Report for Cape Lookout (North Carolina) - 1868

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH District
Location:
Date of Report: 01/26/1868
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:
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: Detached tower
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:
General Description: Of brick; painted red outside. Whitewashed inside. In good condition. Window frames of wood in good condition. Glass in good condition, clean & free from scratches.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Of iron, in good condition.
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: No covered ways. The old tower at this station is in a dilapidated condition but answers very well as a mark to passing vessels.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 small ladder
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: No


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling the relief.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 1st
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 1st order.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2, in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 6, 5 in good condition, 1 out of repair.
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): There is a storeroom provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are kept in a closet by themselves.
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: No
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: A regulation clock in good order; kept in the dwelling.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Keeper states that there has been some complaint from Masters of vessels that light does not show from Beaufort bar, which they think it ought. Range of visibility does not take in the bar, which it would do if lens was turned a little.
Condition
Lantern: Good
Illuminating Apparatus: Good in all respects
Service Lamp: Good condition & clean in all its parts
Oil: Specimen examined found to be clear & clean, free from motes. It had been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: In good condition & clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Found to be level
Plate Glass: Very clean
Lens Cover: Was on lens, clean, made of linen sheeting & is kept in lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: Curtains were up. They are regularly put up & taken down, & are kept in the lantern room when not in use.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is an alarm bell but keeper does not use it, preferring as he says, to watch the lamp himself.
Rod Lamp: In good condition & prepared for use. Keeper knows how it is intended to be used.
Dwelling: Dwelling stands in need of a general repair. It is in good order as to cleanliness.
Stairway and Landing: Clean, and in good condition in all respects.
Inside of Tower: Very good
Glazing of Dwelling: Good
Improvements Needed: Dwelling needs repairs
Outhouses: None - there are the remains of an old blacksmith shop falling to the ground.
Boathouse: None
Grounds: Good. The grounds receive all the attention they require, but they are just as nature made them.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: No one is permitted to put hands or feet on lens on any pretense.
Lantern and Trap Doors: Yes
Watch or Trimming Room: No
Lucernes or Matches: No
Heater: No heater
Ventilation: Yes
Dome: Yes


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good & clean condition in every respect.
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: 7
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 1
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: 1
Number of Dripping Buckets: No
Number of Oil Tanks: 9, holding 760 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are so made.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters were not filled. Instructed keeper as to the necessity of having them filled. Air cocks were closed.
Drip Bucket Placement:
Oil Butt Platform: Placed upon a raised platform (wood).
Empty Oil Butts: None empty.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: Yes
Paints Separate: Yes
Tool Chest: Yes
Tool Condition: Good
Tools Free from Rust: Were in tolerably good condition, & receive grease when they require it.
Closets Clean: Yes
Service Box In Good Order: Yes
Trimming Scissors Clean: Yes
Brushes and Floor Clothes: Yes
Lantern Condition: Good & would seem to insure the maintenance of a good light.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper is neat & tidy.
Keeper Interested in Duties: Yes
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Yes
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Yes
Keeper Complaints: No
Keeper Family: Yes
Keeper Name: John R. Royal
Keeper Age: Aged
Keeper Present or Absent: Present
Number of Assistants: 2
Assistants Attend to Duty: They do
Assistants Capability: The Principal represents them as being capable.
Assistants Complaints: No
Assistants Family: 1 assistant has a family at the tower.
Assistant Keeper Names: Joseph Royal, young, present; Martin Royal, young, present.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Principal & 1 assistant attended throughout the inspection. 1 assistant was absent.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Yes
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies:
Notice to Visitors Copies:
Summary of Duties:
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water:
Placards Easily Visible: They are as far as the station has them.
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: There is an expenditure book & some blank shipwreck reports wanted.