1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

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RECEIVED at Corcoran Bldg., S.E. Cor. 15th & F Sts., Washington, D.C. May 189 Dated Portland Ogn 13. To Light house board Washn DC Telegraph action on repairs proposed at Cape Foulweather + Cape Blanco balance of allotment for ninety five remaining on hand sufficient for repairs at Heceta.

RECEIVED at Corcoran Bldg., S.E. Cor. 15th & F Sts., Washington, D.C. _____ 189 head Cape Foulweather and Cape Blanco

Past Engineer

43

Office L. H. Engr. 13th Dist Portland Oregon August 14 1871

Bids for Building Light Keepers Dwelling at Cape Foulweather Oregon

Name Coin Ben Simpson $11989Chas F. Brown $11500Abbott & Lamb $declined

I certify that the above is a complete??? list of all the bids as stated the originals of which are hereby??? attached

Henry M Robert Major Engineer L.H. Engr. 13th Dist

(Stamp reads: Office of the Light House Board. Sep 4 1871)

35 Office, L.H. Engineer, 13th District, Portland, Oregon, August 22, 1871

HENRY M. ROBERT, Maj. of Engr's & L.H. Engr's, Thirteenth District

Forwards for approval Papers relating to contract Made with C.F. Brown for building L.K. dwelling at Cape Foulweather, Oregon. Articles Agreement - etc - 4 Specifications - 4 Bids 1 Letter asking bids 1 Remarks Explanatory

[Stamp: OFFICE OF THE LIGHT HOUSE BOARD SEP 4 1871]

Rees Answ'd Sept 4 ack (acknowledge) and say that in future cases you will after asking and receiving ??? comply with the law in regard to Contracts and only make them after advertisements - three contracts are approved and two copies are herewith returned.

E 2 Enc

27 Office, L.H. Engineer, 13th District, Portland, Oregon, August. 5., 1871.

HENRY M. ROBERT, Maj. of Engr's & L.H. Eng'r, Thirteenth District.

Transmit for approval Contracts 2 with Ben Simpson 2 -"- (with) Joseph Bien 1 -"- (with) C.F. Brown Explanation etc

[Stamp OFFICE OF THE LIGHT HOUSE BOARD AUG 17 1871]

Johnson, has not Maj Robert directed (obscured) date of this contract to make use of the ??? of the Pacific Coast for the same date (missing word) inclosed Bein for. - E

22

Office, L.H. Engineer, 13th District, Portland, Oregon, August 5, 1871 Henry M. Robert, Maj. of Engr's & L.H. Engr's, Thirteenth District. Monthly Report of Light House Operation for July, 1871

Ack. (acknowledged) You have not heretofore reported the circumstances of the damage to the fog bell structure at Cape Disappointment, which would seem to be entirely unnecessary.

Answ'd August 17

If the damage was caused by carelessness in firing, it should have been made good ??? Please to make full report concerning it. - E

28

Office, L.H. Engineer, 13th District, Portland, Oregon, August 18, 1871

Henry M. Robert, Maj. of Engr's & L.H. Eng'r, Thirteenth District

Inquiries whether Bill for survey of Yaquina Reservation can be paid. Verbal agreement prior to June 30. Work done after June 30

Ack. The bill can be paid if you can state in the face of the voucher "ordered prior to July 1st 1870."

Answ'd August 30

Mileage can not be paid to a ??? employe - in such cases actual necessary expenses certified to by the employe are allowed. E

U.S. Light House Establishment to Geo. Mercer To (sic) surveying Light House Land $25.00 " mileage 75 miles each way 150 m @ 10 cts 15.00 Newport Aug 12 1871 $40.00

Received payment

Geo. Mercer

296A

Office of the Light House Engineer Thirteenth District, Portland, Oregon, August 24., 1871 Description of Light House now constructing at Yaquina Bay, Oregon.

The magnetic bearings and the approximate on time distances from the tower to the most prominent objects in the vicinity likely to catch the eye or to attract the attention of the mariner.

Cape Perpetua distant 26 miles. South 20: East compass - Celilih? Head. distant .8. miles. South 17 1/2 [degrees] East Compass.

Height at the site of the tower above mean sea level.

120 feet - - - - - - per N.S. Coast Survey.

Height of the focal plane above the base of the tower.

40 feet.

Height of the focal plane above mean sea level.

160 feet.

Color and description of the tower, lantern, and keepers dwelling or dwellings.

Low, square wooden tower rising from Keepers dwelling painted white. Dome of lantern and gallery balusters, red.

300

Parapet and other parts of la??? (landing?) white. Keepers dwelling white with green blinds. Building 150 feet from bluff surrounded by a white picket fence.

Order of Illuminating Apparatus 5th

Arc of horizon illuminated 240 [degrees]

Distinctive characteristic of the light Fixed

Day on which it is proposed to light it for the 1st time October.1.1871

Latitude of Tower 44 [degrees] - 36 [minutes] - 35 [seconds] - North Longitude of Tower 124 [degrees] - 04 [minutes] - - West Authority U.S. Coast Pilot of Oregon page .129.

Directions to guide mariners in approaching or passing the light Yaquina point (or Cape Foulweather) bearing North 34 [degrees] west. This limits the visibility in that direction. Angle of visibility over the water 238 [degrees].

301

Sketch of Cape Foulweather from Coast Survey Map of Vicinity of Yaquina Bay CAPE FOULWEATHER

Scale 1/10,000

The only figures on the original are the "360" at summit.

To accompany letter of Aug 26th 1871. Henry M. Robert Major of Engrs