1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

1872

------. Cape Foulweather, sea-coast of Oregon.--- Work has been seriously hindered by the difficulties connected with the transportation of materials. Since the commencement of work in the autumn of 1871 the lighters have been destroyed twice, and the schooner engaged in bringing materials from San Francisco has been obliged to discharge most of her freight at Newport, to be reshipped in milder weather, besides twice getting on the bar at the mouth of Yaquina Bay, and being once partially wrecked. Part of the materials have been hauled from Newport, six miles over an almost impassable road to the light-house site. The metal-work was completed at Portland, Oregon, June 1 1872. After the failure of persistent efforts to charter a vessel for carrying iron and brick from Portland to the cape, the metal-work was shipped via San Francisco. About one-half the time since the work began has been lost on account of the difficulties of transportation. The foundation of the tower has been laid, and work commenced on the keeper's dwelling, a double frame house. Both will probably be completed this season.

1884

544. Cape Foulweather (Yaquina Head), on westerly end of Cape Foulweather, Oregon.---A survey of the reservation was made and a wire fence 120 yards long was put around the pasture, and various repairs were made. The station is in good condition except as to the drainage.

An. Rep. 1885

598. Cape Foulweather (Yaquina Head), on westerly end of Cape Foulweather, Oregon.---A new drain of 6-inch fire clay pipe, 90 feet long, was laid by the keepers from the vaults at the dwelling to the bluff. The kitchen-sink drains were well trapped and connected with the new drain. An apparatus for hoisting supplies and material from the beach to the top of the bluff was constructed opposite a sheltered cove, where there is a good boat-landing on the southwest side of the cape, about 1,000 feet from the light-house. The apparatus consists of a tramway 3 feet wide and 130 feet long, extending up the slope of the bluff, which is 85 feet high, and a suitable car with a geared winch at top. A snatch-block was provided for hauling up light loads with a team of horses. Steps were fitted between the sides of the tramway. The roof of the kitchen at the principal keeper's dwelling and part of the roof of the second assistant keeper's dwelling were reshingled. A new sill was placed under the latter building. About 150 tons of gravel were hauled up from the beach by the tramway and used in repairing the roads and filling up the holes around the tower where the sand was blown out.

Notice to Mariners (No. 90.) United States of America - Pacific Coast

Oregon - Yaquina Bay

Notice is hereby given, that a light will be exhibited on the evening of October 1, 1871, and on every evening thereafter, from sunset to sunrise, from a recently erected low square wooden tower, rising from the keeper's dwelling (painted white) on the north front of the entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon.

The structure stands 120 feet above the mean sea level, and the light 40 feet from the base of the tower, giving a focal plane of 160 feet above mean sea level.

The light will be a fixed white (underlined) light, of the 5th order of Fresnel, illuminating an arc of 240 degrees of the horizon.

The dwelling and tower are painted white (underlined). The dome of the lantern and gallery balusters are painted red (underlined).

Notice to Mariners No. 34, of 1873

United States of America - Pacific Coast - Oregon

Fixed White Light at Cape Foulweather, (Yaquina Head)

Notice is hereby given that, on and after the evening of August 20, 1873, a fixed white light will be shown from the tower recently erected on Cape Foulweather, (Yaquina Head,) Oregon.

The focal plane is at a height of 81 feet above the ground and 150 feet above sea level. In clear weather, the eye being 15 feet above sea level, the light should be seen at a distance of 18 1/2 nautical miles.

The illuminating apparatus is a lens of the 1st order, fixed, illuminating 240 degrees of the horizon.

The tower is of brick, painted white, and the lantern is painted black.

The keeper's dwelling, a two story frame building east of the tower, is painted white.

The approximate position of the light-house is as follows:

Latitude 44 degrees 43' 30" North Longitude 124 degrees 5' West

From the light-house, Cape Disappointment (Hancock) light-house bears N. by W. 3/4 W. 94 nautical miles; Yaquina (Harbor) light-house bears S.E. by S. 1/4 S. 3 1/4 nautical miles; Cape Perpetua bears S. by E. 3/4 E. 24 nautical miles; Cape Arago (Gregory) light-house bears S. by E. 84 nautical miles.

By order of the Light-House Board:

Joseph Henry, Chairman

Treasury Department Office Light-House board, Washington, D.C., July 25, 1873

M.M.B. 24 Oct., '94

Major J.C. Post, U.S.A.,

Engineer 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oreg.

Sir: Referring to your letter of 18 Oct., '94, the Board has to say that your recommendations are approved, and that you are authorized to repair the Keeper's dwelling and to improve the grounds the Cape Foulweather light station, Oreg., the work to be done by hired labor and the purchase of the necessary materials, in accordance with Article 2, of the Board's circular letter of 22 June, 1894.

The total cost of the work is not to exceed $595., to be paid for from the appropriation Repairs of Light-Houses, 1895.

Respectfully, George F. F. Wilde Commander, U.S. A., Naval Secretary.