Report for Fort Point Light Station (California) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | Jas. Rankin, Keeper |
| Location: | |
| Date of Report: | 07/02/1907 |
| Latitude: | N 37° 48' 32" |
| Longitude: | W 122° 28' 39" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Presidio of San Francisco, Military |
| 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: | 130' from seawall |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Light tower on Fort, inclosures for dwellings 11,000 sq. ft. Inclosure for rain shed, 6,000 sq. ft. Tower is on Fort. Signal is on NW bastion of Fort. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Distance from tower to landing on beach about 1200 yds by military road. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By Military road to San Francisco. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Military road passes dwellings. Street cars 2.5 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1.5 miles Presidio P.O. |
| Distance to Village: | 2 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Street cars, 2.5 miles from station. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Good road leads direct from San Francisco thru Presidio to light station. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Iron tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | March 21, 1855 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 2 new dwellings built 1884 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | 9 sides, built over brick stair tower. Iron trestle 12' high - watchroom 8'. lantern 8' |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 28' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 84' 4" above plane of mean low water. |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Base hills. Fortification within 3 miles. Sky. Outside background may be San Francisco |
| Color of Tower: | White, lantern black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Range with Alcatraz light for entrance. |
| Building Materials: | Iron |
| General Description: | 9 sides base ring 2" x 14" bolted to circular brick stairway. 46' 6" high. In ring is an iron trestle 12' high covered by watchroom, frame same as trestle sheathed with 3/16 sheet iron & lined with wood. Whole surmounted by lantern. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | 13' 4" center of stanchions inscribed |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Watchroom floor 9' 2" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron, circular |
| Number of Landings: | 1 flight to watchroom. Iron ladder to lantern. |
| Size of Glass: | Top 2' 5"; bottom 1' 1"; height 2' 2" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 |
| Number of Doors: | Trap door from stairs thru watchroom floor. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Rock |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rock & yellow fire clay. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | Body of lantern circular, glazed part 9 sides. |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 11.5" x 2' 3.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 9 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper sheathing on bronze frame. 2 sheathings - outside renewed 1904, inside 1898. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper, diameter 21" |
| Lightning Spindle: | 24" |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | No conductor |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron door to gallery hinged with wedge shaped latch. trap door to watchroom hinged. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Lantern, iron. Dia. 6' 6" |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door hinged |
| Parapet Diameter: | Iron gallery outside lantern, diameter 12' 10" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Plain hooks |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Table with 2 small drawers at back surmounted with wooden clock stand, 1 small trimming table & 5-gal. oil carrier stand combined. Floor, iron. Sides & floor covered with wood. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | No name |
| Year Made: | No date |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 20" |
| Light Characteristic: | Alternate red & white, panels 6 |
| Time of Revolution: | 30 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec between center of flashes |
| Duration of Flash: | About 1.5 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Light bounded by sea about 280 degrees backed by land 80 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 4 |
| 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 revolves. There are 3 red panels & 3 white which are attached in front of lens & revolves with them. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | None. Enclosed clockwork case revolving table supported on 4 stanchions in base ring. (See plate 16, Instructions to Keepers, 1902) |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Iron. Diameter 4" fitted with 4 buttons into base of ventilator ball. 12" disc fitted into opening to ventilator is perforated in several places. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork (See plate 16, Instructions to Keepers, 1902) |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 20' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case |
| Regulated: | Clockwork is regulated by adjusting fans. Flashes are produced by whole apparatus revolving. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Red flashes by red glass outside alternate panels of lens. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To lens |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Outside |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order (Plate 7 Instructions to Keepers 1902). There is no stand, lamps go direct on ring over elevating screw. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 lamps in all. 1 spare |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Led 2 angles 90 degrees to bring it to weight tube on side of watchroom. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Flat, balls run between 2 steel disks Plate 15 Instructions to Keepers 1902 |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 21 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 3/8" |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 1 of magazines in fort is used to keep oil for light. Oil for engine is kept in Fort under cover. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | None |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Duplicate Hornsby-Akroyd oil engine, 5 hp 2nd class Daboll trumpet operated by compressed air. |
| Time to Start: | 20 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | De La Vergne Refrigerating Machine Co., NY |
| Year of Manufacture: | Placed in position 1904. |
| Characteristic: | 2 sec blast every 13 sec. |
| Duplication: | All except reed box & trumpet. Spare reed box at station. |
| Timing Device: | Crosby automatic, duplicate plate 32 instructions |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Trumpet, 8 to 9 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | 68' 6' mean low water |
| Compass Direction: | WNW |
| Location: | Most narrow part of Golden Gate. |
| Distance and Direction: | 85' W'ly N |
| Water Supply: | Redwood tank |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Path |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Built on gun emplacement, consisting of circular brick wall 4' high & 18' dia. Made of concrete provided with walls 8" thick, roof is 8" thick at sides & 12" thick in center. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 3000 lbs |
| Metal: | Bronze |
| Diameter: | 4' 4" |
| Height: | 3' 6" |
| Time: | 2.5 hours |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | |
| Kind: | Hornsby-Akroyd oil |
| Manufacturer: | De La Vergne Refrigerating Mach. |
| Date Made: | |
| Nominal Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 5 |
| Compressor: | |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Same bed, geared. |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | 2nd class |
| Daboll Reed: | |
| Daboll Length: | 8.5" |
| Daboll Breadth: | 2 1/4" |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | 7/16" |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: | 1/4" reinforced by piece at base, 3" lg 1/2" thick |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 4' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | 3" - 10" - 13" |
| Trumpet Material: | Galv. iron fitted with 4 dowels |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 200' S of tower |
| Coloring: | White, lead color trimmings, roof, venetian red. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper, 1 dwelling, 2 assts in the other |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete |
| Area Inclosed: | Around dwellings 11, 000 sq. ft. Rain shed, 6,000 sq. ft. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Hills, salt water swamp 1200 yds to seaward of station. ESE |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain shed, any surplus required from Military main. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Tanks are cleaned out, 1 at a time, in fall of each year. |
| Tank Capacity: | 2, 25,000 gal on hill S of dwellings. Base of upper tank 30' above floor of dwelling. Base of lower 15' above floor. |
| Tank Material: | Redwood, gal rod 3/4" hoops; brick foundation on yellow fire clay. Bottom of upper tank is abt 2.5' higher than top of lower tank. bottom tank is abt 3' above floor of 2nd story. Tanks 12' high, connected with dwellings by pipe. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Road from Presidio to Fort good. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Fort est. 3/21/1855; tower abt 120' N by W of where it now stands. Placed in present location 1858 or 1859. Finished dwellings 6/1884; Stevens Bell (new) 7/1889; Water tanks (lower - 1/1895, upper - 6/1896); Rainshed built 7/1895; Tramway & walks, 1897 |