53

Office of the Light House
Engineer
Thirteenth District

Portland, Oregon
May 9th, 1873

Chairman Light House
Board
Washington, D. C.

Sir:
I would respectfully
submit the following with
respect to wages of
overseers in this district,
as in the letter from the
Board of Feb 12th the
position is taken that
they ought to be obtained
for from $125. to $150.
per month.
When I was assigned to
this District & commenced
work at Yaquina I paid the
same as Col. Williamson
had been paying & when
it became necessary to
change to $175. coin to its
equivalent, at that time
$195. Legal tenders, it was
authorized by the Board.
At the present rate the
$195. currency is equivalent
to $168. coin.
These wages seem very
high & I have wished to
reduce them but until the
Foulweather Light was
completed I did not think
it safe to make the attempt,
only reducing the overseer's
wage in the winter & when
only one or two men could
be ???played to $100. per
month