There were qualifications spelled out in the rules and regulations for hiring keepers and assistant keepers. A large depot at Staten Island collected and housed the supplies, but each district also had its own depot for more localized distribution. How did the lighthouses get supplied? The Lighthouse Board established a centralized method of the getting food, oil, and other necessary items to their stations and keepers. The Board published “light lists” for mariners, detailing the location of each aid to navigation and giving the identifying details of the station – thereby increasing safety for commerce and navy vessels. The goal of the establishment was to put good lights where warnings or directions for navigation were needed. Under the Lighthouse Board and their hierarchy of “command” new lighthouses were constructed. The district engineer oversaw the construction of new light stations and the repair work on the current ones. If a lightkeeper and his family weren’t following the prescribed rules, they could be dismissed -and, yes, that did happen on occasion. The Inspector toured each lighthouse in his district at regular intervals (often bringing food, supplies, and the mail during the visit) and ensured that all equipment at the light station was in proper working order and that the rules and regulations were followed. They appointed an Inspector to each district and later an Engineer. Twelve lighthouse districts, to be exact. One of the first things the Lighthouse Board did was divide the coastlines into districts. After-all, it might be months in some locations before a keeper could consult with his supervisor. (They are also useful for historical novelists – ask me about night-watches sometime…)Īt a lighthouse the rules and regulations were clearly posted and available for reference in case of any questions. Seriously, these rules and regulations are so detailed that they could be used to run an 1852 era lighthouse if someone had the inclination to try it. They contributed ideas, plans, and principles which modernized, transformed, and developed the American aids to navigation to rival the systems of other nations.īeginning in 1852 and continuing with regular updates, the Lighthouse Board clearly spelled out exactly how the lighthouse establish would be run as an agency and how each lightkeeper in America would attend to his duties. The Lighthouse Board was comprised of educated, capable men from different backgrounds, including military, engineering, topography, and scientists. Lighted buoys, light ships, and lighthouses. On that day, after the inspection reports and recommendations, Congress created the Lighthouse Board, a nine member team that would oversee and regulate all operations relating to aids to navigation in the United States. Octo– it’s an important date in American lighthouse history. The powerful Fresnel Lens was one of the innovations adopted by the Lighthouse Board for American lighthouses.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |