1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

The Shoreham, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1907.

Hon. Oscar S. Straus, Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D.C.

Sir:

I am today in receipt of a letter from Mr. B.F. Jones, a reputable attorney of Independence, Oregon, in which he says:

"I am anxious to secure the right to use about half an acre of the beach at Newport, Oregon, on the Government Light House Reservation. The ground I wish to use is the sand beach fronting the Bay from the old light house. This is a sand dune, and never used for any purpose. There is a bluff behind it about 100 feet high, and the beach is not used by the Government nor the public. The life saving station is located near by.

I wish to secure the right to use this portion of the beach for the purpose of erecting a "shoot the chutes" similar to those at other summer resorts. I wish, also, to have permission to erect a building at the bluff or on it, in front of the sand dune. It would not in any way damage the government property."

I am personally familiar with the vicinity which Mr. Jones desires to occupy, and feel confident that this request might be complied with without in any way infringing upon the preserves actually utilized by the men of the Life Saving Station.

I would esteem it a personal favor if you would have this request properly investigated, and authority granted, provided the result of your investigation will justify such action. I inclose herewith map of the locality. Awaiting your reply, I am,

Very respectfully,

Jonathan Bourne

Senator-elect from Oregon.

Newport, Oregon, July 30, 1906

U.S. Light House Board

Gentlemen:

Will you please inform me if there is any way a person or association of responsible character could lease or rent the piece of ground marked "Red Bath House" on the rough map I herewith enclose. It is a strip of sand beach just above high water mark and next to the bluff between the ??? fifty ??? and the hill out of the way of anything the Government might wish to do at some future time. This location by reason of its being under the high headland is protected from the cold north wind and the still water in the bay makes it a very desirable ??? ??? several years ago a few rough places were built there but the uncertainty of ??? on ??? did not then nor does it now justify such buildings as the place and requires I would enter into ??? of such as required and stipulate to remove the buildings anytime the ground was needed by the government. An answer to this would be appreciated.

Very respectfully yours,

R.H. Biesell

The area would not exceed 200 feet long by 25 to 30 wide.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon [marked 1893, was actually 1894]

January

1 [continued from preceding page] and fresh breeze N. to N.West with rain showers. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper and 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies and to mail the Quarterly & monthly returns. 1st ass't cleaning oil cans, oil filler lanterns & storm pane clamps.

2: Light variable winds with damp weather during first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather with light variable winds. Sea little rough. Keepers cleaning lamp and reflectors. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st ass't also went to Newport after mail.

3: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze W. to N.W. these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.72 Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies & to get checks cashed.

4: Strong & fresh breeze N.W. with rain & hail squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind with light snow squalls. Sea rough. General duties for the day. 1st ass't went fishing today.

5: Light East to S. East and South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear and cool. Last part of 24 hours light snow in the air. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st also went to Newport after mail.

6: Strong to fresh breeze S.E. to S.S.W. & West with snow & rain during 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day.

7: Fresh and moderate breeze West these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. 1st ass't went fishing.

8: Light N.W. to East & S.East wind first part of 24 hours. with damp weather. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 1st & 2nd ass'ts cleaning house. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

9: Moderate breeze S. to N.W. & North first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 2nd ass't cleaning windows on dwelling. 1st ass't went fishing and to Newport after mail. Keeper went fishing. Had 6 visitors today.

10: Fresh breeze South E. to South with rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

11: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze South with rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

12: Gale these 24 hours with hard rain most of the time. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer is 29.57 at 3 P.M.

13: Heavy Gale first part of 24 South. Last part of 24 hours strong breeze & light Gale South with rain during 24 hours. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.35 during 24 hours.

14: Strong to fresh breeze South to light S.E. & East wind first part of 24 hours with frequent rain showers. Last part of 24 hours Gale S.E. to South with rain. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer is down to 29. at 3 P.M.

15: Moderate to fresh and strong breeze S.W. to S. with rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Gale to fresh breeze S.E. to S. and West, fair weather. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies.

16: Moderate to fresh breeze W. & S.West these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. The barometer is 29.70 today.

17: Fresh and strong breeze S.W. to S.E. first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Fresh breeze to Gale & moderate breeze S.E. to South, with frequent rain, snow, & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for day. 1st ass't went to Newport after the mail.

18: Fresh to moderate breeze W. to S.W. and South these 24 hours with frequent rain and hail squalls.Sea very rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport on business. The barometer is 29.85 today. The steamer Dell Norte arrived off the Yaquina bar from San Francisco for Yaquina bay after wheat.

19: Gale and fresh breeze S.East to S. these 24 hours with rain. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer stands 29.46 today.

20: Fresh to moderate breeze S. to N.W. first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze S.E. to S. rain. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. Steam Schooner Del Norte went into Yaquina at 8 A.M. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

January

21: Fresh and moderate breeze S. to S.W. with light rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper putting dressing on garden.

22: Moderate breeze South to S. W. and light North wind with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze N.W., fair weather. Sea smooth. Keepers putting 200 Gallons of mineral oil in Oil room. Steamer Del Norte sailed from Yaquina for San Francisco. Keeper putting a pane of glass in 2nd ass't's window.

23: Light wind N.W. to moderate and fresh breeze East to S.East and South these 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st ass't went to Newport today.

24: Moderate breeze to light wind S.W. to W. N.West with frequent rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, damp. Sea moderately smooth. Keeper went to Newport. 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't putting dressing on garden.

25 Light wind to fresh breeze S.W. to S. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part rain. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went fishing.

