1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Office of the Light House Inspector Twelfth District San Francisco, Cal., May 28th, 1874

Professor Joseph I Lowry Chairman of the LH Board Washington DC

Sir,

I have the honor to report my return to this office from Yaquina Bay after continuing with your instruction of November 12th 1873. The joint report on the subject of the Engineer and myself have been forwarded to the Board from Portland Oregon. Upon examination at Cape Foulweather we found that it would be impossible to be build a tramway that would not be washed away every winter, and every summer it is a bad landing and could only be used in very smooth weather, it will

(Form No. 75.) Estimate for section of 1st Class Seacoast Lights near Cape Foulweather, Oregon. Made by Major Robert L.H. Engr. 13th Dist - Portland Oregon. July 18

Masons work and materials

314,000 Brick 12.00 3768 895 Cement Barrels 5.00 4475 155 Lime Barrels 2.50 387.50 320 Sand and Gravel Cubic yards 2.00 640 15 Rubble - Random Cubic yards 11.333 170 5 Sills Granite 12.00 60 100 Lathing & Plastering Yards 6.50 50 275 Excavation Cubic yards 6.50 137.50 1000 Labor Masons Days 5.50 5500 1500 Labor Tenders Days 3.00 4500

Office of the Light House Engineer Thirteenth District Portland, Oregon, August 5, 1871

Rear Admiral W.B. Shubrick Chairman Light House Board Washington, D.C.

Sir:

I have the honor to submit the following Report of Light House Operations for July, 1871. Work done on new Light House at Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Labor furnished by Mr. Ben Simpson per contract dated June 19, 1871.

Mason's work.

Two coats of plaster completed and one third of last coat finished. Hearths laid.

Carpenter's work.

Picket fence, cellar stairs, sink in kitchen completed. Blinds fitted and hung. Doors and windows cased. Closets, half of work done.

Painting work.

Two coats put on outside. Woodshed, house and picket fence.

290

(3)

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.

308

Office of the Light House Engineer Thirteenth District

Portland, Oregon, September 4, 1871

Rear Admiral W.B. Shubrick Chairman Light House Board Washington, D.C.

Sir:

I have the honor to submit the following Report of Light House Operations for August, 1871.

Work done on New Light House at Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Labor furnished by Ben Simpson per contract dated June 19, 1871. Mason's work completed. Carpenter's work completed except work in placing deck plate in tower. Painter's work completed except roof. Laborers work completed except making brick walk and assisting in adjusting lantern, etc.

Work to be done at Yaquina L.H. in September -

If received, the deck plate lantern and lends are to be fitted in place.

310