2. TABLE OF FOREIGN COINS,* With their equivalents in United States Currency, Gold valuation, prepared at the request of the Controller of the Treasury, November, 1857. Spain. New Peninsula Dollar Silver, (Peso of 20 reals) 1 01 5 Sweden Dollar... Turkey Tuscany .... Piastre ...... N. B. Four of the above being moneys of account only, are estimated by their legal relation to certain coins. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, * This list embraces only "such foreign coins as are known to our commerce," which the Director of the mint is required to have assayed from time to time and to report thereon.-[ED. + The actual currency of both these countries is gold, and computations are, of course, made in reference to that medium. Like the United States, they have the double standard, but silver only circulates for small change, and its value cannot be regarded in computing pecuniary obligations. 1859.] U. S. COAST SURVEY-LIGHT-HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT. 139 The steamer Active is at present the only vessel engaged in the hydrography of the coast. This vessel has been employed during the last summer on duty in connection with the Northwestern Boundary Survey, and during the fall and winter, in completing the soundings of San Francisco Bay in commencing the approaches to its entrance. X.-LIGHT-HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT, TWELFTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT, PACIFIC COAST.+ Number of Light-Houses in operation, fourteen; in course of construction, two; authorized, and to be constructed, seven. Light-Houses in course of construction, two: Toke Point, Shoalwater Bay, W. T.; Blunt's Island, Straits of Fuca, W. T. Authorized, and to be constructed, seven: 1, Point Hueneme, Cal.; 2, San Pedro, Cal.; 3, Santa Cruz, Cal.; 4, Point Lobos, Cal.; 5, Point Reyes, Cal.; 6, Cape Mendocino, Cal., and 7, Red Bluff, Whidbey's Island, Straits of Fuca, W. T. Appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1858, $160,191 75. 1. POINT LOMA, Bay of San Diego, California. A fixed white light, third order of Fresnel, illuminating the entire horizon. This light-house is situated at an elevation of about four hundred and fifty feet above the sea, and half a mile from the extremity of Point Loma, which forms the west point of the entrance into the Bay of San Diego. It consists of a stone dwelling of one story and a half, with a low tower of brick rising from the center. The elevation will give full effect to the light, which in clear weather, should be visible twenty to twenty-five miles. Vessels from the north should give Point Loma a berth of half a mile, rounding up gradually after passing it until Ballast Point is brought in range *For List of Officers, see page 51. + For List of Officers, Keepers, etc., see p. 51. with the playa, being careful not to open more of the village than the most eastern houses, otherwise there is danger of getting on Zuninga Shoal, on the east side of the channel. Keep on the above range, and when up with Ballast Point, within a ship's length of which four fathoms may be carried, steer for the playa, leaving a shoal spot of twelve feet water, one-eighth of a mile inside the Point, on the port hand, and anchor off the village. From the playa to New Town (new San Diego,) four miles, six fathoms may be carried. A mile or two above, the bay becomes shoal. Vessels from the south should observe the same sailing directions, taking care to get on the range of Ballast Point and the playa, south of a line half a mile seaward of Point Loma. The latitude and longitude of the light, as given by the Coast Survey, are: Lat., 32 deg. 40 min. and 13 sec. N.; Long., 117 deg. 12 min. 22 sec. W. The light is exhibited every night from sunset to sunrise. 2. SANTA BARBARA. A fixed red light, fourth order of Fresnel, illuminating the seaward half of the horizon. The light-house consists of a plastered dwelling of one story and a half, with a low tower also plastered, rising through the roof. It is situated at an elevation of one hundred and forty-six feet above the sea, two miles southwesterly from the landing at Santa Barbara, and about five hundred and fifty feet from the brink of the bluff. The light is one hundred and eighty feet above the same level, but from the red color and low order of lens it will not be visible for the range due to that elevation. It should, however, in a clear atmosphere, be seen from ten to twelve miles. The latitude and longitude of the light and the magnetic variation in the vicinity, as given by the Coast Survey, are as follows: Lat., 34 deg. 23 min. 35 sec. N.; Long., 119 deg. 42 min. 5 sec. W.; magnetic variation, 13 deg. 30 min. E. The light is exhibited every night from sunset to sunrise. 