26: Light variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp weather. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Had two visitors. Keeper and 1st ass't went fishing today.

27: Light East to S.East wind first part of 24 hours with fair weather. Last part of 24 hours light South wind, rain. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper boiling out burner & went fishing 1st ass't went to Newport.

28: Light S.East wind these 24 hours with light rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours thick, damp fog. Keepers went fishing. Sea smooth.

29: Fresh to moderate breeze S. to S.W. first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light S.West wind with rain most of 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Steamer Schooner Del Norte arrived at Yaquina this morning from San Francisco.

30: Moderate to fresh breeze N.W. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went over to Newport after supplies for Keeper's and to get the mail. 1st and 2nd ass'ts went over to Mr. Brigg's to dig a grave and help bury Mr. Brigg's Daughter she having died of Consumption.

31: Light East to North & N.West wind these 24 hours with clear, fine and cool. Sea smooth. Steamer Del Norte sailed from Yaquina City for San Francisco. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't working in garden. 2nd ass't cleaning his quarters. Keeper repairing a leak in roof leading to tower through [falway?]. February 1: Light wind to moderate breeze North these 24 hours with clear, fine and cool weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Keepers went fishing. 1st ass't went to Newport.

2: Light wind to fresh breeze East first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind East with clear, fine but cool weather. Sea quite rough. 1st ass't filling up a hole in the ground back of his dwelling. Keepers went fishing today. Had two visitors today.

3: Light E. to S.East wind and moderate breeze South these 24 hours with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea very rough. General duties for day. 2nd ass't went to Newport. 1st ass't turfing the hole that he filled up back of his Dwelling today. Keeper went fishing.

4: Gale to fresh breeze S. east to South these 24 hours with rain most of 24 ours. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer hand 29.50 to 29.62

5: Moderate to fresh breeze South to N. West with frequent rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea very rough. General duties for day. Keeper went to Newport.

6: Moderate, fresh and strong breeze to gale these 24 hours with rain. Sea quite rough. General duties for day. The barometer down to 29.66

7: Fresh breeze S. West to West with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea rough. General duties for day. 1st ass't went to Newport after the mail.

8: Light wind S.W. to S. East first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh to strong & gale West with rain, hail, and snow squalls during 24 hours. Sea very rough. General duties for day. Steam Del Norte arrived off Yaquina bar, she is laying off, to[o] rough to enter. The barometer is 29.60 today.

9: Light variable winds these 24 hours with snow. Sea very rough. General duties for day. Yaquina bar to[o] rough for Steamer Del Norte to enter.

10: Light East wind these 24 hours with fair and cold weather during 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. [continued on next page]

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

February

10 [continued from previous page]: General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport. Steamer Del Norte arrived at Newport at 1 P.M.

11: Moderate & fresh breeze to a light Gale with some rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh to moderate breeze S. to S.W. & West with rain & hail squalls. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper went fishing.

12: Moderate and fresh breeze West N. West first part of 24 hours with rain showers. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea rough. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing 2nd ass't went to Newport.

13: Fresh to moderate breeze S.W. to South with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light South wind, little damp. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. The barometer 30 today.

14: Fresh breeze to heavy Gale South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours little damp. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies. The barometer down to 29.65

15: Fresh breeze S. to S.W. and West these 24 hours with rain, hail, and snow squalls. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keepers putting 200 Gallons of Mineral Oil in Oil Room. Keeper and 1st ass't went fishing today.

16: Fresh breeze to light wind West first part of 24 hours with rain, hail, & snow squalls. Last part of 24 hours Fresh & strong breeze S. West with rain. Sea rough. General duties for the day. 1st ass't went to Newport. Keeper went fishing.

17: Strong to fresh & moderate breeze West to S.W. & South these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls during 24 hours. General duties for the day. Sea rough. Keeper went fishing. The barometer stands 29.42 at 2. P.M. Steamer Del Norte laying at Newport bar, to[o] rough to cross out; there is a large land slide North East of barn [unintelligible]??? slid into the Ocean today.

18: Fresh & strong breeze to gale S.W. these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for day. The barometer is 29.68 at 3. P.M.

19: Moderate & fresh breeze to gale East to S.W. and West with rain, hail, & snow squalls during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General dutie sfor the day. Keeper went fishing. 1st ass't went to Newport. The barometer 29.70 and going up.

20: Light wind to moderate breeze N. to N.W. with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Steamer Del Norte sailed today for San Francisco. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport. 1st ass't went fishing today.

21: Light East wind these 24 hours with clear, fine, and cold weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Keepers digging a grave one mile East of the Cape and Burying a Mr. Megginson that got Drowned in the the Siletz river Sunday. Had 18 visitors today.

22: Fresh and strong breeze East these 24 hours with clear, fine, but cold weather. Sea very smooth. Keepers cleaning Lamp reflectors, Burner and Etc., today. Keeper went fishing. The barometer stands 30.10 today.

23: Moderate breeze East to light S. East wind these 24 hours with fair and cool weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't Isaac L. Smith went to Newport.

24: Light S. East wind with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 1st ass't working in the garden & went fishing. 2nd ass't also went fishing. Keeper scrubbing Office hall and Oil room floors.

25: Light wind to modearte and fresh breeze South these 24 hours with light rain. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day.

26: Fresh breeze these 24 hours South with rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Steamer Holmes arrived at Yaquina from San Francisco. 1st ass't went fishing.

27: Fresh to strong breeze South with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, cloudy & damp. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. 1st ass't Edward Rice went to Newport after the mail & supplies.