Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/468

462 LIGHTHOUSE States is involved in obscurity. All built prior to 1789 were ceded to the federal government by the respective states near the time of the adoption of the federal constitution, and the records of the erection and maintenance of the lighthouses before that date are buried among the archives of the several states. It is known, however, that the ports of Portland, Ports- mouth, and Newburyport, Cape Ann, Boston, Plymouth, Nantucket, Newport, New London, New York, the capes of the Delaware, the capes of the Chesapeake, the port of Charles- ton, and the mouth of the Savannah river were all lighted before 1789. The buildings were generally rough stone or wood towers surmounted by large iron lanterns. With few exceptions they have all been rebuilt. They were generally of small height, and the illu- minating apparatus was of the rudest descrip- tion. A new impulse was given to lighthouses in the United States about the year 1845, when a commission consisting of two officers of the navy was sent abroad to examine the light- house establishments of European govern- ments. About the same time Mitchell's screw pile was introduced, and the style of reflectors and lamps was much improved. The build- ings too were more substantially erected, and more attention was paid to the principle that the light should be brought to the horizon, which when reflectors were first introduced was lost sight of almost entirely. About the year 1852 the general introduction of the lens or Fresnel system of lighthouse illumination was commenced, and all the lighthouses of the United States are now furnished with this apparatus. Under the lighthouse board the principle has been adopted of building all first class lighthouses of fire-proof materials. Al- though under this system the first cost of the structure is large, an insignificant outlay only is necessary for repairs. The same system obtains in the smaller lighthouses when the amount available for their erection will per- mit it, but in harbor and pierhead lights light wood or iron structures are erected, which can be rebuilt at a small cost in case of serious damage. On June 30, 1873, there were 641 light stations on the coasts of the United States, including the Atlantic, Pacific, gulf, and lake coasts, and the shores of the various bays, sounds, and rivers. Of these, 620 are light- houses and 21 light vessels. The expenditures on account of the maintenance of the light- house establishment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, are estimated as follows: Lighthouses Fog signals 60,000 00 Light vessels 234.087 50 Buoys and beacons 350,000 00 Total $1,889,01T 50 The number of buoys and beacons in the waters of the United States is about 3,000. The buoys must be shifted, cleaned, and painted every season, and those which are in exposed positions are frequently carried away by heavy seas or ice. The cost of keeping these aids to navigation in an efficient state is no small item in the annual expense of the establishment. In all governments except that of the United States, commerce is directly or indirectly made to pay for the expense of the lighthouse estab- lishments. In Great Britain a tax is laid upon every vessel, domestic or foreign, that uses the particular light which is to be supported. In some countries a light due is levied, which is constant whether one or more lights have been used by the vessel. In others, as France for instance, a harbor due or tax is levied, with the proceeds of which the lights are kept up, but the necessary amount is appropriated from the public treasury. The tax is always a severe exaction and restriction upon commerce, and it is to be regretted that foreign governments do not in this instance follow the example of the United States, which supports its lighthouse establishment without any tax upon vessels, domestic or foreign. The foreign vessels reap the benefit of our policy, but the favor is not returned to United States vessels. In Great Britain the lights are in charge of three cor- porations. Those of England are under the Trinity board ; those of Scotland and the adja- cent islands are under the commissioners of northern lights ; and those of Ireland are under the Dublin ballast board. These corporations determine as to the erection or discontinuance of lights in their respective jurisdictions, have entire control of the personnel, fixtures, and expenditures of the establishment, and deter- mine the tax to be laid upon vessels which pass or use the lights. The funds raised by this tax are devoted to the annual maintenance and improvement of the lights, though in the case of the Trinity board a part of them may be used for the maintenance of pensioners belong- ing to the board. In its original construction it is believed this board had nothing to do with the general lighthouse system of England. In France the lighthouse establishment is governed by a mixed board of officers of the corps des ponts et chaussees, naval officers, and scientific civilians, and is presided over by the minister of public works. The expense of the mainte- nance of the establishment is paid by the gov- ernment, but, as before stated, a tonnage tax is laid upon all vessels, the proceeds of which are expended in the construction and repair of piers, breakwaters, lighthouses, &c. In the other countries of Europe the lighthouse estab- lishments are all connected with the govern- ments, and are managed in various ways. In Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and rhe states bordering upon the Mediterranean, they are generally under the charge of the navy departments. In the United States the estab- lishment is under the control of a board, con- sisting of two officers of the navy, two officers of army engineers, two civilians of high scien- tific attainments, and an officer of the navy as secretary. The secretary of the treasury is ex