1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

United States Senate Chamber, Washington, Feb. 4, 1878 Prof. Joseph Henry, Chairman Lighthouse Board Sir: Herewith enclosed please find a communication from Hon. R.A. Bensell, of Newport, Oregon, calling attention to the Light House Station at Yaquina, Oregon. I thought it proper to communicate this letter to you and ask your attention to the same. Please advise me what

Custom House, Astoria Oregon Collectors Office, May 2nd, 1872

Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department Letter of April 17th, 1874 enclosing appointment of Jas. A. Cook 1st Asst at Cape Foulweather at a compensation of $630 per annum. Is this not a mistake, the other 1st assistants in this district got but $628. At what rate shall J. A. Cook be paid?

Very respectfully, William D. Hare Collector Honorable Joseph Henry Chairman Lt. House Board Washington D.C

Office of the Light House Engineer Thirteenth District Portland, Oregon, Dec 9, 1873

SIR: I enclose herewith for the information of Board, copy of a letter of the Hon J.H. Mitchell State Senator from Oregon, calling attention to the disposition on the part of the Light House Board to abolish the light at Yaquina Bay, Oregon. A copy of the letter of the Hon Ben Simpson on the same subject, transmitted with that of the Hon Mr. Mitchell is also enclosed. In this connection I have the honor to report that accompanied by the Commodore Spotts, Inspector of Lights, I left this city December 4th hesitant, for the purpose of visiting Yaquina Bay with the view of reporting upon the expediency of discontinuing the light at that station, but arriving to the unprecedented snow storm was unable to proceed beyond Albany. Very respectfully, ??? Lighthouse Engineer

Chairman Lighthouse Board Washington City, DC

United States Senate Chamber

Washington Dec 5th 1873

Gen'l Michler Engineer Corps U.S.A. Portland Oregon Dear Sir I understand there is some disposition on the part of the Light-House Board to abolish the Light at Yaquina Bay, Oregon. I sincerely trust this will not be done, and trust your influence will be exerted in retaining it for the reasons urged in the enclosed letter Gov. Ben Simpson who has been a resident of Oregon for over a quarter of a century, and is thoroughly posted on its coast. Will you please transmit this to the local officers. And much oblige Very respectfully, (signed) JH Mitchell USS

Washington DC Nov 28th 1873

My Dear Sir Allow me to call to your attention a matter in which the people of Oregon, particularly those living in the vicinity of Yaquina Bay, in Benton County, are particularly interested. I have reference to the continuance of the light situated at the mouth or entrance of the Bay. I have understood that there was some talk its discontinuance. I should as well as all there of that vicinity, regard such a course as operating deleterious to the shifting interests of that place. There are now four or five stores, and two lumbering mills on the Bay, all of which are dependent upon vessels to carry away their produce and bring their goods from San Francisco. Besides we have an extensive Oyster Bed, in the Bay of Yaquina, some four miles from its mouth from which considerable revenue has been derived from the people of that locality by shipping Oysters to San Francisco.