328 On the Light-House System of the United States. 
That in addition to the greater superiority in brilliancy, power, 
and economy of the lenses compared to the reflectors, the 
sess the great advantage of durability, to the extent of never re- 
quiring to be renewed. | 
he board, therefore, recommend : 
That the general programme for improving the sea-coast lights 
of the United States, and of making necessary additions, be 
adopted as the basis of future recommendation and Jegislation. 
That the Fresnel, or lens system modified in special cases by 
the holophotal apparatus of Mr. Thomas Stevenson, be adopted 
as the illuminating apparatus for the lights of the United States, 
to embrace all new lights now or hereafter authorized, and all 
lights requiring to. be renovated either by reason of deficient 
power or of defective apparatus. tig 
That the board respectfully recommend to the honorable Sec- 
retary of the ‘Freasury, to direct that pending the future action 
of Congress on the subject of light-house improvements, the 
section of the act making appropriations for light-houses, light- 
poe. buoys, &c., approved March 3d, 1851, in the following 
words: : 
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, “'That hereafter in all new 
light-houses, in all light-houses requiring new lighting apparatus, 
and in all light-houses as yet unsupplied with illuminating appa- 
ratus, the lens, or Fresnel. system, shall be adopted, if in the 
opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, the public interest will 
be subserved thereby,” be strictly carried out, and that the neces- 
sary illuminating apparattis to fit up the light-houses now author- 
to be built shall be of the lens system. | 
That a rigid and frequent inspection and superintendence by 
d 
the lights and their accessories, throughout the United States. 
That the present light-house establishment requires a thorough 
orgatiization to ensure to the service, efficiency, and economy, 
and therefore the board recommend the organization of a light- 
house board, to be composed of Scientific Civilians, Army and 
Navy officers, to be charged, ‘by law, with the entire manage- 
ment of the light-house establishier t of the United States. 
less than two keepers, including all Ist and 2d order lens lights. 
That all constructions, renovations, and repairs of towers and 
