1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Light-House Establishment, Office of the Light-House Inspector, Thirteenth District Inclosures. Portland, Oregon, 20 September, 1898.

Subject:

The Light-House Board, Washington, D. C.

Sirs:

Referring to the Board's letter of the 15th. instant regarding the statement in the case of the Second Assistant Keeper Harry S. Littlefield of Yaquina Head Light Station.

I have to state that the Keeper informed me at the time of my inspection of that Station that Littlefield was physically unable to perform his duties. Littlefield told me that the Keeper's statement was true, that he found it difficult to perform his duties, and that he wished to resign.

His resignation was forwarded to the Board on the 18 August, '98, the acceptance of which I recommended.

Respectfully,

signature???

Commander, U. S. N., Light-house Inspector.

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

when a proper channel shall have been assured, and commerce shall have so grown as to demand it, the establishment of range lights, to permit night crossings of the bar, would be desirable; but that he can see no present need of re-establishing the light at Yaquina Head.

The Chief of Engineers concurs in Capt. Young's views upon the subject.

Very respectfully Your obedient servant, Wm.C. Endicott, Secretary of War

The Honorable, The Secretary of the Treasury

(Incls. 2 of 5158-A)

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

ble that a fixed position can be assured until the North-jetty is built. The bar is short and the deep water channel through it is always narrow. The channel is crooked and in the shape of a flat S, so that it is doubtful if night crossings would be safe, even if range lights were established. Habitual nigh crossings, at present, should, at any rate, be looked upon with disfavor. When the improvement works shall have been completed, and a straight and deep channel assured, and when commerce shall have so grown as to demand it, it will be desirable to establish range lights to permit night crossings. For the present, however, I do not think the condition of the bar will warrant it; nor, it seems to, does commerce require it. I certainly can see no present need of re-establishing the light on Yaquina Head.

Respectfully submitted, W. Young Captain of Engineers.