1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

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Pages That Mention Coast Survey

YH LH location and building Vol. 311

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1868. I obtained from Col. Williamson a map of the survey with all of the 20 feet curves from the Yaquina Bay to Yaquina Point. The sketch forwarded with my report on Cape Foulweather of July 18th is copied from this map and gives the curves on the "Point". From this survey I found that the site was only 70 feet above the sea. I enclose herewith a section on a line near East and West made from the same map as the sketch with my report of July 18th. The ground is quite level for at least 500 feet from the point, after which it begins to rise to the height of 360 feet. Finding such a discrepancy in the levels given by Col. Williamson and by the tracing from the Coast Survey I thought it possible that there might be a mistake in the tracing made by Mr. Chase of the U.S.C.S. but opposite page 132 of the Coast Pilot of Oregon is a sketch of Yaquina Point which agrees exactly with my own recollections which the tracing referred to. If the aneroid barometer was correct the height of the hill above the end of the Point was only 240 feet - or twice as great as the height of the Point above the sea; whereas the sketch shows it is four times as great, which agrees with the levels given on the drawings.

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Last edit about 5 years ago by dougreade
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In conclusion then I would state, as in my report of July 18th, that Col. Williamson and I have agreed upon the site recommended in that report and upon the erection of a tower higher than fifty feet. The discrepancy in the measurements of the height of the point was not noticed by either and consequently not referred to. The Coast Survey made in 1868, a survey including Yaquina Point (formerly Cape Foulweather) giving the twenty feet curves from this point to Yaquina Bay, which I have taken as more accurate than any survey I could get made and as rendering unnecessary the expense of any survey - especially as while it being made Col. Williamson was in correspondence with Mr. Chase, who was in charge, in order to have him obtain all information useful for the Light House Department.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Henry M. Robert

Maj. of Eng'rs & L.H. Eng'r, Thirteenth District

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Last edit about 5 years ago by dougreade

p-2 Notice To Mariners

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The position of the tower, by the United States Coast Survey Pilot, is: Latitude 44 degrees 36 minutes 35 seconds north, Longitude 124 degrees 04 minutes west from Greenwich.

The following are the magnetic bearings and distances from the light to the most prominent objects in the vicinity, which are likely to catch the eyes or attract the attention of the mariner:

Cape Perpetua, South 20 degrees east, distant 26 miles. Celilike Head, South 17 1/2 degrees east, distant 8 miles.

In approaching Yaquina entrance, mariners should observe the following directions, viz: Yaquina Point (or Cape Foulweather) bearing north 34 degrees west, limits the visibility of the light in that direction.

The angle of visibility over the water is 238 degrees. The magnetic bearings, within which the light will be visible from a vessel, are from N.N.W. by southerly to S. by E.

A dangerous reef lies off the mouth of the harbor. Vessels passing should not have less than 12 fathoms water.

By order of the Light-House Board:

Treasury Department Office Light House Board Washington, D.C. September 1871

W.B. Shubrick, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy Chairman

Last edit about 7 years ago by Wjhoward

1870-73 Lighthouse Board Annual Reports

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might have led to disaster. In the form of notice you have located the light 3 1/2 miles to the southward and one mile to the eastward of the position shown on the Coast Survey chart, as is shown on the chart here - with sent you. It may be, however, that you have more accurate information than the chart offers, and if so, you will please to telegraph, and the Notice to Mariners will be withheld for correction. ________________________________________________________

Jan. 7. Cape Foulweather - error in notice to mariners.

From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers. Sir: Your attention is called to another apparent error in the form of the Notice to Mariners for Cape Foulweather, which has been noticed since the letter to you of yesterday. You have the bearing of Yaquina Light House S. by E. 3/4 E., while according to the charts in this Office it bears from Cape Foulweather Light House E. E. by S. 1/2 S. You will please reply by telegraph in regard to this matter in connection with that of the letter of yesterday. The printing of the Notice to Mariners is waiting for your reply at once on receipt of this communication. ________________________________________________________

Jan. 16 Telegram From Engineer Secretary Major G. H. Elliot To Major H. M. Robert Corps Engineers. Foulweather telegramreceived. Enquiries

Last edit about 7 years ago by Wjhoward
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