Report for Deep Water Shoal (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commodore Dornin, LH Inspector 5th District
Location: James River
Date of Report: 08/15/1870
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: Screwpile
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:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps:
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: There is a marine clock in good condition.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There was no ladder
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is no curtain hanger.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There was 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: 6th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
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:
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 2 spare burners and 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): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. There is also a closet provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Fog bell worked by machinery
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic:
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: The dwelling was in confusion, and not very clean
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 4' 6"
Width: 15'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Sails were in good condition, they have 2 oars.


Miscellaneous
General Information: Boat required no repairs.
Boats on Station:
Condition
Lantern: In good condition in all respects.
Illuminating Apparatus: Lens were in good condition in all its parts; and very clean.
Service Lamp: In good condition, and very clean. Glass chimney was free from soot, smoke or stains.
Oil: Sample examined and found to be free from all objectionable matter. It has not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: In good condition; free from gummy or burnt oil. Wicks were well trimmed.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Found to be level. Lampist gave instruction how to center it; to party acting in Keeper's place.
Plate Glass: In good condition, very clean, free from scratches, stains or dirt.
Lens Cover: It was on: made of linen ticking hung up in lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets; very clean made of linen ticking; put up & taken down at proper time.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There is one rod lamp and in good condition.
Dwelling: Very good
Stairway and Landing: Painted: very clean and in good condition.
Inside of Tower: In very good condition.
Glazing of Dwelling: The glazing was in good condition
Improvements Needed: There were none required
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: The lens is never touched improperly
Lantern and Trap Doors: These doors fit tightly
Watch or Trimming Room: None of the articles [greasy rags, towels, dirty floor cloths, soiled wearing apparel etc.] were to be seen at the time of inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: None of these things were seen in the room mentioned.
Heater: Keeper knows how to use the heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of the ventilator, and how to air the bldg.
Dome: Painted according to instructions & in good order, the lightning conductor was in good condition.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition, very clean; ventilated by 3 windows.
Oil Carriers: In good order and arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: 1, holding 10 gallons
Number of Dripping Buckets: 3
Number of Oil Tanks: 3 holding 110 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are made according to the directions of the Lighthouse Board, with air tight covers and air cocks.
Oil Butt Covers: The gutters were filled with refuse oil & covers on. Keeper understands the use of the covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping bucket hung to the draw-off cock of each oil butt & oil tank.
Oil Butt Platform: They were placed upon a raised platform of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There were no empty oil butts.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up and packed
Paints Separate: They are kept separate
Tool Chest: There was none
Tool Condition: There are a few tools
Tools Free from Rust: They were clean and properly greased.
Closets Clean: They are well cared for in all respects.
Service Box In Good Order: They are in good condition and well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They were very clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They were in good order, and in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He is neat and tidy in his dress and cleanly in his person.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He does manifest interest
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows good capacity and to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper seems to understand the rules and directions, and to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints: He made none
Keeper Family:
Keeper Name: R. D. Mitchell
Keeper Age: Middle Age
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was absent to procure his furniture, bedding, etc.
Number of Assistants: 1 assistant allowed at this station
Assistants Attend to Duty: He attends regularly to his duties.
Assistants Capability: He appears to be capable.
Assistants Complaints: He made none
Assistants Family: Not yet
Assistant Keeper Names: There were none appointed. There was a party there attending to the light during the absence of the Keeper.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: A party acting in the capacity of assistant accompanied me throughout the inspection. The appointment having lately been made, the Principal was absent.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted:
Quarterly Returns on Hand:
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept:
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: There were instructions given to that effect.
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water:
Placards Easily Visible: They were
Books Easily Accessible: They were
Blank Books and Forms: