Report for Cape Arago (Oregon) - 1881
| General |
| District: | 13th |
| Inspector: | G.L. Gillespie, Maj. of Engineers |
| Location: | Situated on small island at Western extremity of Cape Arago, OR |
| Date of Report: | 05/03/1881 |
| Latitude: | 43° 20' 38" |
| Longitude: | 124° 22' 11" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | On the island 3 acres, on mainland 42.74 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Clayey loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 60' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Small vegetable gardens enclosed with rough board fence & 40 acres enclosed with an open board fence for a pasture. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boat landing on beach - on E side of island. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | A tramway & stairs extends from boat landing to top of island - about 1500' from & E from tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | 200 miles by RR to Roseburg, thence 60 miles by stage to Coos City on Coos Bay, thence 12 miles by steamer to Empire City - thence 6 miles in row boat to S Slough thence 3.5 miles on foot to lighthouse. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Steamboat landing at Empire City distance 10 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 9 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 9 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Light station may be reached from Empire City, nearest town - Steamboat landing - by carriage or rowboat to S Slough 5 miles, thence on foot to lighthouse 3.5 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1866 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Repaired in 1880 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 25' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 90' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Dark - heavy fir & spruce timber |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast to mark entrance to Coos Bay |
| Building Materials: | Iron |
| General Description: | Tower is a skeleton of iron frame work - top part of which is covered with sheet iron for a watchroom. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular iron stairway w/ iron steps |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | There are 3 single pane windows in watchroom - 14.5" at top, 25" at bottom, 23 3/4" high. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | |
| Number of Doors: | 2 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Solid, natural rock foundation 5' below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rich dark mould |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Soil is well adapted to cultivation of grass, shrubbery or trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' 4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 2 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 2 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 8" x 2' 8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Dome is constructed of sheet copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Sheet copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper wire rope attached to spindle by a loop in end of the rope - it is led down from top of tower on an angle of 45 degrees & carried to moist ground. |
| Balustrade: | Outside gallery is formed of cast iron plates supported by iron brackets & is enclosed with a wrought iron railing & cast iron posts. |
| Lantern Doors: | Lantern doors are made of iron & fitted with suitable hinges & fastenings. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in lantern floor. Hang on suitable hinges & fitted with a suitable handle. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None -- not required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtain hooks fitted into lantern plate by screws tapped into it. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watchroom fitted with a table & drawers. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 3 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed varied by flashes |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | 2 minutes |
| Duration of Flash: | 3 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Light is seen from ocean from S 1/2 E by S'd W'd & N'd to NE by E. Arc of fixed lens 270 degrees - 1 90 degree panel removed there is no reflector Oct. 15, 1906 keeper letter. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Lens is stationary - flashes produced by elementary panels, revolving around outside of lens. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | Wrought iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork operated by cord & weights |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 20' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 3 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Metallic case with glass panels |
| Regulated: | By a "Fly" wings of which can be set at various angles. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | White light |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Hains mineral oil lamp - 1 burner |
| Type of Illuminant: | Mineral oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Perpendicularly thru lantern floor thence horizontally to side of watchroom, thence perpendicularly thru iron tube. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No closets in tower - but in watchroom which is adjacent, there are 2 closets fitted with shelves & used for keeping wicks, lamps, chimneys & other supplies for the light. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil kept in small wooden bldg erected for purpose near light tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Watchroom, which is adjacent to tower is fitted with closets & used as storeroom. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purposes for which they were designed. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Keeper's dwelling located 300 yds NE from tower. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 principal keeper & 1 asst. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Wood house & privy & an old dilapidated bldg used as store & chicken house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walk around keeper's dwelling & from dwelling to lighthouse also to bridge which connects Island with mainland. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 40 acres on point of the Cape with board fence for pasture. |
| Area of Garden: | About 1/4 acre. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 30 acres |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 20 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | About 1/4 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Clayey, small prairie balance thick forest, all fast ground. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | Gould Mfg Co., # 4 (2) closed spout |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | |
| Number of Rooms: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | Gould Mfg Co., # 4 (2) closed spout |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roof of Keeper's dwelling. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Only precautions taken are to empty cisterns once in 2 years & wash them out. |
| Tank Capacity: | 2 cisterns, capacity 2500 gals each, placed outside dwelling near kitchen. |
| Tank Material: | Cisterns, made of brick, laid in cement mortar. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Water taken into kitchen by pump. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | That it is good |
| Diseases: | There are no prevalent diseases in vicinity. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat landing on beach near keeper's dwelling. No wharf. Boat house is located on beach at boat landing. A road 3.5 miles long from lighthouse to S Slough (built by LH Board ) is nearly completed. (Ferry across Slough in LH boat or by private boat.) |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | There is a county road to Empire City. |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets |
| Lens Covers: | 2 |
| Damper Tube and Key: | 2 |
| Spare Damper and Key: | 1 |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | None |
| Time Marker: | 1 |
| Gauge: | None |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Curtain Hanger: | None - not required |
| Heater: | Not req'd |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | None req'd |
| Lamp Stand: | None req'd |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | None |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | Cord |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | Cast iron |
| Clutch: | 1 |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | 1 |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | 1 |
| Feather Brushes: | 2 |
| Linen Towels: | 10 |
| Sponges: | 2 |
| Chamois Skins: | 3 |
| Scissors: | 2 pair |
| Chimney Filters: | 1 pair |
| Coupling Pliers: | 1 pair |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 |
| Cleaning Materials: | Rotten stone - whiting - rouge - spirits of wine |
| Keepers Aprons: | 2 |
| Wicks: |
| Supplemental Reports |
| Pumps | |
| 1881 | |
| Goulds Mfg CO. 422-2, closed spout: outside dwelling & for supplying water from cisterns to fog signal if req'd. | |