314 MEMORIAL OF JOSEPH HENRY. 



In 1871, on the resignation of Admiral Shubrick, Henrywas 

 chosen as the Chairman of the Liglit-IIouse Board; and his ener- 

 getic labors in behalf of the service, fully vindicated the wisdom of 

 the choice. Punctual in his attendance on the weekly meetings of 

 the Board, he inspired others with a portion of his own zealous 

 devotion. Nor did he fail to urge upon the Government, the con- 

 stant need and responsibility of maintaining an efficient establish- 

 ment, lie emphatically declared that "The character of the aids 

 which any nation furnishes the mariner in approaching and leaving 

 its siiorcs, marks in a conspicuous degree its advancement in civili- 

 zation. Whatever tends to facilitate navigation or to lessen its 

 dangers, serves to increase commerce; and hence is of importance 

 not only to the dwellers on the seaboard, but to the inhabitants of 

 every part of the country. - - - Therefore it is of the first 

 importance that the signals, whether of light or sound, which indi- 

 cate 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 attend- 

 ants." * And rising to a higher argument, he pointed out that " It 

 is not alone in its economical aspect that a light-house system is to 

 be regarded: it is a life-preserving establishment founded on the 

 principles of Christian benevolence, of which none can so well 

 appreciate the importance as he who after having been exposed to 

 the perils of the ocean — it may be for months — finds himself 

 approaching in the darkness of night a lee shore. But it is not 

 enough to erect towers, and establish other signals: they must be 

 maintained in an efficient state with uninterrupted constancy."! 

 Unfailing continuity was the watch-word of his administration. 



* Iicj)oil of L. II. Board, 1873, pp. 3, -1. Tho coast Mno of tho United States Is far 

 moro extoiulua than that of any oUier nation on tlio globe. "Tlio ujagnltuac of 

 tho I.lBhl-hoiiao system of tho United Stales may ho Inferred from tho following 

 facts; from the St. Croix Illver on tho houndary of Maine, to tho mouth of tho 

 Rio Orando In tho (iulf of Mexico, Includes u distance of over 5,000 miles; on the 

 Paclllc coast, a length of about 1,6(M) miles; on the groat northern I.,akcs, about 

 3,000 miles; and on Inland rivers about 700 miles; making a total of moro than 

 10,000 miles. Nearly every square foot of the margin of the sea throughout the 

 whole extent of 5,000 miles along tho Atlantic and Gulf coast, Is more or less 

 Illuminated by light-house rays; tho mariner rarely losing slglit of one light 

 until he has gained another." (p. 4, of same Report.) 



t licjwrl o/ L. II. lioaid, 1871, p. 5. 



