Report for Cape Arago (Oregon) - 1910

General
District: 13th
Inspector: Major Jay J. Morrow, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.
Location: Located on S'rly part of island about 2-1/2 miles N'rly from Cape Arago seacoast of Oregon & S'rly side of entrance to Coos Bay.
Date of Report: 06/04/1910
Latitude: 43° 20' 27"
Longitude: 124° 22' 26"
Premises
Site: Public Land
Date of Reservation: 06/16/1876
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 37.18 acres
Area Inclosed: About 29 acres
Character of Soil: Black loam, mixed w shells
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 120'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Garden & pasture, also fence around dwellings & light & fog signal building.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Landing at the station in ordinary weather.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Beach landing about 350' fr twr. Lghthse road connects w ferry at South Slough, 3 miles. Boathse at S.Slough, frame, blt on piles 12' x26', fair cond.
Means to Reach Light Station: By stage from Empire in summer months or by private conveyance from Empire at any time.
Distance to Nearest Road: 3 miles to ferry at South Slough; 7-1/2 miles to Empire.
Distance to Post Office: Sunset P.O. at station.
Distance to Village: 7-1/2 miles to Empire.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: Stage from Empire during the summer months only.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By private conveyance from Empire at anytime; 7-1/2 miles.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower.
Number of Separate Lights: One.
First Built or Established: 1866
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1909
Condition at This Date: Good.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Lower half: square; upper half: octagonal.
Form of Tower: Pyramidal.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 42' 9-1/2"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 86'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Dark timber from northward; distant hills from southward.
Color of Tower: White.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint.
Tower Connection: Detached, connected with fog-signal building.
Object of Navigation: Seacoast & harbor.
Building Materials: Wood, concrete foundation.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 10"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 9"
Diameter at Base: 7' 10-1/2" square inside
Diameter at Parapet: 7' 10-1/2" Octoagonal inside
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden, circular, around central column.
Number of Landings: 3
Size of Glass: 18' x 22"; 18" x 20"; 16" x 20"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 1: 41" x 27"; 1: 40" x 25"; 1: 20" x 46"; 2: 20" x 25"
Number of Doors: 3
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Concrete, 4' to sandstone
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy loam mixed w shells.
Soil Susceptibility: Grass, shrubbery or trees.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Add'l deed 9/11/1854. Tower connected w fog-signal building at the rear; the outside walls covered w shingles. Surface of site slightly rising from south to north.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal.
Diameter to Glass: 7' 3/4"
Diameter in the Clear: 7' 3-1/2"
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical.
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 2' 11-15/16"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 1
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 7 panes: 2' 10-1/16" x 2' 11-15/16"; 1 pane: 2' 5-5/16" x 2' 10-5/16"
Number of Storm Panes: 3
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast & wrought iron, steel, brass, zinc & glass.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron, lined inside w sheet zinc.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron, perforated on under side.
Lightning Spindle: Brass w platinum tip.
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Both of wood. Gallery floor is covered w sheet copper & is reached by lantern door.
Lantern Doors: Lantern door upper panel glass, lower panel of sheet steel; frame cast iron, fitted w rubber strips.
Floor of Lantern: Wood.
Watchroom Doors: Wooden door 2' 2" x 6' 6" on 2nd landing fitted w butts & lock.
Parapet Diameter: Octagonal, 6' 7-1/4" diameter.
Ventilators
Location / Number: In lantern parapet.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: Wooden step ladder.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Spring roller shades.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: No watchroom; engine room takes its place. At ground floor in tower a locker, 3 drawers & shelves are provided for storage of lamps, outfit, cleaning material, etc.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 2 1/4 hrs usng 1 layr; 5 hrs usng 2 layr on barrel
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Barbier, Benard & Turenne
Year Made: 1908
Marks and Number: U.S.L.H.E. 430
Order of Apparatus: 4th order
Inside Diameter: 19 3/4"
Light Characteristic: 3 white flashes at intervals of 4 seconds, followed by dark interval of 12 seconds.
Time of Revolution: 20 seconds.
Flash Interval: 4 seconds.
Duration of Flash: Instantaneous.
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 5 (3 flashing panels, 2 reflecting)
Number of Flash Panels: 3
Arc of Each: 72 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 3
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 4
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced: Whole apparatus is mounted on standard 4th order ball bearings & connected to clockwork in pedestal.
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Standard 4th order four column pedestal.
Service Table: None. There is a shelf fitted to lantern parapet.
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery: Standard 4th order clock in center of pedestal.
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Revolving on balls.
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube:
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 2 1/4 hrs usng 1 layr; 5 hrs usng 2 layr on barrel
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: By glass case.
Regulated: By air resistance governor w adjustable vanes.
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Standard 4th order - incandescent oil vapor.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 extra vapor lamp; 2 - 4th order rotating burner mineral oil.
Number of Spare Burners: None apart from lamps.
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord:
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord:
How Led: Through center of pedestal down shaft of stairway
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:


