THE LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD.

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Previous to 1851, the United States Government had no regularly organized Light-House Establishment. The aids to navigation then in use resulted from the necessities of commerce, and were in general charge of the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury. The establishment was far from complete, and did not satisfy navigators. Accordingly, by act approved March 3, 1851, Congress authorized and required the Secretary of the Treasury "to cause a Board to be convened" whose duty it was made, "under the instructions of the Treasury Department, to inquire into the condition of the Light-House Establishment of the United States, and make a general detailed report and programme to guide legislation in extending and improving our present system of construction, illumination, inspection, and superintendence." This Board was "to be composed of two officers of the Navy, of high rank, two officers of Engineers of the Army, and such civil officers of high scientific attainments as may be under the orders or at the disposition of the Treasury Department, and a junior officer of the Navy to act as secretary to said Board."

The Board thus provided for was organized, and on January 30, 1852, submitted a report which was published as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 28, first session Thirty-second Congress. Based upon this report, Congress, by act approved August 31, 1852, provided for the organization of a permanent Light-House Board, to be composed of "two officers of the Navy of high rank, one officer of the Corps of Engineers of the Army, one officer of the Topographical Engineers of the Army, and two civilians of high scientific attainments whose services may be at the disposal of the President, and an officer of the Navy and an officer of Engineers of the Army as secretaries."

The Board so constituted is attached to the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, and, under his superintendence, discharges all the administrative duties of that office relating to the Light-House Establishment. The Secretary of the Treasury is ex-officio president of the Board, and the members from amongst their number choose one, by ballot, as chairman, who, in the absence of the president of the Board, presides over their meetings and is the executive head of the establishment.

Under the Board, the sea and lake coasts of the United States, and the western rivers, are at present divided into fourteen light-house districts, to each of which an officer of the Army or Navy is eligible for

assignment as inspector, and the detail of such officers of Engineers of the Army as may be needed for duty in connection with the establishment is also authorized.

The law organizing the Light-House Board provides for quarterly meetings, but it is authorized to convene as often as the service requires. Practically the meetings are frequent. The current business is transacted by the chairman and the two secretaries, and questions outside of the routine are discussed and disposed of by the Board at its meetings. Previous to 1776, and from that date down to August 15, 1789, the few lights and other aids to navigation that were in existence appear to have been sustained by the public authorities and by private citizens. Since August 15, 1789, Congress has made provision for the estab lishment and support of all aids to navigation within the limits of the United States.

It does not appear, however, that this branch of the public service received the serious attention it demanded until July 1, 1820, at which date it was placed in charge of the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, under whose special supervision it continued till the organization of the LightHouse Board under the act of August 31, 1852.

On taking charge this officer found in operation 55 light-houses, and a few buoys in position.

In 1838 there were 210 light-houses and 28 light-vessels.

In 1850 the number of light-houses was 296; light-vessels 40, and buoys about 2,500.

The following tables show the condition of the Light-House Establishment on July 1, 1852, and July 4, 1876:

Number of lights, light-vessels, and buoys in existence July 1, 1852.

Light-ships or floating lights (tonnage ranging from 54 to 400).

40

Buoys in position (about)

2,500

Number of lights, light-vessels, and other aids to navigation in existence July 4, 1876.

The following table shows the kind of lights (reflectors or lenses) in use July 1, 1852:

Reflectors.

21-inch. 18-inch. 16-inch. 15-inch. 14-inch. 13-inch. 12-inch. 10-inch. 9-inch.

First and second order lenses were used in primary lights only. Among the primary lights there were four double lights, and among the secondary ones there were nine revolving and nine red and red-shaded lights. In one instance, the same tower had a double light.

Among the sound, bay, and river lights there were seventeen revolving and thirteen double lights; one station had three lights, and eight had double towers.

The light-vessels had, in all, forty-seven lamps, seven of them having double lights.

The following table shows the kind of lights (lenses, reflectors, or lanterns) in use July 4, 1876:

The following table shows the color of the sea-coast, sound, and har bor and lake lights:

Among the sound and harbor stations there is one tower having two lights; one station having three towers and eight stations with double lights.

Among the lake stations there is one at which three hand lanterns are used for the purposes of illumination.

There are four fog-signal stations without lights.

The number of portable beacons in operation is twenty-two.

There are in process of construction or authorized to be built (July 4, 1876), eighteen harbor lights and beacons.

By the act of March 3, 1859, the Light-House Board was authorized to erect, when practicable, at the localities occupied by light-vessels, light-houses upon pile foundations. Under the authority granted by this act, the number of light-vessels in position has been greatly reduced.

EXHIBITS OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, AT THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1876.

Peculiar difficulties were encountered by the Light-House Board in preparing its exhibit. The funds allowed for the purpose were only sufficient to meet the necessary expenses of the transportation and arrangement of articles exhibited. Nothing could be allowed for the preparation of new models of existing works or for the purchase of any articles. Nothing was shown, therefore, but apparatus, articles taken from the stock on hand, and models which had been constructed for the actual use of the Board in designing new structures.

The Board directed the following-named officers to superintend the preparation, and display of its exhibit: Capt. John L. Davis, U. S. N., Bvt. Brig. Gen. W. T. Raynolds, U. S. A., Commander G. B. White, U. S. N., and Lieut. A. G. Paul, U. S. N.; the last of whom was placed in charge at the grounds.

A rectangular space 40 feet long by 30 wide was allowed to the LightHouse Establishment inside the Government building between the section occupied by the Coast Survey on the one hand, and that occupied by the Supervising Architect and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on the other. Two tables were made, 30 feet by 3 feet, covered with