1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

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

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

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

(SIDE BAR) Photographer on Shubrick- aurth'd

1871 Mar 14 From Engineer Secy Maj. G. H. Elliot To Col. R.S. Williamson Corps Engineers Sir: Referring to your letter of the 6th instant I have to say that the employment of a photographer on the terms heretofore state by you to go in the "Shubrick" on her next trip for the supply of the Pacific Coast lights is approved.

Mar 15 From Chrmn. L.H.B Rear Adml. W.B. Shubrick To Major H.M. Robert Corps Engineers Your letter of the 4th instant addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury reporting for duty in the Light House Establishment has been received at this office and I have to inform you that you are assigned to duty as Light House Engineer of the 13th Light House District which embraces the Pacific Coast of the United State north of the northern boundary of California. Col. R. S. Williamson U.S.A.

Engineers, Light House Engineer for the 12th &13th Districts, will turn over to you the property pertaining to the 13th District, and the directions which he has received from this Board in relation to it.

(SIDE BAR) Detailed for duty as L.H. Engineer 13" Dist.

with returned you will find ??? Mr. Miller for cause; and that I entered into details as to what that cause was.

Nothing doubting the sanction of the Department, which it has given in like cases through my whole administration as Superintendent of Lights; and in accordance with the forms in blank furnished me by the Light House Board itself. I nominated Mr. Williams who has been many years a sea captain and whom I know to be thoroughly competent to fill the place.

Very respectfully A. A. Smythe. Supt of Lights

Admiral W.B. Shubrick Chairman of the Light House Board.

__________________________________________________

Feb 13th, 1869

From Chairman L.H. Board Adml. W.B. Shubrick U.S.N

Relative to Petitions for lighting Pacific coast.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive the letter from Hon Z. Chandler, Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, with accompanying petitions, referred by you to this Board for report, and beg leave to submit the following statement:

1. In reference to petition for a Light House at Love Point, Kent Island, Chesapeake Bay - the necessity for a light at this place having been carefully considered, the Board included in its last estimate (now before Congress) an estimate of the sum required.

2. The Board has had under consideration