Report for Elba Island Range Front Beacon (Georgia) - 1889

General
District: 6th
Inspector: B.B. Smith, Asst. Engineer
Location: On E end of Elba Island, Savannah River, GA.
Date of Report: 12/03/1889
Latitude: 32° 04' 23"
Longitude: 80° 58' 28"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 1 acre
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Mud
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 100'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Boat landing
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Plank walk 120' long.
Means to Reach Light Station: By RR or steamboat to Savannah, GA., thence by hired boat.
Distance to Nearest Road: 7.5 miles to wharf at Savannah, GA.
Distance to Post Office: 7.5 miles to Savannah, GA.
Distance to Village: 7.5 miles to Savannah, GA.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None after reaching Savannah
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Boats can be hired at Savannah, GA.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Triangular iron skeleton structure.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1884
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Triangular
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 34'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 36'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Sky
Color of Tower: Brown
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: 1 of a system of ranges for entering Savannah River & also a leading light for crossing river.
Building Materials: Iron
General Description: Beacon is skeleton iron structure of 3 series. Each series consists of 3 posts, w/ corresponding struts & tension rods. Lowest posts rest on disks supported by & bolted to foundation. Disks are 13' apart from center to center.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base: 13' from center to center of disks.
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron ladder
Number of Landings: None
Size of Glass: None
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: None
Number of Doors: None
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Foundation consists of 3 piles 20' long upon which are fastened cap timbers so that top surfaces are 6" below standing water. 3 brick piers rise from top of caps. Anchor plates are under caps & anchor bolts pass thru piers to disks.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Mud
Soil Susceptibility: Not shifting & does not require protection. Overflowed by storm tides & sometimes by high springs.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Site not susceptible of cultivation without dikes to keep out salt water.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Locomotive headlight lantern & reflector.
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 23" reflectors
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed:
Number of Plates in Height:
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates:
Size of Plates:
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Glass & iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: None
Ventilator / Cowl: None
Lightning Spindle: None
Description of Lightning Rod: None
Balustrade:
Lantern Doors:
Floor of Lantern:
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Upper part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement:
Curtain Hooks / Hanger:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 23" Reflector in locomotive headlight lantern.
Inside Diameter: 23"
Light Characteristic: Fixed
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Range lights. Can be seen from W to NW.
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:
Service Table:
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. Produced by ruby chimney.
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Locomotive headlight lamp with 1 wick.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: 2
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: Oil house is at Rear Beacon.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location: 50' in rear of tower
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Frame bldg
Number of Rooms: 4
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 1 wooden storehouse
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: Plank walks connecting dwellings with outhouse, tower & boat landings.
Area Inclosed: None
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Low marsh covered at high tides.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: By cistern
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Not liable
Purity Precaution: None
Tank Capacity: 2400 gal
Tank Material: Bricks, laid in cement
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Danger from malarial fevers which are rife.
Diseases: Malarial fevers
Prevalency: In summer & autumn
Local Causes: All around.
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: No boat house. Boat landing is on bank of Savannah River & is connected with beacon by a plank walk 2' above ground.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: In good order.