3. POINT CONCEPTION, Western Entrance, Santa Barbara Channel. A revolving white light, first order of Fresnel, showing a flash every half minute throughout the entire horizon. The house is situated near the extremity, and on the highest part of Point Conception, elevated about two hundred and twenty feet above the sea. It consists of a brick dwelling plastered, of one story and a half, with a low tower also of brick and plastered, rising from the center. The light is elevated about two hundred and fifty feet above mean sea level, and will be visible in a favorable state of the atmosphere, from a hight of fifteen feet above the water, at a distance of twenty-six statute, or twenty-two and a half nautical miles. The latitude and longitude of the light, as given by the Coast Survey, are: Lat., 34 deg. 26 min. 47 sec. N.; Long., 120 deg. 25 min. 33 sec. W. The following magnetic bearings and distances, in statute miles, are taken approximately from the chart of the coast of the same survey: West end, San Miguel Island, S. 12 deg., E. twenty-four miles; West end, Santa Cruz Island, S. 67 deg., E. thirty-nine miles. The light is exhibited every night from sunset to sunrise. A Fog-Bell of three thousand, one hundred and thirty-six pounds is placed on the bluff, seaward of the light-house, which is sounded every thirteen (13) seconds, during foggy and other thick weather, night and day. The striking machinery occupies a frame building whitewashed, on a level with the ground, having the front open to receive the bell. 4. POINT PINOS, A fixed light, of the natural color, is exhibited from the tower at Point Pinos, on the southern side of the entrance to the harbor of Monterey, California, from sunset to sunrise. The illuminating apparatus is of the third order, catadioptric, of the system of Fresnel. The light-house is a gray granite dwelling one story and a half in hight, surmounted by a tower and lantern. The light will illuminate four-fifths of the entire horizon; is fifty feet above the level of the sea, and should be seen in ordinary states of the atmosphere, from an elevation of fifteen feet above the water, at a distance of twelve and a half nautical, or fourteen statute miles. The following is the approximate position of the light-house: Lat., 36 deg. 37 min. 58 sec. N.; Long., 121 deg. 55 min. W. 5. FORT POINT, At the Entrance to San Francisco Bay. A light is displayed, every night from sunset to sunrise. The light is a fixed one, of the Fresnel illuminating apparatus of the fifth order; is fifty-two feet above the level of the sea, and should be seen, in ordinary states of the atmosphere, at a distance of twelve nautical, or fourteen and a half statute miles. The latitude of Fort Point Light is 37 deg. 48 min. 27 sec. N., and the longitude is 122 deg. 27 min. 35 sec. W. A Fog-Bell of about eleven hundred pounds is placed alongside of the lighthouse, at an elevation of about forty feet above high water. The striking machinery is in a small frame under the bell, which is struck day and night during foggy or other thick weather, five blows at intervals of ten seconds, followed by a pause of thirty-four seconds. 6. ALCATRAZ ISLAND, San Francisco Bay. The light is produced by a fixed, third order, Fresnel illuminating apparatus, one hundred and sixty-six feet above the level of the sea; illuminates the entire horizon, and should be seen from sea, under ordinary states of the atmosphere, at a distance of fourteen miles. The light is exhibited on Alcatraz Island every night, from sunset to sunrise. Lat., 37 deg. 49 min. 34 sec. N.; Long., 122 deg. 24 min. 21 sec. W. A Fog-Bell of about eleven hundred pounds is placed on the south-east end of the Island, at an elevation of thirty feet above high water. The machinery is in a frame building, open in front to receive the bell, which will be struck night and day, during foggy or other thick weather, four blows at intervals of eight seconds, followed by a pause of fifteen seconds. 7. POINT BONITA, Entrance to the Bay of San Francisco. A fixed light is exhibited from the tower at Point Bonita, on the northern side of the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco, every night from sunset to sunrise. The illuminating apparatus is of the second order catadioptric of the system of Fresnel. The structure is a brick tower whitewashed, surmounted by a lantern painted red. The light is about three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and should be seen, in ordinary states of the atmosphere, from an elevation of fifteen feet above the water, at a distance of twenty-four nautical miles. The following is the approximate position of the light-house: Lat. 37 deg. 49 min. 10 sec. N.; Long., 122 deg. 30 min. 50 sec. W. of Greenwich. A Fog-Bell of fifteen hundred pounds is placed on the bluff just in front of the light-house tower. The bell, with the machinery, is in a frame building, open in front on a level with the ground, and is struck during foggy or thick weather, six blows at intervals of sixteen seconds each, followed by a pause of forty-four seconds. The bell is elevated two hundred and seventy feet above the sea. 8. SOUTH FARALLONE ISLAND, About twenty-seven miles broad-off the Coast, at the Entrance of San Francisco Bay. A revolving white light, showing a prolonged flash every minute throughout the entire horizon. The light-house tower stands on the highest peak of South Farallone Island. It is built of brick, seventeen feet in hight, and is surmounted by a lantern and lighting apparatus of the first order of Fresnel. The light is elevated about three hundred and sixty feet above mean sea level, and should be visible, in a favorable state of the atmosphere, from a hight of fifteen feet above the water, at a distance of thirty statute, or twenty-six nautical miles. At near distances, under favorable circumstances, the light will not wholly disappear between the intervals of the greatest brightness. The latitude and longitude of the light, as given by the Coast Survey, are: Lat., 37 deg. 41 min. 44 sec. N.; Long., 122 deg. 59 min. 18 sec. W. |