Report for Ballast Point (California) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | David R. Splaine, Keeper |
| Location: | Northeastern extremity of Ballast Point, westerly side of entrance to San Diego Bay, California. |
| Date of Report: | 07/02/1907 |
| Latitude: | 32° 41' 04" |
| Longitude: | 117° 14' 04" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Military reservation |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | 05/16/1889 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | .59 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 7,000 sq. ft |
| Character of Soil: | Sand & stones |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 50' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Reserve boundary 280'. Dwelling inclosure 430' of picket fence |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 450' No road - a path |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Boat or wagon |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | San Diego, 5.5 miles by water. 11 miles by land. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 4 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 4 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Army launch |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Launch or wagon 5.5 & 11 miles respectively |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | August 1, 1890 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Bath & toilet May 30, 1907 |
| Condition at This Date: | Fair |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Octagon |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 35' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 34' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Rolling plateau 300' high |
| Color of Tower: | White, lantern black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Rises from SE corner of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor, general & local navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 14" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 14" |
| Diameter at Base: | 9' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' x 9' square |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Winding, square |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 34.5" x 36" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8 |
| Number of Doors: | 2 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Cement, gravel, sand & brick, 4' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Stones & sand |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 5th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Octagon |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 4.5" inside |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35.5" x 34" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" large |
| Size of Plates: | Storm plates - 33.5" x 35"; Full plates 34.5" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | All glazed |
| What Bearings: | N 3/8 W |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron, brass & wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | 18" dia |
| Lightning Spindle: | 18" length |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | 13' x 13' square railing |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron doors fitted with brass catch & hinges |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wooden trap door |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" x 6' 6" octagon |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into wall |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Sauuter, Lemonnier & Cie, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1886 |
| Marks and Number: | Sautter, Lemonnier & Cie, Paris, No. 336 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Wood |
| 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: | Hains lamp, 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 0 |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 no fittings used for spare lamp & oil measures & top of closet for oil. Butt to stand on & service table for trimming lamps on. |
| Oil House Description: | Concrete oil house 100' NW from lighthouse tower; fitted with shelves for storing oil. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell struck by clockwork |
| Time to Start: | 5 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Made in Boston by Geo. W. Stevens |
| Year of Manufacture: | No date |
| Characteristic: | Bell strikes every 10 sec. |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | To warn vessels against Point & to guide them into harbor. |
| Distance and Direction: | E 200' |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | 4 cement piers & 4 9" x 9" x 13' timbers well braced with iron rods & bolts, forming a tower for bell. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | |
| Metal: | Bronze |
| Diameter: | 4' 6" |
| Height: | 3' |
| Time: | 1 hour |
| Manufacturer: | Made in Boston by Geo. W. Stevens |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower connected to SE corner of dwelling |
| Coloring: | White, lead color trimmings |
| Construction Materials: | Wood, brick chimneys, brick & cement foundation. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Coal shed & oil house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Planks, about 300' |
| Area Inclosed: | .59 acres |
| Area of Garden: | 10' x 40' |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Fast ground, hills, hollows, canyons & rocks. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Piped from Fort Rosecrans |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Yes |
| Purity Precaution: | Using Spanish whitening when necessary |
| Tank Capacity: | 9,000 gals. Placed at SW corner of dwelling. |
| Tank Material: | Wood |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 1,750' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wharf 450' WNW |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf 450' WNW |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | If soil was hauled onto premises in order to grow flowers, vegetables etc., they would be greatly improved. |