IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 750
Recognizing the 130th anniversary of the creation of lifesaving stations on 
the Great Lakes, which became part of the United States Life-Saving 
Service, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2004
Mr. MCCOTTER (for himself and Mr. STUPAK) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 130th anniversary of the creation of life-
saving stations on the Great Lakes, which became part 
of the United States Life-Saving Service, and for other 
purposes.
Whereas in 1871 Sumner Increase Kimball was appointed as 
the Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Depart-
ment of the Treasury; 
Whereas in overhauling the Revenue Marine Division and de-
centralizing the system of lifesaving stations, Mr. Kimball 
recommended the establishment of lifesaving stations on 
the Great Lakes;
•HRES 750 IH 
Whereas in 1874 Congress authorized the organization of the 
Life-Saving Service into 12 districts, including 3 on the 
Great Lakes; 
Whereas the 8th district consisted of Lakes Erie and Ontario, 
the 9th district consisted of Lakes Huron and Superior, 
and the 10th district consisted of Lake Michigan; 
Whereas in 1878 these lifesaving stations were organized 
with others around the Nation as a separate agency of 
the Department of the Treasury known as the United 
States Life-Saving Service; 
Whereas in 1854 at the direction of the Secretary of the 
Treasury, lifesaving capabilities were first introduced to 
the Great Lakes with 9 lifeboats placed on Lake Ontario, 
14 lifeboats placed on Lake Erie, 23 lifeboats placed on 
Lake Michigan, and 1 lifeboat placed on Lake Superior; 
Whereas the forgotten heroes who served at lifesaving sta-
tions contended with giant squalls, wrecked vessels, and 
low pay; 
Whereas these men performed amazing rescues, but by far 
the largest amount of work for the crews revolved around 
drilling with the rescue equipment, patrol and lookout 
duty, and general station upkeep; 
Whereas the United States Life-Saving Service enabled the 
shipping industry to rapidly grow on the Great Lakes; 
Whereas when the United States Life-Saving Service ended 
in 1915, 63 Great Lakes stations were in operation, in-
cluding one on the Mississippi River in Louisville, Ken-
tucky; 
Whereas during the years of its operation, the Great Lakes 
Life-Saving Service contended with 9,763 disasters, sav-
ing 55,639 people and $110,038,860 in property;
•HRES 750 IH 
Whereas over the course of the United States Life-Saving 
Service, 20 brave employees gave their lives while per-
forming their duties; 
Whereas the organization that Mr. Kimball formed provided 
the basis for the new search and rescue organization of 
the Coast Guard; and 
Whereas the constant attention to practice with rescue equip-
ment and inspections employed by the United States 
Life-Saving Service is still in use today: Now, therefore, 
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the 130th anniversary of the cre-
ation of lifesaving stations on the Great Lakes, 
which became part of the United States Life-Saving 
Service; 
(2) commends the personnel of the United 
States Life-Saving Service whose efforts saved lives 
and property on the Great Lakes; and 
(3) acknowledges Sumner Increase Kimball for 
his foresight in the field of marine safety and com-
mitment to maritime safety on the Great Lakes.
Æ