Report for Mile Rocks (California) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | Gottfired T. Olson, Keeper |
| Location: | Situated at S entrance of San Francisco Harbor. |
| Date of Report: | 07/02/1907 |
| Latitude: | N 37° 47' 28" |
| Longitude: | W 122° 30' 38" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Rock projecting out of water size of caisson or foundation of tower. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 25' x 86' |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Base of Caisson at high water mark |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing effected thru hoisting derrick on E side or 40' boom extending over water on W side of structure. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 5 miles by water to nearest RR & Steam-boat landings |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 6 miles |
| Distance to Village: | About 5 miles to San Francisco |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Launches for hire on San Francisco water front |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | Feb,15, 1906 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Operating efficiency good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Cylindrical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 88' 9" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 84' 3" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Hills |
| Color of Tower: | Base for 35' black, balance of tower, white. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | "Biturium" solution for base. Paint for white. |
| Tower Connection: | 2 small bedrooms & kitchen contained in tower. |
| Object of Navigation: | Marking location of Mile Rocks & entrance of harbor. |
| Building Materials: | Structural steel & concrete |
| General Description: | Caisson or foundation |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Foundation solid concrete covered with 3/8" steel plates |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Covered with 3/8" steel plates |
| Diameter at Base: | Oval base |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Circular 13' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | 1 of concrete, spiral, balance iron, 2. |
| Number of Landings: | 6 |
| Size of Glass: | 9 1/4" x 14.5", 9 1/4" x 12", 9 1/4" x 18"; transom, 6" x 29.5" - 9 1/4" x 29.5" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 11 - transom 3 - size of sash 2' x 2' 8"; 2' x 2' 6"; 2' x 22" |
| Number of Doors: | 7 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Rock |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rock |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower consists of an oval steel pier expanding in trumpet shape to form a gallery, surmounted by white, oval, 1 story dwelling; a 2 story, cylindrical tower & watchroom & a black, cylindrical lantern. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 6.88" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | Circular, 9 sides |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 6' 1 1/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 & 2 alternately |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 45 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 10.013", 17.251", 2' 5.148" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 4 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & bronze |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Conical roof of iron castings |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron casting with brass wire ventilating screen |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | Iron standards connected with chain |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron with iron door frames |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Cast iron trap door on hinges fitted with circular globe for observing light. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 8' 7.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Heavy one of iron. also light one of wood. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | With spring rollers on brackets. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Under lantern with circular glass in trap door for observing light. Has ventilators, serving table, writing desk, chairs, lockers, heating stove, medicine chest & etc. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L.S. Sautter et Cie, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1852 |
| Marks and Number: | 3rd order fresnel lens |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 3' 3" |
| Light Characteristic: | Ruby fixed |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 6 |
| 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 |
| Service Table: | Wood |
| Draft Tube Description: | None into ventilator ball. Damper tube runs within 2' 10" of ventilator ball, this made of Russia iron 2" dia. |
| 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 or red glass chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | Illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funck 3rd order (old style) |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 2 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 3/16" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Closets in watchroom, built of wood with shelves (Serviceable) used chimneys, wicks, & other things pertaining to use of light. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room placed under engine room in concrete foundation of structure. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Paint & storeroom in engine room |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" air whistle; operated by duplicate 20 hp Hornsby-Akroyd oil engine. Also duplicate air compressors for each. |
| Time to Start: | About 30 min |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Hornsby Akroyd, De La Vergne Machine Co., NY |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1905 |
| Characteristic: | 3 sec blast every 27 sec. |
| Duplication: | Engines, compressors, 1 whistle, Crosby automatic signal in duplicate |
| Timing Device: | Crosby automatic |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 55 lbs (low pressure in tank) |
| Height Above Water: | 50' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | For marking Mile Rocks. Fog signal for guidance to navigation entering San Francisco Harbor. |
| Distance and Direction: | Connected with lighthouse |
| Water Supply: | Brought from San Francisco by water boat |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Fog signal in side of tower 22' x 34' |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | |
| Kind: | Hornsby Akroyd |
| Manufacturer: | De La Vergne Mach. Co, NY |
| Date Made: | 1904 |
| Nominal Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 20 |
| Compressor: | Bury compressors |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | Berry Compressor Co., Erie Pa |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Direct connect with tack gear |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | Inside 17 3/4"; outside 18"; overall 2' 7.5" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 7/8" |
| Whistle Tone: | |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 2 small rooms & kitchens in tower |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | |
| Number of Rooms: | |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| 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: | By San Francisco water boat; pumped from boat to tank in basement |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | 7000 gal |
| Tank Material: | Made in concrete foundation of bldg |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Tower cold, draughty & damp previous to installation of coal stove. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | When cooking in the kitchen, steam condenses into water on the iron walls causing water to run on floor making quarters very damp. This could be remedied by shelling kitchen as rest of tower is done. |
| Recommended Improvements: | An independent inclosed circular stairway, leading from floor of engine room with door at it's foot would stop the draught from soaring upwards, carrying with it gases of combustion, which permeate thru partitions into sleeping quarters & whole tower. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | They have a hand hoist & landing at Presidio dock. San Francisco about 5 miles from Rock. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 5 miles in E'ly direction |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Air compressed |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | 4" |
| Engine Stroke: | 5" |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |
| Supplemental Reports |
| Letter; Dept of Commerce | |
| August 10, 1921 | |
| Referring to letter of October 22nd, 1919: relative to installation of telephone at light station. | |
| Bureau is informed that the US Coast Guard: completed the installation of telephone at Mile Rock Light Station on August 9. Telephone is connected with US Army Exchange at Fort Miley, San Francisco, CA., which is about 2 miles SW'ly from Fort Point Lighthouse. Fort Miley Exchange is connected with | |
| The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company. | |