CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 153

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The Moorish Government he went on to say, having

only two or three vessels under their flag, would not be inclined to undertake, or even to grant any pecuniary

assistance towards the erection of a lighthouse.

The idea of erecting such a lighthouse had also

occurred to some of his colleagues and several of them

seemed disposed to write to their respective Governments

and to submit a similar proposal to that which he was

making, recommending it to their consideration and showing

the benefit which would result thereby to trade if all

nations were to unite in defraying the expenses and

maintenance of a lighthouse on the site proposed.

Within a short distance of Cape Spartel there was

an excellent stone, well adapted for the building of

such an edifice and Moorish stone-cutters dwelt in the

Vicinity who were accustomed to excavate und chisel

mall-stones from aus quarry and would be Capable of

preparing the materials for building. Lime us cheup

and sc as labour in that country.

He calculated, roughly that the expenses of building

the Lighthouse would amount to £3000 and that the

annual cost of maintaining it would be £250.

In reply Mr. Drummond Hay was informed that

considering the small number of vessels which appeared

to have suffered from the want of such a Lighthouse,

and the almost insuperable difficulties of erecting

and maintaining 1 Her Majesty's Government were not

prepared to take my steps in the matter eather with

the Moorish Government or with other Foreign Powers.

In the following September Mr. Drummond Hay sent

home copy of a letter addressed to him by the French

Chargé d'Affaires at. Tangier acquainting him with the

decision come to by his Government regarding the

erection of a Lighthouse on Cape Spartel.

Monsieur Schmido stated that he hud addressed

an identic letter to the other Foreign Representatives

in that city and that some of them had received &

favourable. reply from their Governments to the com-

munications they had severally made upon this subject

in the previous April.

Monsieur Schmidt added that it was the firm in-

tention of his Government to carry into execution

annual

this