Report for Guard Island Light Station (Alaska) - 1932

General
District: 16th
Inspector: Various
Location: At the northerly entrance to Tongass Narrows on the ost northerly island of group.
Date of Report: 10/14/1932
Latitude: 55° 26' 47.5"
Longitude: 131° 52' 45.5"
Premises
Site: Public land reserved by Executive order.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 01/06/1901
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 9.5 acres
Area Inclosed: None.
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 65 feet
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: On the NE'ly extremity of island.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat or launch from Aetchinkan about 10.5 miles.
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: Reinforced concrete fog signal building sumounted by a square concrete tower.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: Sept. 15, 1904
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1922-24
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: 79 feet
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Approached from northward a dark back ground about 3 miles distant; generally against the sky.
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint.
Tower Connection: Detached.
Object of Navigation: Aid to vessels appoaching or leaving the northerly entrance to Tongass Narrows.
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.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 12" x 13"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 2 - 4 light windows 24" x 36"
Number of Doors: 1 outside door 2' x 5' to roof of bldg. 1 door lantern to parapet.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: The tower is on the highest point of the northerly island of group.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th order, Standard.
Shape of Lantern: Cylindrical
Diameter to Glass: 8' 4"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars: Helical
Thickness of Bars: 3/4"
Height Glazed: 3' 1.25"
Number of Plates in Height: 1 full diamond
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 2' 1.08" x 2' 1.08"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None.
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron sil; bronze posts; cast iron soffit; wroght iron rafters & purline.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron.
Lightning Spindle: 18" brass spindle with platinum tip.
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Galv. iron pipe rail around gallery; gallery floor reinforced concrete.
Lantern Doors: 1 door through parapet 26" x 33" galv. hinges & brass lock.
Floor of Lantern: Reinforced concrete.
Watchroom Doors: None.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None - accessible without ladder.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed on steel tower.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: None. Large fog signal room with approach to lantern & landing.
How is Relief Called: None.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles: 130 cp
Name of Maker: A.G.A. Co., Elizabeth, NJ
Year Made:
Marks and Number: Drum lens
Order of Apparatus:
Inside Diameter: 300 mm
Light Characteristic: Group flashing white. Double flash every 6 secs. thus lt. 0.5, dk. 1.0, lt. 0.5, dk. 4.0 sec.
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: 2" pipe with disc at top & bottom, screwed to concrete floor.
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: None.
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: None.
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: AG Flasher
Type of Illuminant: Acetylene gas.
Number of Spare Lamps: None
Number of Spare Burners: None
Candle Power: 24 cp, 230 through lens.


Compressed Gas
Gas Container: 4 - A25
Compressed Gas Capacity: 88 Cu. ft. each
Compressed Gas Charge: 220 lbs
How Supply Renewed: Substituting full container for empties.
At What Intervals: 6 months.
Spare Containers: 4


Gas Light
Gas Light Kind: Acetylene
Gas Light Number of Burners: 1
Kind of Burner: AGA Type
Candlepower Per Burner: 24
Total Candlepower:
Consumption Gas Burner Per Hour: 3/4 cube feet.
Total Consumption Per Hour: 3/4 foot
How Gas Obtained: From accumulator containing acetylene dissolved in


