Report for Cape Spencer (Alaska) - 1927
| General |
| District: | 16th |
| Inspector: | C.N. Elliot |
| Location: | On highest part of small inlet off cape, N side of entrance to Cross Sound. |
| Date of Report: | 12/25/1927 |
| Latitude: | 52° 11' 43" |
| Longitude: | 136° 58' 24" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Public land reserved by Executive Order for use of Lighthouse Service |
| Date of Reservation: | 03/04/1907 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Approx. 4 sq. miles; islet on which lighthouse located, approx. 1.5 acres. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 90' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wooden landing platform on edge of cliff about 200' from light. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By tenders & by gas boat from Noonah, 46 miles & Juneau. Port Althorp cannery about 11 miles distant. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | Monthly mail service by gas boat from Juneau, 108 miles. |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Square reinforced concrete tower surmounting rectangular concrete bldg. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | As unwatched acetylene light, 1913; As 3rd order IOV, 1925. |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1925 |
| 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: | 105' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Distant mountains |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Waterproof paint |
| Tower Connection: | All 1 bldg |
| Object of Navigation: | Aid to vessels approaching or leaving Cross Sound. |
| Building Materials: | Reinforced concrete |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden stairs to watchroom then iron stairs to lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 18" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6; sash for 18" x 14" glass |
| Number of Doors: | 1 - 2' x 4' 10" opening on roof. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Station is located on small rocky island located about 1 mile from the main shore. Rocks, over which the sea breaks extend about 3/4 mile to S westward of station & nearly half a mile to SE'd. Numerous islands & rocks lie btwn station & shore. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 2nd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 1.5 dia. 9' 9" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical 13/16" |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3-2 |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 2 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Curved glass, 54 panes, 2' 10 1/4" x 2' 10 1/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | No unglazed |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast & wrought iron, brass & bronze |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Conical of 8 C.I. flanged plates & wrought iron railing |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron, spherical, with spindle |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass, platinum tip; total length 3' |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Galv. iron pipe rail; gallery floor reinforced concrete |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 to gallery, glazed, brass fitted. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Reinforced concrete |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Spring roller curtains, brackets, screwed on lantern frame - 14 curtains. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | With lockers, kerosene & air tanks for light, also Gleason-Peters Co., No. 62 compound Duplex Air pump installed in Service Room at foot of tower on main floor level. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 110,000 |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier, Benard & Turenne, Paris, France |
| Year Made: | Assembled 1925 |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 1000 mm |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 15 sec |
| Flash Interval: | 13.8 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 1.2 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 4 |
| Arc of Each: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Bull's eye & concentric elements |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 10, flash |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4, flash |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Hollow cast iron, 3' 4 3/8" h; bottom dia. 24"; top dia. 15" Bu. Dwg. No 6961-1 |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | Galv. iron, same dia. as damper tube, extending from 5" above lens to cone below ventilator ball. |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Mercury float, hollow spindle type, non revolving lamp |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Approx. length 28'; inside dia. 20" |
| Clock Weight: | 270 lbs |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | No |
| Machinery Protection: | Within pedestal in glass case |
| Regulated: | Fan governor & by changing weights. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 55 mm Type "A" 2-tank system, 3rd order |
| Type of Illuminant: | IOV |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 (on spare lamps) |
| Candle Power: | 1000 (light source) - thru lens 110,000 |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Twisted wire - 4th order |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 3/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Directly down weight tube |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: | 4.5" d., 4 3/4 l. |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Cage used for thrust bearing only |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | True |
| Number of Balls: | ? |
| Diameter of Balls: | Thrust bearing - 7/8"; Upper annular 5/8"; Lower 9/16" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantle |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 55 mm |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Mercury Float |
| Inside Diameter of Trough: | 34.5" |
| Inside Depth of Trough: | 9.5" |
| Outside Diameter of Float: | 34 3/8" |
| Depth of Float: | 9 9/16" |
| Weight of Mercury in Pounds: | 75 lbs |
| How Often is Mercury Renewed: | Not determined; new station |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No closets in tower |
| Oil House Description: | Room in SW corner of bldg fitted with 4 storage tanks. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 17' 6" x 25' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Reinforced concrete |
| Oil House Capacity: | 2 fuel oil tanks (diesel oil) total 3000 gal.; 2 illuminating oil tanks (kerosene) total 2520 gal. Oil rec'd in returnable iron brls or drums. |
