1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

FOREWORD

A history of Aids to Navigation is, prior to 1939, a history of the Lighthouse Service. Since 1789, the Lighthouse Service had established and maintained navigational aids along all coasts of the United States and all its inland waters. In 1939, the Reorganization Plan II provided for the consolidation of the Bureau of Lighthouses with the Coast Guard. The transfer of the duties from the Bureau to the Coast Guard were made mainly to reduce expenditures to the fullest extent for the efficient operation of the Government. It was appreciated and understood that there was a natural reluctance of personnel to change from the Bureau to another Service. To overcome this hesitation, the transfer was effected by avoiding discharges wherever possible and "cutting" the personnel by not filling vacancies which were in effect at the time of the transfer.

The Secretary of the Treasury authorized the induction of officers and crew of tenders and Lightships, Keepers of Lighthouses and Depots, Light Attendants, Radio Electricians, Examiners and Maintenance Supervisors, as the duties of those positions were comparable with duties performed in the military service of the Coast Guard. In addition to those positions, there was a large group of positions which were analogous to those now held by civilian employees of the Coast Guard, such as draftsmen, mechanics, laborers, watchmen, messengers in the sub-professional and custodial duties and various positions in the clerical, administrative and physical service. This group continued exactly as before and received promotions and increase in

O.S.S. #3.

subject to the future needs of the Light House Establishment.

I again wrote the Secretary of the Treasury, asking if he would be willing to authorize Mr. Jones to lease a portion of the Reservation for the purpose stated, and reviewed the information contained in your letters, as well as those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Treasury on April 22nd, stated that under the permission granted May 12th, 1906, his Department obtained no title to the Reservation beyond the right to use and occupy the land for life saving purposes and for such purposes only. He stated, therefore, that he was without authority to grant the permission desired by Mr. Jones.

From all this correspondence it would appear that the Reservation is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and if permission is to be given for the erection of a chute it must be given by you as head of that Department.

On April 26th, I telegraphed Mr. Jones as follows:

"In case government grant permit erection chute on Yaquina life saving reservation subject to their right to order removal at any time, would you care for it if it could be obtained. Cant promise success even under this condition, but would make additional effort if you desire."

I today received a telegram from Mr. Jones to the effect that he would be glad to acquire the privilege on the condition named, and assured me that he would remove the chute at any time he was requested to do so by your Department.

From my personal knowledge of the locality, I can say that I believe no harm whatever would be done the Reservation

making of him the same request that I had made of you, and on April 3rd, received a letter from the Assistant Secretary of War, stating that there was some question as to whether this Reservation was under the jurisdiction of the War Department, or the Department of Commerce and Labor. I was somewhat surprised at this immediately addressed another letter to the Assistant Secretary of War and one to Assistant Secretary Murray, asking them to immediately make further investigation and notify me positively what Department had jurisdiction. It seemed to me that this ought to be a matter of record.

On April 8th, you replied to my letter, stating that the matter was under investigation, and on April 12th you wrote me again to this effect:

"Site was transferred to the War Department October 24th, 1888, and upon receipt of the information contained in several endorsements by that Department upon a letter from Senator Gearing, dated March 23rd, 1906, to the effect that the War Department had no further use for the site, the Light-House Board reassumed its control. On May 12th, 1906, the Reservation was transferred to the Treasury Department for the use of hte Life Saving Service subject to the future needs of the Light-House Establishment.

"This Department also states that the Light-house Board, after a careful examination of the locality, a consideration of a possible need to establish additional aids to navigation in the near future upon the Reservation, is of the opinion that it is not advisable either to sell or lease the Reservation, and in that opinion this Department concurs."

Under date of April 13th, the Assistant Secretary of war confirmed the transfer of the Reservation on May 12th, 1906, to the Treasury Department for the use of the Life Saving Service, subject to the future needs of the Light-House Establishment.

I again wrote the Secretary of the Tresury, asking if he would be willing to authorize Mr. Jones to leas a portion

of the Reservation for the purpose above stated, and reviewed the information contained in your letters, as well as those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Treasury on April 22nd, stated that under the permission granted May 12th, 1906, his Department obtained no title to the Reservation beyond the right to use and occupy the land for life saving purposes and for such purposes only. He stated, therefore, that he was without authority to grant the permission desired by Mr. Jones.

From the correspondence it would appear that the Reservation is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and if permission is to be given for the erection of a chute it must be given by you as head of that Department.

On April 12th, I telegraphed Mr. Jones as follows:

"In case government permit erection chute on Yaquina life saving reservation subject to their right to order removal at any time, would you care for it if it could be obtained. Cant promise success even under this condition, but would make additional effort if you desire."

I to day received a telegram from Mr. Jones to the effect that he would be glad to acquire the privilege on the condition named, and assured me that he would remove the chute at any time he was requested to do so by your Department.

From my personal knowledge of the locality, I can say that I believe no harm whatever would be done the Reservation if conditional permission was given Mr. Jones to occupy a portion of the beach with his chute. He desires to build the chute on the beach. The main portion of the Reservation, as I recall,

War Department, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington.

April 2, 1907

The Secretary of War.

Sir:

1. By authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, dated October 24, 1888, a reservation of about 36 acres was transferred by the Light-House Board to the officer in charge of the improvement of Yaquina Bay, Ore., for the temporary use of the War Department, with the understanding that when no longer used by that Department, or whether required by the Light-House Board, the reservation and buildings thereon should revert to the care of the Light-House Establishment.

2. The War Department has no further use for this reservation, and under date of April 17, 1906, this office reported to the Secretary of War the facts in the case, with recommendation that the Department of Commerce and Labor be informed that as the improvements of Yaquina Bay have been discontinued, there is no objection to the Light-House Establishment resuming possession and control of the reservation. What further action was taken is not known to this office.

3. Applications have been received by the War Department for privileges on this reservation, and the applicants have been referred to the Department of Commerce and Labor, who state that they have there been informed that the reservation is still under the control of the War Department. Inasmuch as there seems to be some doubt as to which Department is now in responsible charge of