Occulting Light
Characteristic: Group flashing white. Double flash every 6 secs. thus 0.5 sec. flash, 1.0 sec. eclipse. 0.5 flash, 4.0 sec eclipse.
Time Limit: Unable to state.
Eclipse Type: Valve (Gaslight)
Size and Amplitude:
Axis Rotation:
Axis Relation:
Screen Revolution:
Screen Number:
Screen Time:
Screen Form:
Screen Mounting:
Screen Order:
Screen Date:
Valve Maker: American Gass Accumaulator Co.
Valve Pattern: Dahlen Patent, Flasher K-130
Reliability: Yes.
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None.
Oil House Description: 40' Easterly of tower
Oil House Inside Dimension: 9' x 15'
Oil House Construction Material: Wood frame & corrugated iron with concrete foundation.
Oil House Capacity: Oil stored in cylindrical tank, 48" x 9' long, capacity 846 gallons.
Other (Describe): Lockers in south end of fog signal building.
Suitability: Dry & suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Type "C" diaphone
Time to Start: 10 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 5 sec. blast, 25 sec. silent, 5 sec. blast, 25 sec. silent.
Duplication: Engine & compressor.
Timing Device: 17th District Blast Device.
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: 30 lbs.
Height Above Water: 68 feet.
Compass Direction: Vertical, mushrom top resonator.
Location:
Distance and Direction: All in 1 building.
Water Supply: Rain water from roof drained to concrete cisterns about 4 ft. SW of fig signal building, 3253 gals. No filter.
Reached from Lighthouse: In same building.
Description of Fog Signal Building: Reinforced concrete building 20' x 36' x 16' high with 8' 6" x 8' 6" tower 7' 9" high from roof to lantern floor. Double doors east side, single door north side.
Pressure And Recording Gauge: Has American Steam Gauge & Valve Co., Boston, Mass.
Internal Combustion Signal
Fog Signal Kind:
Internal Combustion Kind: Mietz Kerosene Oil engines
Internal Combustion Manufacturer: Charter Gas Engine Co.l, Sterling, IL
Internal Combustion Date: 1923
Internal Combustion Size: 7" x 8"
Internal Combustion Horsepower: 8 HP
Internal Combustion Fuel: Kiesel Oil
Internal Combustion Starter: On kerosene by heating torch.
Compressor Maker: Unknown
Compressor Seat: Separate with chain driven.
Compressor Machinery:
Compressor Diameter: 7"
Compressor Stroke: 5"
Compressor RPMs: 266 rpms
Character of Air Inlet: 3"
Kind of Unloader: Air control
Diameter of Delivery Pipe: 2"


Trumpet Signal
Trumpet: Daboil Resonator
Trumpet Length: 3' vertical
Trumpet Diameter: 10"
Trumpet Material: Steel


Air Receiver
Number: 2
Diameter: 4' 0"
Height: 8' 0'
Capacity Cubic Feet: 100
Pressure in Each:
Make of Reducing Valve: None
Remarks: Dia. of exhaust pipe 3", dia. discharge pipe 2", dia. of pipe between receivers, 2.5"
Dwelling
Location: 2 dwellings about 100 ft. N'ly from tower.
Coloring: Each dwelling white with red roof.
Construction Materials: East dwelling; basement concrete, balance froame. West dwelling; cement brick.
Number of Rooms: 6 each
Number of Dwellings: 2
Heating Plant: Boynton's water heater, NY in east dwelling. Am. Radiator Co. hot water heater in west dwelling.
Number of Keepers: 1 with family.
Furnished Quarters: All keepers
NOT Furnished Quarters: None.
Outhouses: 1 boat house, 1 car house both of frame, 1 oil house.
Outhouse Coloring: All white with red roofs.
Paths and Walks: Cenent walks from dwelling to all other buildings.
Area Inclosed: None
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: None.
Area Cultivated: NOne.
Character of Surroundings: Rocky
Stove, Maker: Monarch Range
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rainwater off roofs.
Quality: Fair.
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Well protected in cement cisterns well above high water.
Purity Precaution: Filtered through brick walls; East cistern painted inside with P&B paint.
Tank Capacity: East dwelling; cir cistern 12,000 gals, west dwelling 11,000 gals.
Tank Material: Concrete
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used: Compressed air.
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good.
Diseases: None.
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Landing (inclined tramway); motor operated by gasoline engine to boat house.
Distance and Direction: About 300 ft. SW'ly from tower.
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 37
Type: Launch
Length: 5' 11"
Width: 20' 1"
When Built: Unknown
Date Harbored at Station: Mar.21, 1928
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 3
Type: Skiff
Length: 51"
Width: 16'
When Built: 1924
Date Harbored at Station: May 23, 1924
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.
 
Boat #3
Boat Number: 5
Type: Double end
Length: 56"
Width: 16'
When Built: 1924
Date Harbored at Station: Sept. 1925
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.


Power Boat
Engine Type: Outboard
Horsepower: 10
Engine Maker: Prissie Motor Co.
Spare Coil:
Magnet:
Battery: Dry - 6
Propeller Diameter: 18"
Propeller Pitch: 18"


Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind: Gasoline
Engine RPMs: 350 rpm
Engine Diameter: 3"
Engine Stroke: 6"
Engine Boiler:
Engine Maker and Date:
Serial Number:
Cylinders and Size:
Horsepower:
Fuel:
Hoist Starter:
Hoist Miscellaneous: