1873] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. 365 



first importance that the signals, whether of light or sound 

 which indicate the direction of the course, and the beacons 

 which mark the channel, shall be of the most improved 

 character, and that they be under the charge of intelligent, 

 efficient, and trustworthy attendants. But above all, one 

 maxim should ever be observed, namely perfect regularity 

 of exhibition of every signal from night to night and from 

 year to year. A light for example which has been regu- 

 larly visible from a tower, (it may be for years,) cannot be suf- 

 fered to fail for a single night, or even for a single hour, with- 

 out danger of casualties of the most serious character. A 

 failure of such a light to send forth its expected ray is as 

 it were a breach of a solemn promise, which may allure the 

 confiding mariner to a disastrous ship-wreck, or to an un- 

 timely death. 



In view of these facts our Government early established a 

 light-house system, which though simple and inexpensive 

 at first, has since been extended and improved to meet the 

 wants of an increasing commerce and the unrivalled re- 

 sources of the country. It has been maintained with, an 

 enlightened liberality which indicates a just appreciation of 

 its importance. 



The magnitude of the light-house system of the United 

 States may be inferred from the following facts: First, the 

 immense extent of the coast which from the St. Croix River 

 on the boundary of Maine, to the mouth of the Rio Grande 

 in the Gulf of Mexico, includes a distance of over 5000 miles; 

 on the Pacific coast a length of about 1,500 miles; on the 

 great northern lakes about 3,000 miles, and on inland rivers 

 about 700 miles, making a total of more than 10,000 miles. 

 Secondly, the magnitude of the system is exhibited by the 

 fact that nearly every square foot of the margin of the sea 

 throughout the whole extent of 5,000 miles along the Atlan- 

 tic and Gulf coast is more or less illuminated by light-house 

 rays, the mariner rarely losing sight of one light until he has 

 gained another. Thirdly, the same fact is illustrated by the 

 number of signals now in actual existence as exhibited in 

 the following table : 



