1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Cape Foulweather, sea-coast of Oregon.---An estimate was submitted last year for a sea-coast light at this point. A reservation of the necessary land has been made. This being one of the outlying points on the Pacific coast upon which a first-class light must be placed, sooner or later, and in consideration of the commerce of that coast, the estimate is renewed this year.

408. Cape Foulweather, sea-coast of Oregon.---For the erection of a first-class sea-coast Light at or near this point there was appropriated at the last session of Congress $90,000. It is proposed to erect a brick tower eighty feet from the ground to the focal plane, giving the focal plane a height of about one hundred and fifty feet above sea level. The plans have been completed; work was commenced about September 1, and will be completed during the present fiscal year.

Yaquina Head (Cape Foulweather) Light Station List for 1893 N.E. by N., 2 miles.

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YAQUINA HEAD LIGHT-STATION, OREG., NE. by N., 2 MILES 1897 ??? 1901

1870

Yaquina, Oregon, entrance to Yaquina Bay.---An appropriation was made at the last session of Congress for lighting the entrance to this bay. An examination of the locality has been made, and the work will be commenced as soon as a proper site and valid title can be obtained.

1871

407. Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---The light-house at this point as commenced May 1, 1871. and will be completed about September 30, 1871.

1872

422. Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---The light-house at this point as commenced May 1, 1871. It was completed the following October, and lighted November 3, 1871.

1874.

458. Yaquina, entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---Since the establishment of the light upon Cape Foulweather, (Yaquina Head,) Yaquina light is no longer necessary. An examination of this station was made in May last, by the inspector and engineer of the district, and its discontinuance recommended. The light will be extinguished October 1.

1877

---. Yaquina Bay unlighted station, Oregon.---The buildings are not in good condition. An effort was made to sell the station during the year, but the price offered was so small that the property was withdrawn.

1878

---.Yaquina Bay unlighted, sea-coast of Oregon.---The dwelling as in such wretched condition as to be almost uninhabitable. Anticipating the relighting of the station on the completion of the railroad from the Willamette River to Yaquina Bay, and to prevent the building from going to ruin, the roof and the outside sheathing have been renewed and other actually necessary repairs have been made.

1884

---.Yaquina, at entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---Discontinued. The roof of the dwelling was repaired, but only such work was done as was necessary to preserve the building.

1890

---.Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---Vessels now have occasion to pass in and out of the bay during the night, and lights are needed to prevent accidents. During a part of the year the mail has to be carried before day-light in the morning and after dark at night. The necessities of commerce in this locality are such as to demand the establishment of inexpensive lights at this point. It is estimated that they could be established at a cost of about $300, and it is recommended that an appropriation of that amount be made therefor.

1892 + 1891

---.Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---The following recommendation, made in the Board's last two annual reports, is renewed:

Vessels now have occasion to pass in and out of the bay during night, and lights are needed to prevent accidents. During part of the year the mail has to be carried before daylight in the morning and after dark at night. The necessities of commerce in the locality are such as to demand the establishment of inexpensive lights at this point. It is estimated that they could be established at a cost of about $300, and it is recommended that an appropriation of that amount be made therefor.

1893

---.Yaquina Bay, Oregon.---The following recommendation, made in the Board's last three annual reports, is renewed:

Vessels now have occasion to pass in and out of the bay during night, and lights are needed to prevent accidents. During part of the year the mail has to be carried before daylight in the morning and after dark at night. The necessities of commerce in the locality are such as to demand the establishment of inexpensive lights at this point. It is estimated that they could be established at a cost of about $300, and it is recommended that an appropriation of that amount be made therefor.

lights are needed to prevent accidents. During a part of the year the mail has to be

194 REPORT OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD. 1894

Thirteenth District.

carried before daylight in the morning and after dark at night. The necessities of commerce in the locality are such as to demand the establishment of inexpensive lights at this point. It is estimated that they could be established at a cost of about $300.

The Board proposes, when funds are available, to establish two inexpensive beacon lights at the mouth of the bay, and to pay therefor from the general appropriation for repairs, etc., of light-houses, which provides for such expenditures.

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.

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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

Superintendent of the former Lighthouse Districts became assistants to the District Commanders of the new Coast Guard Districts for the administration and operation of Lighthouse functions. Since, in many cases the Office of the District Commander and that of the Lighthouse Superintendent were in different localities, problems of both administration and operation resulted. As a result, whenever possible, these administrative offices were combined. It was desired to increase efficiency through coordinated use of personnel, vessels, boats, shops and supplies and economy in operation through a reallocation of facilities to avoid duplication.

327 Lighthouse Service personnel were employed in the Seattle District at the time of the consolidation. This was a far cry from the handful of men who beat their way through the wilderness in 1849 to find a site for a lighthouse on the desolate shores of the Northwest Pacific. At that time, Congress had allotted $15,000 for the establishment of two lighthouses and 12 can buoys at the entrance to the Columbia River. This began the activities of the Lighthouse Service in the 13th Lighthouse District which included Oregon and Washington and later Alaska. The boundaries of the Lighthouse Districts followed closely those of the Coast Guard Districts.