From eight lighthouses in 1789, the number has now grown to over 3,400, about 1,800 of these being tubular lanterns or post lights on the Western rivers, leaving about 1,000 for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 200 for the Pacific coast, and 400 for the Great Lakes. Including lightships, gas-lighted buoys, fog signals, unlighted beacons, whistling and bell buoys, etc., the establishment embraces the grand total of about 10,300 aids to navigation. Its annual cost of maintenance now approximates $4,000,000.

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BAR POINT LIGHT STATION, DETROIT RIVER.-TENTH DISTRICT.

were sent to Europe to study the systems in use there, and to recommend improvements. Their report showed that the United States was far from being up to the standard of Great Britain and France, and that the Fresnel illuminating apparatus was superior to any in use in America. The result was that in 1852 Congress organized the Light-House Board practically as it exists to-day. This Board, with offices in Washington, has charge of the entire system of aids to navigation in the United States. It is composed of two officers of the Navy, two Engineer officers of the Army, and two civilians of high scientific attainments whose services may be at the disposal of the President. An officer of the Navy and an officer of Engineers of the Army, are also attached to the Board as Secretaries. All the members, as well as the Secre

Modern Improvements

During the fifty-two years that the Light-House Board has been in existence,

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BUFFALO (N. Y.) BREAKWATER, NORTH END LIGHT.-TENTH DISTRICT.

it has gradually adopted all the most modern improvements in lights, buoys, etc.; has experimented upon various kinds of illuminants, fog signals, etc.; has built up a thoroughly reliable scheme of supply and inspection; and had

teenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth are on the Western rivers.

In each district there is an Engineer officer of the Army whose duty it is to build and repair the towers, dwellings, piers, etc.; and there is also an officer of the Navy detailed to each district as Light-House Inspector. The Inspector is charged with the maintenance of the lights, and with the discipline of the keepers. He supervises the placing and changing of buoys; attends to the supplying of oil, wicks, chimneys, paint, coal, tools, boats, cleaning materials, etc.; has charge of the light-ships and their equipment, as well as of the lighthouse tenders (the name "tender" being given to the vessels used to carry on the work of supply); inspects and reports on each light quarterly; nominates new men who have passed the necessary examination for keeper when vacancies occur; and pays the keepers' salaries and the salaries of the men employed on the tenders, as well as the bills for current expenses in the district. These payments are all made by check on the Assistant Treasurer of the United States.

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THIRD-ORDER LIGHTNING LIGHT, TOLEDO (OHIO) HARBOR.-TENTH DISTRICT.

Fresnel Lenticular Apparatus, Showing Clockwork for Revolving.

adopted practical civil service reform in the treatment of its employees years before the Civil Service Commission came into existence.

Districts

For convenience of administration, the coasts, lakes, and rivers of the United States have been divided into sixteen Districts, The First to the Sixth are on the Atlantic coast; the Seventh and Eighth embrace the southern part of Florida. and the Gulf of Mexico; the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh are on the Great Lakes; the Twelfth and Thirteenth are on the Pacific coast; while the Four

CAPE HENRY LIGHTHOUSE, VIRGINIA.-FIFTH DISTRICT.

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BRADDOCK POINT (N. Y.) LIGHT STATION, ON LAKE ONTARIO.-TENTH DISTRICT.

ocum" used in an open brazier at Point Allerton in 1673, were succeeded by tallow candles at Boston in 1716, which gave way to fish oil at Sandy Hook in 1760. This in turn was succeeded by sperm oil burned in a sort of argand lamp. For a time, Colza-oil (expressed from the seed of several plants, especially that of the wild cabbage) was employed. Lard oil then came into use; and that in turn was supplanted by mineral oil, which is the cheapest and most satisfactory illuminant yet tried. Mineral oil is now in use in every lighthouse in the United States, except four in which elec

ders." The most powerful are called "First-order" lights; then "Second", "Third", etc., to "Sixth." There are, besides, many lens lanterns and tubular lanterns used at less important points.

The Fresnel Apparatus

The greatest advance made in the usefulness of our lights was the adoption of the Fresnel lenticular apparatus. These lenses are nearly all made in France, and are very expensive. Through their use, few of the rays of light are wasted, nearly all being concentrated in a broad penetrating beam. With one of

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