A.G. ROBINSON SENDS A PORTION OF HIS DIARY, ASKS FOR A COPY OF SPECIFICATIONS FOR LIGHT HOUSES
August 18, 1856
Southampton
Sir,
I beg leave to enclose a partial copy of my diary from the 25th of July to August 18th.
The light house at the Isle of Coves I have been unable to visit since my last report, as there are no means of communication except by one of Mr. Browns schooners, one of which leaves tomorrow and by which I am going. The pier at Chantry Island is finished with the exception of the planking and sheeting; the planking is delivered and will be put on immediately.
They have commenced building the light house at Chantry Island but I have been obliged to stop the work till proper material has been furnished, as nothing but boulders picked up upon the shore were on the ground for backing. The foundation here is formed of concrete 15 inches deep over a hard bottom of boulders mixed with hard gravel.
At Inverhuron the extreme pier is finished four courses above the water and two other cribs are laid in their places but not yet filled with stone.
At Kincardine the first crib has stood the recent gales but the second one sunk had been shifted, and will have to be replaced. There were but few stone in it when this happened and I do not think when properly filled any danger will arise from any gale.
At Point Clark no operations have been commenced with the exception of quarrying at Inverhuron.
At Griffiths Island operations have not commenced with the exception of sending some lumber to Owen Sound.
I would feel much obliged, and indeed I can hardly do without it, if you send me a copy of the specifications of the light house which is attached to the contract.
Sir
I have the honor to be
Your obt. Servant
A.G. Robinson
Thos. A. Begley, Esq.
Sec., Board of Works
Toronto
July 27 went to Chantry Island to inspect Pier, called at Post Office
July 28 commenced estimate
July 29 finished ??? to Mr. Begly enclosing estimate &c., left for Chantry in fishing boat, had to put back, dead head wind
July 30th left Saugeen in steamer Ploughby for Kincardine, reached there 7 P.M.
August 1st 5:45 A.M. went over to breakwater, remained till breakfast time, calculated exact no. of yds in one the large light houses, in the evening went again to breakwater, remained 2 hours
August 2nd at 6:40 A.M. went to breakwater, left in small boat for Inverhuron, reached there at 9 A.M., visited crib sunk, went to quarry, woods on fire
August 3rd 3 A.M. got up to sail to Kincardine, went about 3 miles, gale got up from S. west, had to return, started on foot for Kincardine, stopped at Stoney Island for Ploughby, left in her at 12:30, reached Saugeen at 3:15 P.M., went ashore in skiff, nearly swamped
August 4 Sunday
August 5 8:15 A.M. went to Chantry Island, light house excavation down about 4 feet
August 6th raining hard, heavy blow from the S (?), found man to go to Island, got half way, put back again
August 7 raining and blowing too hard to go to Island
August 8 went after breakfast to Island, foundation cleared out, ordered a concrete bottom, fifteen inches thick
August 9 at Chantry Island, visited lighthouse, &c.
August 10th Sunday
August 11th went to Chantry Island, concrete finished, told foreman to wait two or three days till it sets before commencing building, Capt. Richardson son drowned
August 12th 10 A.M. left in steamer Maseppa, visited crib at Inverhuron, stopped at the works at Kincardine
August 13 reached Detroit at 7 P.M.
August 14th searched through the shipping to hire some large scows to haul stone for the works, got a small one at 8 pounds per diem
August 15th left Windsor for Saugeen at 1 P.M., reached Sarnia in the course of the night
August 16 left Sarnia at 9:25 A.M., reached Goderich at 7 P.M.
August 17 left Goderich at 9 A.M., reached Kincardine at 12:30 P.M., spent 4 hours there, stopped at Inverhuron, examined work
August 18 reached Chantry Island at 12:30 A.M., at 6 A.M. went ??? and are finished with the exception of planking, visited light house, directed some work to be secured that was backed with boulders, no proper building materials on land for backing, stopped the work till proper material was furnished, no letter in Post Office, went again in afternoon to Island to see how my orders obeyed