| Other (Describe): | 1 storeroom 6' x 12' off living room; 1 storeroom 8' 5" x 5' 8" off fog-signal room; storage space in basement, wardrobe each bedroom. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Type "F" air diaphone |
| Time to Start: | 15 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | About 10 min. |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 4 sec blast, 26 sec silent |
| Duplication: | Engines, compressors & blast device. There is only 1 diaphone but a siren is available for use if diaphone is disabled, sounding same characteristic. |
| Timing Device: | 17th Dist. blast device |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Diaphone - 39 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | 95' |
| Compass Direction: | Approx. W, true |
| Location: | In same bldg as light, W'ly (seaward) side. |
| Distance and Direction: | In same bldg. |
| Water Supply: | Rain water from roof drained to cisterns under bldg. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | In same bldg. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Reinforced concrete construction; 1 story & basement; 51' 6" x 62' 6"; living room, 4 bed rooms, radio room, oil storage room, fog-signal room, bathroom, corridors & 2 storerooms on main floor; boiler room, coal storage, 2 cistern & storerooms in basement |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: | Has recording pressure gauge (No. 1150104). |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Blown only if diaphone disabled |
| Siren Diameter: | 6" |
| Siren Built Date: | |
| Siren Manufacturer: | Gen. Depot |
| Siren Ports: | |
| Siren Revolutions: | |
| Siren Governor: | |
| Siren Condition: |
| Internal Combustion Signal |
| Fog Signal Kind: | |
| Internal Combustion Kind: | Charter-Mietz Oil Engines |
| Internal Combustion Manufacturer: | Charter Gas Engine Co. (N engine No. 8957; S engine No. 8956 |
| Internal Combustion Date: | 1925 |
| Internal Combustion Size: | 10x12 |
| Internal Combustion Horsepower: | 18 |
| Internal Combustion Fuel: | Kerosene or diesel oil |
| Internal Combustion Starter: | By hoisting iron igniter ball with blow-torch |
| Compressor Maker: | PA Pump & Compressor Co. 1925 (N. Comp No 1163; S. Comp. No. 1162) |
| Compressor Seat: | Separate bed - chain driven |
| Compressor Machinery: | 25:26 3 silent chain |
| Compressor Diameter: | 8" |
| Compressor Stroke: | 8" |
| Compressor RPMs: | 325 |
| Character of Air Inlet: | 2.5" |
| Kind of Unloader: | Erie |
| Diameter of Delivery Pipe: | 2" |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | Air diaphone |
| Daboll Reed: | Type "F" |
| Daboll Length: | |
| Daboll Breadth: | |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: |
| Air Receiver |
| Number: | 2 |
| Diameter: | 4' |
| Height: | 8" |
| Capacity Cubic Feet: | 100 |
| Pressure in Each: | 60-80 lbs |
| Make of Reducing Valve: | None |
| Remarks: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | In same bldg. |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Reinforced concrete |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms & bath |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | Pacific No. 103 H.W. tube boiler, 1400'; 14 radiators |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & 2 assts. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 2 hoist houses, boathouse & blacksmith shop |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Wooden walk from entrance main bldg to upper hoist house & in center of tramway to wharf. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | Practically none. |
| Area Cultivated: | Small area S of fog-signal bldg. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Small rocky island covered with humus |
| Stove, Maker: | Malleable Iron Range Co., Beaver Dam, WI |
| Stove, Size: | "Monarch" 6-hole, top 37" x 27", oven 21" wide |
| Sink, Maker: | Walworth Mfg. Co |
| Sink, Size: | 20" x 30" w/ back & R.H. end, 20" x 24" L.H. drain |
| Pump, Maker: | Milwaukee Pump Co., Farm Utilities Co., Portland, OR., agents |
| Pump, Size: | 2 double cylinder 12B shallow water, air power pumps. |
| Lamps: | 3 hand-lamps, Kerosene |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roof. Pumped from cisterns by automatic air power pumps, direct to service pipes, maintaining constant supply of running water. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable to be affected as roof can be flushed by running water onto ground before turning into cistern. |
| Purity Precaution: | Water passes thru brick filter wall to cistern used for domestic supply. |
| Tank Capacity: | Total cap. approx. 42,000 gal.; in basement |
| Tank Material: | Reinforced concrete with "Gunite" lining. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wooden landing platform on rocky beach approx. 40' above H.W., with boathouse 30' x 40" at E end & 80' boom steel derrick & 10' x 22' hoist house at W end. Rail trams, 38" gauge from wharf up to F.S. bldg with small hoist house on top. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 200' N |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Small hoist at upper end of rail tram. |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 71 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 5' 4" |
| Width: | 15' 19" |
| When Built: | Nov. 1925 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Nov. 1925 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 10 |
| Type: | Double end |
| Length: | 4' 8" |
| Width: | 16'` |
| When Built: | June, 1924 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | May, 1926 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #3 | |
| Boat Number: | 61 |
| Type: | Navy-Motor Sailer |
| Length: | 7' 6" |
| Width: | 24' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | May, 1926 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Frisbie |
| Horsepower: | 10 |
| Engine Maker: | Frisbie Motor Co. |
| Spare Coil: | Type K, double coil, Atwater Kent |
| Magnet: | No magneto |
| Battery: | "Hot-shot" 5-cell |
| Propeller Diameter: | 18" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 18" 3 blades |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Engine #1 | |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Double drum Twin City, Heavy duty w/ derrick |
| Engine RPMs: | 835 |
| Engine Diameter: | 4 1/4" |
| Engine Stroke: | 6" |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | Minneapolis Steel & Mach. Co., 1923-4 (Pro. 6189) |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 30 |
| Fuel: | Gasoline |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: | |
| Engine #2 | |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Sullivan Turbinair Hoist, Type "HA", Shop No. 502 |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 6.5 |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: | Drum = 9.5" x 9.5"; cap'y 500' of 5/16" wire rope. |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | In boathouse on landing platform |