Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/292



270 LEWIS A. MCARTHUR

tory, and for information as to the locality on which it should be placed, &c.:

"I have the honor to state, that Cape Hancock or Disappoint- ment, at the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon Territory, where it is proposed by a late act of Congress to erect the prin- cipal Light-house for that river, is a bold cliff of columnar basalt, rising perpendicularly from the sea to variable heights of from 200 to 300 feet, terminating in unequal rolling summits, covered with a rich and fertile soil.

"These summits vary also in width from ten to fifty feet at the apex, whence they slope by a quick descent to the northward; the northern or inrshore face of the hills being covered by a dense growth of gigantic pine, alder, and other trees, with a thick growth of vines, 'Salmon Berry,' and other shrubbery.

"The summit of the sea-cliffs (which are not covered by the forest) is the proper position for locating the Light-house, say within two to four hundred yards to the westward of 'Broom Sta- tion,' as given in our triangulation of the river: should the Tower be placed there, it will show the light from the lanthorn around three-fourths of the horizon, without the necessity of felling the trees to the northward.

"In this position, the base of the Tower will be about 250 feet above high water mark, and should the Tower be raised 80 feet to the deck of the Lanthorn (and in my opinion it should not be less) on a base of 25 feet diameter, it will be a prominent land mark, for making the Cape in the day time.

"The lanthorn or light, which is to be placed on the tower, should be of a power not less than the best Light on Navesink; in other words, a Marine light of the first power.

"The Tower should be constructed of fire-proof materials, and no wood whatever should be admitted into the construction of the building; as there is at all times much danger of the forest being fired to the northward, which, in such a case, would inevitably destroy the building.

"From the cove in Baker's Bay, where the materials would be landed, the distance is about 1,000 yards by a path, now greatly obstructed by huge trees which have fallen across it. It must ever be a difficult matter to transport any great amount of bulk or weight to the summit; a good road must first be made. Whether the tower is constructed of wood, iron, or brick, the material must be transported in small parcels.

"When such a tower as I have contemplated is lighted up by a light of the first power, it will be clearly visible for a distance of nine leagues at sea, from the N. W. by the W. and S. W. to the