Chariot Balls
Balls Description: Standard 4th order ball bearing with V grooves.
Cage to Separate Balls: False
Number of Balls: 19
Diameter of Balls: 1/2"


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 mantle
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 1/4"
Diameter of Mantel: 34mm
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: 50' S of fog-signal building; no fittings in oil house.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 8'0" x 7'3"
Oil House Construction Material: Frame covered w corrugated iron.
Oil House Capacity: 3,240 gallons
Other (Describe): Closets in vestibule fog-signal building fitted w shelves & hooks. No store room.
Suitability: Dry & suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: First-class new style 6" automatic siren.
Time to Start: 10 minutes.
How Long Will Pressure Last: No storage.
Manufacturer: At Thompkinsville
Year of Manufacture: 1909
Characteristic: Blast: 5 sec; Silent: 12 sec; Blast: 3 sec; Silent: 40 sec.
Duplication: All parts.
Timing Device: Governed by speed of engines.
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water: 73'
Compass Direction: Nearly North
Location: In same structure as lighthouse. Marks reefs off entrance & entrance to Coos Bay..
Distance and Direction: Attached to lighthouse.
Water Supply: Rainwater from roof.
Reached from Lighthouse: In same building.
Description of Fog Signal Building: Frame one-story building at base of tower w engine room, workroom & vestibule tower rising fr S'ly face. Foundation concrete, walls & roof shingled.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Siren Signal
Siren: Cylindrical
Siren Diameter: 6"
Siren Built Date: 1909
Siren Manufacturer: 3rd District
Siren Ports: 20: 3/32" x 2-3/4"
Siren Revolutions: Unknown
Siren Governor: Sliding friction
Siren Condition: Good.


Compressed Air
Compressed Air Machinery:
Kind: Internal combustion oil engine
Manufacturer: Mietz & Weiss
Date Made: 1908
Nominal Size: 10" x 12"
Horsepower: 18 HP
Compressor: Light service, double acting.
Compressor Manufacturer: Leyner
Compressor Bed and Gear: On same bed w Renold silent chain drive.


Trumpet Signal
Trumpet:
Trumpet Length: Vertical: 5' 7-1/2"
Trumpet Diameter: 6-1/2", 27"
Trumpet Material: Copper
Dwelling
Location: 200' E'trly of tower
Coloring: White w brown roof.
Construction Materials: Brick foundation, frame building w shingle roof.
Number of Rooms: 6 rooms, woodshed, pantry, halls, closets, cellar & attic.
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Two privies & 1 barn
Outhouse Coloring: White w brown roof.
Paths and Walks: Plank walks around the dwelling.
Area Inclosed: Yard around dwelling inclosed by fence.
Area of Garden: About 1/4 A
Area Timber or Shrubbery: About 15 A in shrubbery.
Cultivation Area Available: About 10 A for cultivation & about 15 A for pasture.
Area Cultivated: About 1/4 A cultivated & about 10 A slashed & clrd
Character of Surroundings: Located on island w wooded mainland to S. Soil consists of sandy loam mixed w shells.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rainwater collected from roofs.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample.
Injury Possible: Not liable to be injured.
Purity Precaution: Water for dwelling is collected in cisterns & filtered through wall of soft bricks.
Tank Capacity: 1: 6' cistern W of dwelling--12,900 gal; 3 small connected cisterns E of dwelling--12,000 gal; Tank W side fog-signal bldg--7,000 gal.
Tank Material: Cistern of brick cemeted; tank of redwood on concrete foundation.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket: By pump in kitchen.
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthy station.
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Row boats can land in ordnry weathr. Co. road leading fr Empire to S. Slough. Ferry across the Slough--road to headland oppos. lighthouse; foot bridge fr headland-Islnd 360' long; lghthse road fr S. Slough to lghthse needs improving.
Distance and Direction: Beach landing S of lghthse foot of bluff; wooden steps leading up to site. Dist fr Ferry landing to lghthse 3M; fr. Footbridge to lghthse 350'.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Oilhouse/paint room 9'x16', framesides & roof galvnzd corr. iron. Frame brn 20'x 30' woodn post fnda. Loc. on mainland, 600' fr dwlng (wh w brn roof). 50' W beach steps old life sav. sta; 2 sm 1-story bldgs-mnlnd/islnd-frmrly aerial rope tramway machinery
Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind:
Engine RPMs:
Engine Diameter:
Engine Stroke:
Engine Boiler:
Engine Maker and Date:
Serial Number:
Cylinders and Size:
Horsepower:
Fuel:
Hoist Starter:
Hoist Miscellaneous: