A page with typewritten instructions dated July 1889 was taped inside the cover:

Journal

(1) The events of the day must be written on the same line across both pages and as a general rule, if carefully written, one line will be sufficient for a day's entries. One line must be left blank between each two days. the entries for each month must commence on a new page and on each Sunday the name of the day shall be written in the column for the month, in front of its proper date.

(2) The following entries shall be made in the Journal, viz:

Visits of Inspector, engineer, Lampist, Machinist or any authorized person; a general account of all work going on at the station by the keepers or others; delivery of supplies; any item of official interest occurring at the station or in its vicinity; any unusual condition of wind or weather with abnormal reading of barometer or thermometer (ordinary conditions or wind or weather with ordinary readings of barometer and thermometer shall be entered only in the Expenditure Book.)  Where no Watch Book is kept, the fact whether or not all station lights which should be visible from a station are lighted shall be entered in the Journal. A list of such light shall be entered on the first page of the Journal and it will then be necessary only to state in the remarks for each day: "All lights visible" or "All lights except _______ visible."

(3) No personal opinions or remarks on family affairs or ordinary household work shall be entered in the Journal.  All entries must be confine to the subjects enumerated above. The Keeper using his judgment as to what occurrences are of sufficient importance, or official interest to warrant any entry in the Journal.

(4) If visitors are frequently at the station, the entry should be made as follows, viz: "A number of visitors from _______ at stations today." or "a party of visitors from _____ at station today." At outlying stations where visitors are infrequent, the names of the visitors or the more prominent ones of the party, if large, should be noted, as well as the place from which they come, etc. The names of all person (whether officials, workmen or visitors) remaining over-night at any station must be entered at the beginning and end of their visit.

(5) The times of leaving and returning to station of all Keepers shall be entered in the Journal and in cases where there is but one keeper, the name of the person left in charge of the station must be entered.

(6) The Keeper shall make a general inspection of his station, light and fog signal every Saturday and enter this fact, with the condition of the station, light and fog signal in the Journal. If anything prevents the Keeper from making this inspection on Saturday, the fact must be entered in the Journal and the inspector as soon after as (practicable?) and entered in the Journal under the (___?) made.

 

C. B. Morgan,

Commander, U.S.N.

Inspector