1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

1873 Feb. 20 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: Your telegram of the 19th instant relative to missing parts of Foulweather lantern ???, is received.

The Ames Manufacturing Company will make the missing parts at once, and they will be done in four weeks.

Feb. 26 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Tools to drill holes in lantern rafters. Foulweather, can be sent you, if not on hand. See drawings. Answer Parts will be bored here.

Feb. 27 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: I have to inform you that I have this day directed George H Rhodes agent, Keystone Portable Forge Co., 40 Cortlandt Street, New York to send you at Portland, Oregon via Pacific Mail Steamship Company, a portable forge No. Two +2, with hood, and have also directed that the bill of lading and invoice of contents of the box or boxers be sent to you as above.

Feb. 27 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: Referring further to the telegram of the Board dated February 26th instant, I have to

1873 say that the manufacturers have templates for the posts, so that they can get the sizes and positions of the holes in the lantern posts exactly, but this is not the case in regard to the rafters. The manufacturers state that a Scotch drill complete, with all necessary drills and tools (to do the drilling by any ordinary workman) can be packed with the lantern posts and rafters and will cost eighty (80) dollars.

If you should conclude on receipt of this to do so, you can telegraph to the Board in time to order them.

Feb. 28 From Engineer Secretary Major G.H. Elliot To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: You will please report to the Board, at your earliest convenience, your opinion of the necessity of a Light House at the mouth of the river Umpqua, on the coast of Oregon, the interests of commerce and navigation such Light House would subserve; the proposed height of the focal plane if a Light House is built: and the estimated cost of the work.

You will please report, also, whether a screw-pile Light House which can be removed, when the shifting of the site upon which it is erected requires it (such a one as is used in eastern harbors and bays) would not, in your opinion be suitable for such a locality.

Your full investigation and report are requested.

1873 Mch. 5 Foulweather Lantern vault covers - sent. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Roberts Corps Engineers. Sir: I have to inform you that the following articles were shipped you at Portland, Oregon, per ateamer "Rising Star" on the 26th February , 1873, by Colonel J. C. Woodruff Light House Engineer 3rd District, viz: Fourteen (14) prismatic vault covers for the Cape Foulweather Lantern ________________________________ Mch. 6. From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Roberts Corps Engineers. Sir: General Woodruff Engineer 3rd and 4th Light House District requests funds to the amount of $ 105: to pay for 14 prismatic vault covers for the Cape Foulweather lantern. As there are no funds in the Treasury available for this purpose, you are requested to deposit that amount to the credit of the Treasure of the United Sates from the amount in your hands belonging to the appropriation for Cape Foulweather lightstation. Oregon 1871-72 and to forward the original certificate of deposit to this office. ________________________________

Mch. 7. Mouth of Columbia River ??? ???: light houses fog signal location of sites From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Roberts Corps Engineers. Sir: You are requested to confer with Captain Spotts, the Inspector of the 12th and 13th Districts, either by correspondence or in person (at the site) as to the proper location of the small light -house and fog-signal at the mouth of the Columbia river, which you are to erect. Also in regarding to

1873 abstract of the bids so obtained will be sent to the Board with your recommendation for awards. Before the boiler are accepted they must be tested by the United States Inspector of Boilers for your (U. S.) District, and his certificate as to their strength, Vc., must be obtained before payment is made on the contract. The whistles, machinery Vc, have been ordered to be sent to you by the Engineer of the First District.

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Apr. 7 Cape Foulweather Lantern freight From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: Referring to your communication of the fourteenth instant relative to the bill for freight on the sixteen (16) cases and sixteen (16) pieces castings of Foulweather Lantern, you are requested to pay the amount as stated in your letter, viz: four hundred and seventeen dollars and twenty nine cents (417. 29/100) It is presumed no damages can be obtained.

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Apr. 7 Cape Foulweather Lantern freight From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers Sir: Herewith please find invoice of duplicates of the parts of Cape Foulweather lantern, which were thrown overboard at sea. Major Michler, Engineer of the Twelfth District has been directed to make such dispositions of the packages as you may request; the freight therefor to be paid by you from the appropriation for Cape Foulweather Light House

1873 Apl. 9.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Sir: There is required the sum of $803.58 to pay for duplicate parts of the Cape Foulweather lantern. If that amount can be spared from the appropriation, you will please deposit it at once and forward certificate of deposit to this office.

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Apl. 24.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. To Major H. M. Robert. Corps Engineers.

Sir: In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, recommending that beacons be placed on Sand Island, and on "the rock" by the wreck of the ship "Silvie de Grace" at the mouth of the Columbia River, you are informed that no funds can be expended this year for either purpose, but you are requested to present the matter in your annual estimates.

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Apl. 26.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot. TO Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers.

Sir: Referring to your letter of the seventh instant relative to the location of a Light House and steam fog signal at the mouth of Columbia River, I have to state that the views of yourself and Captain J. H. Spotts, U.S.A. Inspector, on this matter are approved, and that the exact site will not be fixed until you and he can visit the locality in person and select it with a view to its permanency on account of the encroachments of the sea, and the lateral range of the light. The Light House will be of a class called