1841.J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



333 



CAST IRON LIGHT-HOUSE, 



In progress at Morant Point, Jamaica, 



By Alexander Gordon, Engineer to the Commissioners. 



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In writing a description of a cast iron lighthouse tower just com- 

 pleted for the Island of Jamaica, an opportunity is afforded for a few 

 words on the advantages offered by this peculiar mode of construction. 

 Mariners have frequently been deprived of the security afforded by 

 lighthouses on dangerous coasts, from the great costliness of such 

 structures, as well as from the danger or diiBculty attending their erec- 

 tion, in consequence of local peculiarities arising either from tidal 

 restrictions, or from the difliculty of obtaining foundations of sufficient 

 solidity to support the heavy mass of masonry of the tower. It is a 

 fact of common occurrence that years are required to erect a light- 



house of very moderate dimensions where the rate of working is 

 limited, both by the nature of the tides, and by the peculiarity of the 

 season ; and the authorities who preside over these matters are fre- 

 quently deterred from Entertaining the application, for such faciRties 

 to navigation, from the cost and trouble attending their execution. 



The situation for which the lighthouse represented in the accom- 

 panying drawings is intended, has long required this protection, but 

 the great expence of stone or brick erection, and the time requir«cl to 

 complete them have interfered with their earlier execution to com 

 plete the plan. 



