1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

report from the officer in charge of the improvements at the entrance of Yaquina Bay, from which it appears that the works are still in an unfinished condition and no present need is believed to exist for reestablishing the light at Yaquina Head, etc.

Respectfully yours,

LH Merrynend??? Assistant Secretary.

PB

E 148

War Department Washington City December 30th 1887

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant inclosing a request from the Light House Board for information reflecting the present condition of the harbor of Yaquina, Oregon, and whether the improvements have been completed warranting the establishment of a light in that locality.

In reply I beg to state that the matter was referred to Captain William Young, Corps of Engineers, the Officer in charge of the improvements at the entrance to Yaquina Bay, and to enclose a copy of his report, dated the 17th instant, from which it appears that the works in the harbor are still in an unfinished condition; that

United States Engineer Office Portland, Oregon, Dec. 17, 1887.

The Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Washington, D.C.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report as to the present status of Yaquina Harbor, and as to whether the harbor improvements have been completed, and warranted the establishment of a light there. Yaquina Bay affords ample harbor accommodation; but at present vessels of deep draught cannot enter, as there is only about 12 feet depth of water over the bar, in the deepest channel, at low-water. The average range of tide is about 7 feet. There is little or nothing in the way of local resources to build up a commerce of any extent; but as an outlet to an important railroad, the harbor is rapidly growing in importance. Its future growth will depend much upon the improvement of the entrance to the harbor, and also upon the extension of the railroad to a connection with a trans continental line. At present, almost the only vessels entering and leaving the port are the passenger steamers running from Yaquina City to San Francisco. A jetty nearly 3,000 feet long has been constructed by the government, on the south side of the entrance. The results thus

far obtained by this work are: the partial straightening of the channel, and the reducing of the limits of its movements; and the deepening of the water from about 8 feet to about 12 feet at low water. The project for the improvement contemplates extending the south jetty 1000 feet or more, and the building of a north jetty, some 3,000 feet in length. To carry out these works, an appropriation of about $500,000 will be needed. At Cape Foulweather there is a light of the first order; and as this is distant from the Yaquina Bay entrance only about four and one-half miles, there can be no great necessity for a light at Yaquina Head, for vessels simply holding and offing. This is particularly the case, as outside the Yaquina entrance are submerged rocks and reefs, making it extremely dangerous for vessels to hold in, close to shore. At Foulweather, on the contrary, there is good water close in. The only object, then, for re-establishing the light at Yaquina Head would be to, assist vessels in making bar crossings at night. For this purpose a light on Yaquina Head would be of very little assistance. To enable vessels to cross at night with any degree of safety, it would be necessary to establish range lights, which would have to be shifted from time to time, depending upon the movements of the deep water channel. The limits within which this shifting of the channel now takes place are much narrowed by the improvement-works already completed; but it is not proba

Office of Light-House Inspector Thirteenth District Astoria, Oregon, 10th Sept., 1875

Profefsor Joseph Henry L.L.D. Chairman of the Light House Board

Sir,

I am just in receipt of a letter from a certain Dr. Gamble of Albany Oregon in which he expresses a desire to occupy the Light House dwelling at the entrance to Yaquina Bay at a nominal rental with the understanding that he is to take care of the buildings and premises. Enclosed please find a copy of the letter from Dr. Gamble, the original of which I shall forward to General Michler, the engineer officer of this District for his information.

Very respectfully Your obedient servant

Louis Kernopff U.S.N. Inspector