Report for Cape Hatteras Beacon (North Carolina) - 1868

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Capt. I. D. Beard under immediate direction of J.M. Berrien who, by reason of temporary indisposition was unable to perform service except through an assistant. Inspection was a rigid one.
Location:
Date of Report: 01/18/1868
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: There is no enclosure
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Frame structure surmounted by a lantern.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Wooden structure; wants repairs painted red.
General Description: Window frames are of wood; windows leak thru frames. Glass is in good condition & clean.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: A ladder
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 6th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum:
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum:
Does Apparatus Revolve?: False
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal:
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls:
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube:
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time:
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection:
Regulated:
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens of 6th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2, clean but somewhat out of repair.
Number of Spare Burners: 7 clean - 4 in good condition.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials are kept in the watchroom. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are kept at the lighthouse.
Suitability:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Portion of way from main lighthouse to beacon is at times underwater. This has on some occasions cut off communications w/ beacon so that there was no light. Recommend a "raised way" be built over part liable to be overflown (distance abt 1/3 mile).
Condition
Lantern: In very good order.
Illuminating Apparatus: In very good condition in all respects.
Service Lamp: In good condition & clean in all its parts.
Oil: Specimen examined & found it clear of objectionable matter. It had been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: In good condition & clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Was level; keeper understands how to keep it so.
Plate Glass: Very clean & in good condition
Lens Cover: Cover was on lens; was clean, made of ticking & kept in lantern when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: Curtains were up; they are regularly put up & taken down; were clean & are kept in lantern when not in use.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: None
Rod Lamp: There is no rod lamp.
Dwelling:
Stairway and Landing:
Inside of Tower: No paint whatever.
Glazing of Dwelling:
Improvements Needed: Frame structure needs extensive repairs
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: No one is permitted to put hands or feet on the lens.
Lantern and Trap Doors: Yes
Watch or Trimming Room: No
Lucernes or Matches: No
Heater: No heater
Ventilation: Yes
Dome: They were so painted & in good order. There is no conductor.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: Oil butt sits in watchroom; there was no appearance of waste of oil.
Oil Carriers: Were in good order
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 1
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil:
Number of Dripping Buckets: 1
Number of Oil Tanks: 1, holding 50 gallons.
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: It is so made.
Oil Butt Covers: Yes
Drip Bucket Placement: Yes
Oil Butt Platform: Placed on a wooden stand
Empty Oil Butts: No empty butts on hand.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: Are neatly put up in a box & kept in the watchroom.
Paints Separate: Kept at the lighthouse
Tool Chest: No
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean:
Service Box In Good Order: Yes
Trimming Scissors Clean: Yes
Brushes and Floor Clothes: Yes
Lantern Condition: Good


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Very much so
Keeper Interested in Duties: Yes
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Yes
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Yes
Keeper Complaints:
Keeper Family:
Keeper Name: Alpheus W. Simpson, Jr.
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Present
Number of Assistants: An assistant from the main light attends to the Beacon.
Assistants Attend to Duty:
Assistants Capability:
Assistants Complaints: No
Assistants Family: Asst keeper Williams, who is intrusted w/ care of the Beacon lives in his own house, near main light
Assistant Keeper Names: Nasa S. Williams, intrusted w/ mgmt of this (the Beacon) light; aged; was present.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The principal & assistant in charge attended through the inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes, are kept at lighthouse
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Yes
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies:
Instructions and Directions Copies:
Placard Directions Copies:
Notice to Visitors Copies:
Summary of Duties:
Index of Instructions:
Guide for Mixed Paints:
Directions for Purifying Water:
Placards Easily Visible:
Books Easily Accessible:
Blank Books and Forms: