Report for Carquinez Strait Light Station (California) - 1910

General
District: 12th
Inspector: Chas. Sperry
Location: 9/16 mile S 73 degrees 30' E true (E 1/8 N mag) from Mare Island light.
Date of Report: 06/29/1910
Latitude: 38° 04' 09"
Longitude: 122° 14' 35"
Premises
Site: Public water at confluence of Carquinez & Mare Island straits
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 1450' off shore
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Wharf at end of Navy Dept. dike.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: No road
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat & walking along beach from S Vallejo
Distance to Nearest Road: 3/4 mile to road; 1mile to RR station & landing.
Distance to Post Office: 3 miles to Vallejo
Distance to Village: 1 mile to S Vallejo
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Launch from Vallejo, 3 miles
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower on dwelling
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: Est. January 15, 1910
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Excellent
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower: Rectangular
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 47' 9"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 55' 7"
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: Cream color with white trimmings
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Attached to keepers dwelling
Object of Navigation: For local navigation of bay & channels thru Carquinez & Mare Island straits
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 9"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 9"
Diameter at Base: 14' sq.
Diameter at Parapet: 14' sq.
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden
Number of Landings: Landings on 2nd & 3rd floors.
Size of Glass: 1st floor: 10" x 16"; 2nd & 3rd floors: 10" x 15"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 4 - 2' 9 5/8" x 5' 5" x 1 3/4" - 12 lights; 2 - 2' 9 5/8" x 5' 9" x 1 3/4" - 12 lights.
Number of Doors: 3 outside; 5 inside
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Piles 100 to 100' long.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Cylindrical
Diameter to Glass: 7' 7.42"
Diameter in the Clear: 7' 1 9/16"
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars: Helical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 2' 10 3/4"
Number of Plates in Height: 1, with 2 half plates alternately
Number of Plates Each Side: 6 large, 16 half & 1 for door
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: Door: 2' 10 3/16" x 2' 6 3/4"; large: 2' 1.08" x 2' 1.08"; half: 2' 1.08" x 2' 1.08" x 2' 10 3/4"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron, bronze & glass
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Conical, cast iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron 17" dia.
Lightning Spindle: Brass, 18.5" long with platinum point.
Description of Lightning Rod: None
Balustrade: On top of tower
Lantern Doors: Iron door, brass hinges & handles, rubber weather strips, fastened by sliding bolts top & bottom.
Floor of Lantern: Iron
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter: 7' 1 9/16"
Ventilators
Location / Number: In parapet with 4 adjustable brass covers.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Curtains on Hartshorns rollers.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Flat top desk having drawers; 1 chair.
How is Relief Called: Bells operated by 2 cells of Samson batteries
Where is Call System Led: From fog signal to 3 Keeper's quarters.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Henry LePaute, Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number: USLHE 425
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 19 3/4"
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 360 degrees
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels: None
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
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: Cast iron base, 4 brass posts, cast iron top & brass intermediate stand.
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: 2" copper tube from top of lens to rear spider holding ventilator ball.
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: Ruby chimney
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: "Heap" 1 wick
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: 1.5"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 with adjustable shelves; door with brass locks; used for lantern supplies.
Oil House Description: 12' from fog signal house
Oil House Inside Dimension: 5' x 8'
Oil House Construction Material: Iron, concrete floor
Oil House Capacity: 64 5-gal cans.
Other (Describe): Closet in fog signal room fitted with shelves for tools, storeroom on 1st floor of tower.
Suitability: Dry & suitable for purposes intended.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 1st class 6" siren operated by compressed air & timed by Crosby automatic device
Time to Start: 10 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last: 2 minutes
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 3 sec blast every 27 sec.
Duplication: All parts
Timing Device: Crosby automatic
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: Siren, 35 lbs
Height Above Water: 36'
Compass Direction: SW 1/2 W
Location: On E'ly side of entrance to Mare Island Strait & N side of Carquinez strait.
Distance and Direction: Adjoins lighthouse on SW'ly side.
Water Supply: From pipeline supplying dwelling
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building: 1 story wooden structure. 24' x 30' 8" with concrete floor supported by iron beams. Room is provided with workbench & locker with shelves for tools & supplies.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Siren Signal
Siren: Cylindrical
Siren Diameter: 6"
Siren Built Date:
Siren Manufacturer:
Siren Ports: 20 - 1/12" x 2 3/4"
Siren Revolutions:
Siren Governor:
Siren Condition:


Compressed Air
Compressed Air Machinery:
Kind: Vertical gasoline
Manufacturer: Union Gas Engine Co.,
Date Made: 1909
Nominal Size:
Horsepower: 20
Compressor: Horizontal 10" x 10"
Compressor Manufacturer: Dow Pump & Engine Co.
Compressor Bed and Gear: Separate foundation & driven by belt.
Dwelling
Location: Dwelling for 3 keepers adjoins lighthouse tower
Coloring: Painted cream color with white trimmings & brown roof
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: Each keeper has 5 rooms & bath
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 3
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Illuminating oil & gasoline storehouses & boathouse
Outhouse Coloring: Both storehouses painted lead color; Boathouse painted cream color with white trimmings.
Paths and Walks: Boardwalk from station to shore.
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: 4600' 2" pipe from Vallejo City water system
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Possibility of pipeline being broken by vessels' anchors.
Purity Precaution: No rain water saved
Tank Capacity: 5840 gal tank on tower
Tank Material: Redwood
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Excellent
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Wharf 20 x 38', 3" deck, 4" x 14" joists, 12" x 12" caps, 12 bearing & 8 fender piles, at outer end of dike. Boathouse 8' 4" x 20' 6" on wharf over a boat hoist bay 6' 6" x 17' & provided with a wooden wheel & shaft boathoist.
Distance and Direction: 350', on porch, approach & walk on dike, from light tower to wharf & boathouse.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Walk, 10' wide on top of dike connects wharf & approach to station.