1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

1871.

of a light-house site and have the honor to state that in my opinion the deed of conveyance from Lester P. Baldwin and wife to the United States, executed on the 11th of January last and offered for the acceptance of the government is sufficient to pass a valid title to the premises.

I am sir very respectfully Your obedient servant. (sig) A. T. Akerman. Attorney General.

Hon. Geo. S. Boatwell Secretary of the Treasury.

Mar.23. From Engineer Sec'y Maj. G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers.

Sir: Gen. Woodruff has today been requested to send you by the first steamer a 5th order lens, fixed 240° for Yaquina Bay Light House.

(SIDE BAR) Telegram Mar.25 From Engineer Sec'y Major G. H. Elliot. To Col. R. S. Williamson Corps Engineers.

Foulweather appropriation made. Yaquina reverts.

1872

Nov. 8. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Sir: Referring to your telegram of the 5th instant, I have to inform you that Major Michler, the Light House Engineer at San Francisco, has been directed to look for the Cape Foulweather lantern and report to you.

Nov. 9. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Cape Disappointment Oil House approved Ediz Hook not approved.

Dec. 30. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Fix a date by telegraph on which Foulweather can certainly be lighted.

1873.

Jan. 2. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers.

Sir: I have to acknowledge your telegram of Dec. 21, ultimo, relating to the lighting of Foulweather Light, and to say that the notice to mariners will be made accordingly.

1873 Jan. 3

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert, Corps Engineers.

Sir: The Board has been infromed that on the 30th of September last, cisterns were built by you at New Dungenness Light House (the Keeper being in great need of water as previously reported by you) and that no pipes or other arrangements were made connecting them with the roof surfaces by means of which they were expected to be filled and that two months afterward, that is on the 30th of November last, the connections had not yet been made.

The Board desires that you will at once cause the connections to be ade, and that you will forthwith discharge the foreman of the party who left the work in this condition.

Jan. 3.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers.

Sir: On the 5th of November last, you informed this Office that the lantern for Cape Foulweather had not been received, and the Engineer of the 12th District was directed to make search for it in San Francisco. the Board has heard nothing from you on the subject since, and you will at once report to this Office by letter whether you have or have not received it.

Jan. 4.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers.

Sir: In reply to your letter of the 16th December relating to the fog signal at Cape Flattery, I have to say that after your workmen left the Station

1873.

states that there was still no damper in the smoke pipe; that there was required an umbrella and jacket to protect the machines from the weather; and that the smoke-pipe was still to the seaward of the whistle.

It thus appears that one of the most important aids to navigation on the Pacific Coast, was left in an unfinished state when a Notice to Mariners had been published that it would be in operation at a specified time; that the smoke-pipe had not been placed on the land side as the slightest consideration would have suggested; and that by the use of salt water without special provision for it, the signal would have been ruined and stopped in a little while, and in a position so remote that it might have required weeks to repair it, to the great danger of life and property.

The Board desires that you at once discharge from the Light House service the foreman who was in charge of the construction of the signal at Cape Flattery; that you make requisition on the Inspector of the 12th and 13th Light House Districts for the services of the lampist and authorized by the general order of July 6th, 1872; and that you will without delay put the station in thorough order.

Jan. 6.

From Engineer secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Majro H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Sir: Your Notice to Mariners of Cape Foulweather Light House, Oregon, dated the 16th December last, is received, and I have to inform you that it contains a serious error in the position of the Light House which if it had not been discovered in this Office

1873

might have led to disaster. In the form of notice you have located the light 3 1/2 miles to the southward and one mile to the eastward of the position shown on the Coast Survey chart, as is shown on the chart here - with sent you. It may be, however, that you have more accurate information than the chart offers, and if so, you will please to telegraph, and the Notice to Mariners will be withheld for correction. ________________________________________________________

Jan. 7. Cape Foulweather - error in notice to mariners.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers. Sir: Your attention is called to another apparent error in the form of the Notice to Mariners for Cape Foulweather, which has been noticed since the letter to you of yesterday. You have the bearing of Yaquina Light House S. by E. 3/4 E., while according to the charts in this Office it bears from Cape Foulweather Light House E. E. by S. 1/2 S. You will please reply by telegraph in regard to this matter in connection with that of the letter of yesterday. The printing of the Notice to Mariners is waiting for your reply at once on receipt of this communication. ________________________________________________________

Jan. 16 Telegram From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers. Foulweather telegramreceived. Enquiries