Report for Roe Island (California) - 1907

General
District: 12th
Inspector: Morton L. Tower, Superintendent
Location: Suisun Bay, CA
Date of Report: 07/02/1907
Latitude: 38° 04' 00"
Longitude: 122° 01' 37"
Premises
Site: Purchased from Washington M. & Mary E. Ryer
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 07/19/1889
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 1.07 acres
Area Inclosed: None
Character of Soil: Fresh marsh
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 43' outside of high water
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Wharf. 40' front, 70 long
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: No road. station on near end of wharf
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat. California Navigation Co's boats stop on call or to land freight. No regular stop
Distance to Nearest Road: Road, RR station & boat landing 1 mile across Suisun Bay
Distance to Post Office: Bay Point: 1 mile across Suisun Bay
Distance to Village: Martinez 7 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: By boat from Bay Point on special stop of Cal. Nav. Co. steamers; or by rail
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Row boat from Bay Point or launch from Benecia or Martinez.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Frame tower on top of dwelling
Number of Separate Lights: None (3 beacon lights in Suisun Bay)
First Built or Established: 1891
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1905
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower: Square shaft
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: No separate tower
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 43' above high water
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Distant hills
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: On top of dwelling
Object of Navigation: Suisan Bay. local commerce
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 6"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 6"
Diameter at Base: 7'
Diameter at Parapet: 7'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood ladder
Number of Landings: None
Size of Glass: No windows
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: None
Number of Doors: None
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Frame bldg
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Fresh marsh land
Soil Susceptibility: Yes
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 5th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 5' 4"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 32"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 36" x 34.5"
Number of Storm Panes: 2; 36" x 32.5"
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings: Entire horizon lighted
Construction Material Lantern: Iron & glass & wood lining
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: None provided
Description of Lightning Rod: None provided
Balustrade: Wooden railing
Lantern Doors: 1 hinged small wooden door below lantern.
Floor of Lantern: Wood
Watchroom Doors: Hinged latch
Parapet Diameter: Square 11' 6"
Ventilators
Location / Number: Parapet wall - 4
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screw hooks


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: 19' 8" x 9' 8" below lantern
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Heap - Funck
Year Made: 1891
Marks and Number: None
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter: 14"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution: Fixed
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: 4
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 7
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 5
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 4" dia. 3' 2" high to base
Service Table: Steel 15" dia.
Draft Tube Description: None
Revolving Machinery: Fixed
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: White
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Standing tubular lamp
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: 2
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 3/16"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: Frame house on outer portion of wharf. 8' x 10' fitted with wooden shelves.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Small storeroom in quarters
Suitability: Dry
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Fog bell
Time to Start: Instantaneous
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: Stevens striking apparatus
Year of Manufacture: Not known
Characteristic: Blow every 10 sec.
Duplication: None
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:
Bell Signal
Weight: 800 lbs
Metal: Iron
Diameter: 39"
Height: 47"
Time: 2 hours & 20 min
Manufacturer:
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: Under light
Coloring: White, lead colored trimmings, red roof
Construction Materials: Frame
Number of Rooms: 3
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 1 assistant keeper in same bldg
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Toilet on outer end of wharf. Covered tank beside quarters
Outhouse Coloring: White
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: No enclosures
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: 2 Eucalyptus trees
Cultivation Area Available: 1/2 of total area = 1/2 acre
Area Cultivated: Land around station under water during higher tide
Character of Surroundings: Fresh marsh. Islands at entrance to Bay of Sacramento River.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Storage of rain water. Water for use in toilet & for washing down station is obtained from bay. Pumped to small tank by windmill on wharf.
Quality: Fair
Quantity: Ample for 2 men now on station. Not for a family.
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Lime is used in tanks occasionally
Tank Capacity: 10,000 gal 8' from W'ly side of house.
Tank Material: Redwood supported on pile foundation covered by wooden shed
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: No well
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: Marshland surrounding station is not unhealthy
Recommended Improvements: If land surrounding station were diked, it would render it tillable & add to comfort of station.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Stairway & platform for use of launch & small boat are provided. Wharf is wooden pile structure 13' above low water. Davits for hoisting a sail boat are provided at one end.
Distance and Direction: 70' S of dwelling to face of wharf.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Station in general is in good order. Quarters provided are inadequate & should be enlarged. Station was designed for 1 Keeper & asst has been added with care of 3 beacons at considerable distance from station. A shed to protect the boats is needed.
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 1
Type: Launch
Length:
Width: 23'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work:
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 2
Type: Sail boat
Length:
Width: 18'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: True
Suited to Work:


Power Boat
Engine Type: Gasoline
Horsepower: 5
Engine Maker: Onion
Spare Coil:
Magnet:
Battery:
Propeller Diameter:
Propeller Pitch: