LIGHTHOUSE ESTABLISHMENT, THE UNITED STATES. 



merce made report. Among other things, it 

 said: 



The committee fully concur with the Navy Board 

 that legislation should proceed on more safe and satis- 

 factory information. Hitherto, Congress had before 

 it, when proceeding to authorize the erection of new 

 houses, little information beyond the loose, irresponsi- 

 ble statements of petitioners, most of whom were in 

 many instances unknown, and there is too much rea- 

 son for believing that those most active in getting up 

 these petitions have been persons interested in their 

 success, that some importance might be given to an 

 unfrequented harbor where they had lauds ; that they 

 might be made superintendents of lights, or make 

 sale of the sites, or get a contract, or be benefited in 

 some other way which had no connection with the 

 public interest, beyond making it subserve their own. 

 Legislation should proceed upon a more safe and satis- 

 factory basis. 



The result of the discussion which followed 

 this report was the insertion in the current 

 appropriation act for building lighthouses, etc., 

 approved July 7, 1838, clauses providing, 

 among other things, that the Secretary of the 

 Treasury import two sets of lenticular appar- 

 atus, and one set of the reflector apparatus 

 all of the most improved kinds to have them 

 set up, and their merits, as compared with the 

 apparatus in use, tested by satisfactory experi- 

 ments; and $15,000 were appropriated for 

 that purpose ; that Congress may be furnished 

 with more exact information in regard to the 

 lighthouse system, the President divide the 

 Lake and Atlantic coasts into districts, and 

 appoint a naval officer to examine each dis- 

 trict whose duty it shall be to inspect all the 

 lighthouses, etc., and to report upon their 

 present condition and usefulness ; also to re- 

 port whether the public emergencies require 

 any, and, if any, what further additional light- 

 house works, and of what kind ; and also to re- 

 port whether any modification of the system 

 of erecting, superintending, and managing the 

 lighthouses, etc., is required, and, if so, in what 

 particulars ; also that these officers were to 

 examine and determine whether it was expe- 

 dient to construct the specified lighthouses. 



Under this act the President divided the 

 Atlantic coast into six and the Lake coast into 

 two districts, and in August, 1838, an officer 

 of the navy was detailed to each ; a revenue- 

 cutter or a hired vessel was assigned to him, 

 and he was instructed by General Superintend- 

 ent Pleasanton, on August 4, 1838, to make his 

 examinations and reports as soon as possible, 

 that their result might be communicated to 

 Congress. 



These officers presented a detail of facts that 

 deserved grave attention. Their reports showed 

 much of poor management, and something of 

 a lack of energy, while certain minor deficien- 

 cies were pointed out with fullness of state- 

 ment. But, while details were severely criti- 

 cised, more fault was found with the system 

 itself than with its administration. Lieutenant 

 Bache's report is noticeable for its presenta- 

 tion of a plan for a new system, somewhat like 

 that which is now actually in operation. 



Mr. Pleasanton met the criticisms in these 

 reports by confession and avoidance. If too 

 many lights had been established, and if some 

 were in wrong places, as charged, it was the 

 fault of Congress. If they were not well built, 

 it was the fault of contractors or collectors. 

 But, in the light of the facts given in the re- 

 ports, it would be possible to remedy the er- 

 rors of detail, and he should do so as rapidly 

 as the funds at his disposal would permit. He 

 did not, however, admit that the system could 

 be improved except in its administration. 



On February 18, 1842, the House of Repre- 

 sentatives 



Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce in- 

 quire into the expenditures of the lighthouse establish- 

 ment since the year 1816, including expenditures for 

 building and repairing lighthouses, light-ships, bea- 

 cons, and every work embraced under this general head, 

 and make their report of the result of their inquiries ; 

 and also to examine into the propriety of reorganizing 

 this establishment ; of changing the mode of its super- 

 intendency, and equalizing the compensation given to 

 them and to the light-house keepers, and the keep- 

 ers of other lights, buoys, etc., and the propriety of 

 suppressing some of the posts of this establishment, 

 and of so modifying the laws and practices under them 

 in reference to this establishment as to secure strict 

 observation of the duties of superintendents and keep- 

 ers of lights : and to report the result of their exami- 

 nations to this House, with such plans as they may 

 agree upon, tending to reduce the annual expenditures 

 of this establishment, and to improve the facilities and 

 safety to navigation. 



Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be in- 

 structed to inquire into the expediency of providing by 

 law for a retrenchment of the expenditure and better 

 regulation of the lighthouse department ; and, also, 

 whether the same ought not to be placed under the 

 charge of the Topographical Bureau. 



On May 25, 1842, the committee made a 

 careful, and apparently an exhaustive report, 

 tabulating the expenses of the establishment 

 year by year, and taking a kindly view of its 

 administration, as the following extracts will 

 show : 



From July, 1820, when the number of lighthouses 

 was fifty-five, to the present year, when the number 

 of lighthouses is two hundred and fifty-six, of light- 

 boats" thirty, of beacons about thirty -five, and of buoys 

 nearlv one thousand, the establishment has been under 

 the charge of the present general superintendent, the 

 Fifth Auditor of the Treasury. It might well be ex- 

 pected that a twenty -two years' service would have 

 given to the incumbent an experience and a practical 

 knowledge of his business, which should not, for slight 

 causes, be lost to the public. A transfer of his duties 

 to other and inexperienced hands could not but be at- 

 tended with derangements, and, probably, with an in- 

 creased expenditure. It has now a good degree^ of 

 method, system, and economy ; and with some im- 

 provements, particularly in regard to inspection, it is 

 believed that our establishment may, with no disad- 

 yantage ; compare with that of any other nation. Every 

 innovation is not an improvement. When an old and 

 well-tried system works tolerably well, change and 

 experiments should be avoided. More time and fur- 

 ther experience will furnish correctives far better than 

 any which maybe anticipated from a change of system 

 and a displacement of those who have thus far given 

 that system a claim upon the confidence of the country. 

 That complaints, to some extent, have been made, is 

 true ; and that complaints would be made occasionally, 

 under any mode of administration, is equally true ; 

 but, taking into account the magnitude of the estab- 



