1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

1872.

instant, you are authorized to enter into contraction written tenders for material, labor and transportation for Cape Foulweather Light House, requiring an answer within ten days and sending the tenders to the most reliable parties.

There is a clause in the appropriation bill which, if passed, will hold the appropriation good for two years from the time the site is obtained and jurisdiction ceded. You will be further informed on this point after the passage of the bill.

May 21.

From Naval Secretary C. S. Boggs. To Major H. M. Robert. Coprs Engineers.

Sir:

In reply to your letter of the 6th instant relative to Light House reservation at Yaquina, I have to say that the 20 acres referred to should be surveyed and permanent parks planted and report should be made as to whether these 20 acres will be sufficient for the purpose.

May 24.

From Naval Secretary Rear Adml. C. S. Boggs. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Sir:

Referring to your letter of the 6th instant, relative to separation of funds, I have to say that as there is still some misunderstanding between the First National Bank at Portland and the [ Treasurer of the United States, you will please inform the Cashier of the Bank, that you should be mentioned in his reports as Light House Engineer.

1873 are not essential to the lighting of the lens and it can be done without them, temporarily covering the holes. Enquiries will be made at once in regard to them, and if not found they will be supplied. You are requested to inform the board at once in regard to them.

Jan. 29 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: The Engineer of the 3rd Light-House District informs this Office that he has ordered fourteen prismatic light-covers to be shipped to you by steamer to Portland, Oregon for the Cape Foulweather Light Station.

Jan. 29 From Engineer Secretary Major Geo. H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: Referring to your telegrams of the 22nd instant in which you say "Location of Foulweather correct according to Coast Pilot of Oregon" I have to remark that the Coast Pilot gives the latitude of Yaquina Points 44 40N., the same as you have stated in your form of Notice to Mariners, but the Notice to Mariners also states that Fourweather Light House is 3 3/8 miles to the northward of Yaquina Point. Please to explain your telegram.

O.S.S. #3.

subject to the future needs of the Light House Establishment.

I again wrote the Secretary of the Treasury, asking if he would be willing to authorize Mr. Jones to lease a portion of the Reservation for the purpose stated, and reviewed the information contained in your letters, as well as those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Treasury on April 22nd, stated that under the permission granted May 12th, 1906, his Department obtained no title to the Reservation beyond the right to use and occupy the land for life saving purposes and for such purposes only. He stated, therefore, that he was without authority to grant the permission desired by Mr. Jones.

From all this correspondence it would appear that the Reservation is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and if permission is to be given for the erection of a chute it must be given by you as head of that Department.

On April 26th, I telegraphed Mr. Jones as follows:

"In case government grant permit erection chute on Yaquina life saving reservation subject to their right to order removal at any time, would you care for it if it could be obtained. Cant promise success even under this condition, but would make additional effort if you desire."

I today received a telegram from Mr. Jones to the effect that he would be glad to acquire the privilege on the condition named, and assured me that he would remove the chute at any time he was requested to do so by your Department.

From my personal knowledge of the locality, I can say that I believe no harm whatever would be done the Reservation

(Copy)

United States Senate. Washington, D.C.

April 27, 1907.

Hon. Oscar S. Straus,

Secretary of Commerce and Labor,

Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Secretary:

As I am informed in a letter dated March 4th, 1907, Mr. B.F. Jones, a prominent attorney of Independence, Oregon, is desirous of securing permission to occupy about half an acre of the beach of the Government Light-House Reservation at Newport, Oregon, officially know, I believe, as the Yaquina Light-House Reservation. He desires to erect at this point a shoot-the chutes, for the benefit of summer visitors at the nearby resort. Mr. Jones does not wish to secure any permanent rights on the Reservation, but merely wants a temporary privilege, agreeing to remove the chute whenever requested to do so by your Department.

I have had a good deal of correspondence in regard to this matter and up to the present time have met with no success. In order that you may understand exactly what has been done, I will give you the case briefly.

I made a personal request of you, as above stated, on March 4th, 1907. Under date of March 8th, Assistant Secretary Murray advised me that this Reservation had been transferred in 1888 to the War Department for its use until needed by the Light-House Board. He stated that the Department of Commerce was therefore unable to grant the request.

I then addressed a letter to the Secretary of War,

of the Reservation for the purpose above stated, and reviewed the information contained in your letters, as well as those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Treasury on April 22nd, stated that under the permission granted May 12th, 1906, his Department obtained no title to the Reservation beyond the right to use and occupy the land for life saving purposes and for such purposes only. He stated, therefore, that he was without authority to grant the permission desired by Mr. Jones.

From the correspondence it would appear that the Reservation is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and if permission is to be given for the erection of a chute it must be given by you as head of that Department.

On April 12th, I telegraphed Mr. Jones as follows:

"In case government permit erection chute on Yaquina life saving reservation subject to their right to order removal at any time, would you care for it if it could be obtained. Cant promise success even under this condition, but would make additional effort if you desire."

I to day received a telegram from Mr. Jones to the effect that he would be glad to acquire the privilege on the condition named, and assured me that he would remove the chute at any time he was requested to do so by your Department.

From my personal knowledge of the locality, I can say that I believe no harm whatever would be done the Reservation if conditional permission was given Mr. Jones to occupy a portion of the beach with his chute. He desires to build the chute on the beach. The main portion of the Reservation, as I recall,