Source\Book:Instructions to Light-Keepers and Masters of Light-Vessels, 1902
"Notice. Office of the Light-House Board, Washington, D.C., March 1, 1902. The following instructions are published for the guidance of light-keepers and masters of light-house vessels. They are required to read them carefully and attentively, and to refer to them whenever they have any doubts in regard to their duties or the manner of performing them. Each keeper and assistant keeper will be furnished with a copy, to be kept and used at the light-stations where they are employed; to be handed over to their successors when they are relieved or discharged or left at the light-stations in case there should be no successors. Each master of a light-house vessel will be provided with two copies, for the use of himself and crew. By order of the Light-House Board: Norman H. Faruhar, Rear Admiral, U.S.N., Chairman."
Cutting, removing or injuring trees.
(This is SHORTENED since it goes on and on and on...) This type of language is dedicated in detail to each type of property such as gates, boats, buoy, sea wall, pier, livestock (yes, some locations had livestock to raise.) etc.
"If any person or persons shall knowingly and unlawfully cut, or shall knowingly aid, assist, or be employed in unlawfully cutting, or shall wantonly destroy or injure, or procure to be wantonly destroyed or injured, any timber tree or any shade tree, or any other kind of tree, standing, growing, or being upon any lands of the United States, which, in pursuance of law, have been reserved, or which have been purchased by the United States ..(took some stuff out here).. for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or shall be imprisoned not exceeding twelve months."
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How to take oil from store rooms & record expenditures
Note: If you have ever climbed up the stairs of a tower, imagine doing it with a heavy can of oil every single day.
"...Keepers who have no assistants are required to take from the oil and store rooms, daily, the necessary articles and quantities of supplies for that day's use. At the time of doing so they must enter them correctly in the expenditure book."
Lighthouses & vessels are supplied oil & matches
I don't quite understand why it is so important only to use matches provided by the Light-House Establishment.
"Oil and matches are supplied by the Light-House Establishment; no other shall be used at light-stations or on board light-house vessels."
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Women and children not to reside at isolated stations or on light-vessels
At isolated stations, where there are two or more keepers, no women or children will be allowed to reside, unless by special permission previously obtained. No women will be permitted to reside on a light-vessel under any circumstances.
Vessel Master responsible for Treatment of officers and crew
"The masters will be held accountable for treatment of other officers and crews under their commands. They will see that all on board are properly cared for; that they are not stinted in water of good, wholesome quality for drinking and cooking purposes; that provisions are regularly and properly served out; that they are allowed to have their meals at regular times, and are not hurried or interrupted during proper meal times; that they are not worked an excessive number of hours during the day; that they are allowed all reasonable time for recreation, amusement, and exercise ashore and afloat..."
"The men are not allowed to sleep in wet clothes or hammocks; but in case of getting wet in landing supplies or by rain, as soon as they return to the vessel they must be required to shift their clothes."
"Men before leaving the vessel in the morning in boats, should have their breakfast, including hot coffee; or if not breakfast, at any rate a pot of hot coffee, with bread"
Salute to Government vessels
"Keepers of light stations and masters of light vessels provided with bells shall salute, with three strokes of the bell, light-house and Government Vessels (as well as any vessel which is known by the keeper to have on board any person entitled to the courtesy of a salute) upon their approach to and departure from such stations and vessels. The salute will be returned with three blasts of the whistle or by three strokes of the bell. In case the bell has no inside clapper which can be rung by hand, the connecting rod to the machine should be detached before using the striker for salutes."
Provisions
Table of weekly provisions per man for vessels of the Light-House Establishment.
Beef (Corned)\1 Pound
Pork\ 2 pounds
Codfish\1 pound
Mutton\1 pound
Bacon\1 pound
Ham\1 pound
Flour\1 pound
Pilot Bread\2 pounds
Rice\¼ pound
Corn Meal\½ pound
Oatmeal\¼ pound
Beans\1 pint
Pease (Split)\½ pound
Potatoes\12 pounds
Onions\2 pounds
Sugar\2 pounds
Molasses\½ pound
Coffee\7 ounces
Tea\1¾ ounces
Butter\8 ounces
Vinegar\½ pint
Pickles\½ pound
Tomatoes (can)\8 ounces
Corn (can)\8 ounces
Apples (evaporated)\2 ounces
Peaches (dried)\2 ounces
Raisins\1 ounce
Salt\6 ounces
Pepper\¼ ounce
Mustard\¼ ounce
Baking Powder\¼ ounce
Table of annual allowance per man for light-stations and fog-signal stations.
Pork\200 pounds
Beef\100 pounds
Flour\1 barrel
Rice\25 pounds
Beans\10 gallons
Potatoes\4 bushels
Onions\1 bushel
Sugar\50 pounds
Coffee\24 pounds
Vinegar\4 gallons
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How to paint and colors to use
"In using the brush, where there is sufficient space, long strokes should be employed to extend the color in a smooth and uniform manner; where the space is contracted or rough, the paint should be laid on in dabs, for the purpose of getting it into the recesses and places where the surface is unequal."
Outside colors
Dark red
For Wooden structures.
Brown or white
For Wooden structures.
Red or led color
For trimmings of structures
Black
For lanterns & galley railings
Brown
For iron structures; and to replace black on outside of all structures.
Red, green, or grown
For outside shutters.
Red
In exceptional cases, to mark the starboard side in entering channels.
Whitewash*
On stone and brick work where a change in the natural color is authorized and on rough-board work.
*Whitewash is not to be used on ironwork under any circumstances. All ironwork shall be well primed with red lead before the application of other paint.
Inside Colors
White
Fore the interior of lanterns, and generally for all interior woodwork except hardwood.
Green
For pedestals & service tables
Lead Color
For floors, staircases, & walls when authorized to be painted. Hard-pined floors & hard woods are not to be painted, but shall be kept well oiled or scrubbed.
Black
For iron staircases & railings, & for interior ironwork in general except pedestals & service tables.
Black or white
Underside of tower stairways.
Whitewash*
For walls, cellars, and outhouses, and rough-board work when painted has not been authorized.
*Whitewash is not to be used on ironwork under any circumstances. All ironwork shall be well primed with red lead before the application of other paint.
