Report for Guard Island Light Station (Alaska) - 1923
| General |
| District: | 16th |
| Inspector: | Various |
| Location: | At the northerly entrance to Tongass Narrows on the ost northerly island of group. |
| Date of Report: | 10/02/1923 |
| Latitude: | 55° 26' 42" |
| Longitude: | 131° 52' 51" |
| 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 Ketchikan 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: | Gray |
| 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 sill; bronze posts; cast iron soffit; wroght iron rafters & purlins. |
| 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: | 4 cast iron ventilators, 5" dia. with brass damper plate on inside |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Wooden portable step ladders |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtains hung on Hartshorn spring rollers in bronze brackets. |
| 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: | AGA 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 - AGA-A25 |
| Compressed Gas Capacity: | 88 Cu. ft. each |
| Compressed Gas Charge: | 150 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: | Acetylene dissolved in acetone under pressure |
| 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. Steel sash on 3 sides. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: | Has American Steam Gauge & Valve Co., Boston, Mass. |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Diaphone |
| Siren Diameter: | |
| Siren Built Date: | 1923 |
| Siren Manufacturer: | Diaphone Signal Co., Toronto, Canada |
| Siren Ports: | |
| Siren Revolutions: | |
| Siren Governor: | |
| Siren Condition: |
| Internal Combustion Signal |
| Fog Signal Kind: | |
| Internal Combustion Kind: | Mietz Kerosene Oil engines |
| Internal Combustion Manufacturer: | Charter Gas Engine Co.l, Sterling, IL (E engine No. 8935; W engine No. 8936) |
| Internal Combustion Date: | 1923 |
| Internal Combustion Size: | 7" x 8" |
| Internal Combustion Horsepower: | 8 HP |
| Internal Combustion Fuel: | Kerosene |
| Internal Combustion Starter: | Heating torch. |
| Compressor Maker: | PA Pump & Compressor Co., 1923 (E comp. # 706; W comp # 703) |
| Compressor Seat: | Separate with chain driven. |
| Compressor Machinery: | Ratio 1.5 to 1 |
| 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: | Resonator |
| Trumpet Length: | 3' vertical |
| Trumpet Diameter: | Mouth 10"; neck 3" |
| 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: | E dwelling white with red roof. W dwelling gray brick, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | East dwelling; lower story 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: | Niagara Stove Co.,; Monarch Range |
| Stove, Size: | 2' 2" x 2' 10"; 37" x 27" top No. 3826K |
| Sink, Maker: | Enameled; Crane Co. |
| Sink, Size: | 18" x 30"; 20" x 30" |
| Pump, Maker: | Gould Mfg. Co; Milwaukee Air Power Pump Co. |
| Pump, Size: | No. 2, 3"; Type 12B 2 cyl. |
| 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: | 2 -12,000 gals, 6' from N'ly end of bldgs |
| Tank Material: | Concrete |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | Hand & Compressed air. |
| Distance from Dwelling: | In E dwelling & in cistern of W dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing (inclined tramway); boat car - operated by gasoline engine boat house. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 300' NE'ly from tower. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 21 |
| Type: | Launch |
| Length: | 5' |
| Width: | 18' |
| When Built: | Oct. 20, 1910 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | May 6, 1919 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | No |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 13 |
| Type: | Dinghy |
| Length: | 4' 8" |
| Width: | 14' |
| When Built: | Not known |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Nov. 1905 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Scripps Motor |
| Horsepower: | 4:5 |
| Engine Maker: | Scripps Motor Co., Model A, No. 298 |
| Spare Coil: | |
| Magnet: | None |
| Battery: | Dry - 6 |
| Propeller Diameter: | 14" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 16" |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | 4 HP gasoline engine |
| Engine RPMs: | 350 |
| Engine Diameter: | 5" |
| Engine Stroke: | 8" |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | Fairbanks Morse No. 131,740 |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 4 |
| Fuel: | Gasoline |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | In boat house |