1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

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Pages That Mention Puget Sound

Vol 705 New Barn 1886

9
Indexed

9

Letter #732

Office of U.S. Light-House Engineer, THIRTEENTH DISTRICT, Portland, Oregon August 15th, June 30 1887.

To the Chairman of the Light House Board. Washington, D.C.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following annual report, to June 30th, 1887, of engineer operations in the 13th L.-H. Dist.:------ This District extends from the southern boundary of Oregon to the boundary between the United States and British Columbia and embraces all aids to navigation on the Pacific Coast of Oregon and Washington Territory and in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Straits of Fuca and Puget Sound. In the district there are Light-Houses and lighted beacons 46 Fog-signals operated by steam or hot air 6 “ “ clockwork 2.

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Vol 631 Tramway Winch LH Reports 1884 and 1885

19
Indexed

19

Office of the Light House Engineer Thirteenth District Portland, Oregon Aug 14 June 30th 1885

To the Chairman of the Light House Board Washington, D.C. Sir: I have the honor to submit the following annual report to June 30, 1885 of engineer operations in the 13th L. H. District. This district extends form the southern boundary of Oregon to the boundary between the United States and British Columbia, and embraces all aids to navigation on the Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington Territory and in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Straits of Fuca and Puget Sound. In the district there are: Light-Houses 16

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Vol 313 LH at CF letter 1873

2
Indexed

2

13th Customs Revenue L. Dist. Port Townsend Wash. Ter. Rufus ??? Eng. January 31. 1873. Special Treasury Agent. Port Townsend, Wash. T. Sir x x x x x From my experience of Puget Sound navigation and the statements of ??? and masters of vessels I feel convinced that the shipping interests on said waters, would be greatly benefited by the establishment of Light Houses on Foulweather Point and Possession Point. It first would indicate that entrance to Hood Canal, an arm of Puget Sound, some sixty five miles in length, on which are situated important milling settlements, shipping lumber to all parts of the world.

The one at Possession Point, a point southeast of Seatchets Head (both of the latter point on (Whidbey Island) would indicate the entrance to Saratoga Passage, leading from the waters of Puget Sound proper, through Deception Pass, back into the Straights of Fuca proper, and both would enable the shipping from and for up-sound ports to keep the ??? channel without

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4
Indexed

4

difficulty. The bulk of the shipping in Puget Sound is now required to pass the points as aforesaid. x x x x x All of which is Respectfully Submitted Geo. W. T. Vernon Special Agent

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Coast Guard District narrative histories 1945

20
Indexed

20

LIGHT STATIONS

The "romance" of the old Lighthouse has been lost, for the most part, by the mechanization of the lights and the modernization of related equipment. Isolated lighthouse sites have radio or telephone communication, motor launches, and electrically operated lights or signals. The oil lantern has been superceded and supplemented by radio aids - raidobeacons, RADAR beacons and LORAN. In addition to the lights' rays, there are "pips" and "blips" and "pulses" to guide the mariner to safety. However, though these electronic aids be far more reaching and provide greater accuracy than the light, they can never instill the same warm rush of relief and thanksgiving that fills the sailor's heart when the first pale rays of a familiar light beacon breaks through the fog and rain after anxious hours on a stormy sea.

When the Lighthouse Service consolidated with the Coast Guard, 31 major light stations were among the facilities transferred to the Seattle District.¹ Many of these Light Stations had tales of heroism, danger and tragedy woven into their histories. The oldest of these stations were the lights at Cape Disappointment and New Dungeness, completed in 1856 as the first activity of the Lighthouse Service in the new frontier - the Pacific Northwest.

The New Dungeness Lighthouse was built in 1857 on a spit off the south shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca near the entrance to Puget Sound. Cape Disappointment Beacon was constructed on the only headland of the low beach between Tillamook Head and Point Grenville (80 miles), on the north point of the entrance to the Columbia River. The following year, another lighthouse was erected on Tatoosh Island just off the tip of Cape Flattery. The Island had previously been used as a whaling station and fishing headquarters by the Indians who had been, until then, the sole inhabitants. Before the Lighthouse was built, a blockade was established and muskets furnished to the workmen as protection against marauding Indians. The first Keeper of the station resigned because of the "annoyances" he and the other 3 white men suffered at the hands of the 250 Indians living there. Because of the treacherous waters and shoals, the easiest access to the Island was by a huge basket. In calm weather, boats could land on the beach but the basket method was the more dependable. This was by no means a "primitive" devise, for the basket and its hoist are still the best means to effect a landing.

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