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My dear Sir Although, as you are very well aware, I could not make the least pretension to understanding marine affairs, yet as the request of Captain Franzen, the commander of this ship, I venture to call your attention as a member of the Light House Board to an abuse which might possibly form the subject of a recommendation to Congress or other action. It appears that some of the French line of steam |
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ers running between Havre, Brest, & New York carry steam fog-horns of such great size that the sound cannot be distinguished from that of the most important fog-horns at light-house stations. A vessel coming to New York in foggy weather & hearing the horn at Sandy Hook is supposed to have obtained important information and to feel safe in bearing away to northward. But this purpose is, at present, in a great degree frustrated, as she dare not act on the sound of the horn alone, which might be that of the French steamer. It is suggested that vessels in our
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waters be forbidden to use steam fog-horns, or that the size of them be limited, especially as the whistle of a steamer is believed to be adequate for its purpose. Capt. Franzen remarks that the collisions of steamers with sailing-vessels are generally due to insufficient means of attracting attention on board the latter, which are usually well enough apprized of the approach of the former.
If this suggestion should meet with the approval of the Board, would it not be best to draw the attention of the French authorities to an injurious practice upon our coast which they are better able to control than we? The same vessels carry power
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ful electric lights which might in Capt. Franzen's opinion be mistaken for light houses, though perhaps not on our coast.
He also suggests, though I do not know whether or not it falls within the province of the Light House Board to consider it, that the size of the wicks etc. of a ship's lights should be prescribed by law, inasmuch as they are very apt to be too faint. You will please consider this as a private note, of which you are at liberty to make any use you see fit. Yours very respectfully & truly, C. S. Peirce C. P. Patterson Esq. Supt. U. S. Coast Survey Washington D. C.
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Transcription by Max Fisch, revised by Sara Barrena (2018)
Una de las ventajas de los textos en formato electrónico respecto de los textos impresos es que pueden corregirse con gran facilidad mediante la colaboración activa de los lectores que adviertan erratas, errores o simplemente mejores transcripciones. En este sentido agradeceríamos que se enviaran todas las sugerencias y correcciones a sbarrena@unav.es
Proyecto de investigación "La correspondencia del tercer viaje europeo de Charles S. Peirce (septiembre-noviembre 1877)"
Fecha del documento: 15 de enero 2018
Última actualización: 29 de enero 2018
