National Republican., 1873-11-29
THE REVENUE MARINE.
Operations Of the Bureau for the Last
Fiscal Year,

tsust
Fiscal Year.
The annual report OF the Chief OF the Bureau
of Revenue Marine OF the Treasury Department,
Mr.. I. S. Kimball, shows the strength OF the SER
vice to be 2s steamers and sail-vessels dis.
tributed along the coast 2lO vessels In distress
have been assisted: 30,s43 have been boarded
and examined, and ,G05 seized or reported for
violation Of the revenue laws. The number Of
lives saved was IA and other valuable services
have been rcnder3t in various ways, including
assistance to the lighthouses and llfe-saving
one Of woed, have been built and added to the
force. Three other vessels are now In course OF
| construction.
The examination OF onicers for promotion has
included the exhibition OF their skill In the use
OF the Instruments and tools OF their profession.
Engineers were taken from the shop for this
purpose, and The promotions were made upon
iorlty. The examinations were strictly CON-
petitive, and the candidates were admitted In the
order OF their excellence. The reorganization
commenced over two years ago Ia now about
completed, and Is productive Of good results In
both efficiency and economy.
The running expenses OF the last fiscal year
were 800 ,gis, some two or three hundred thou
sand dollars less than under the old system,
while the services rendered have been largely In
creased.
A steamer for the Columbia river Is recon.
mended, which will complete the reorganization
and be equal to all demands for years to come.
retired list is also recommended as the alterna-
tive OF Diminishing many ofcers who have grown
old and disabled In the service. The irregularity
Of pensions allowed In this service a. compared
with with those OF the naval service Is also dis
cussed, and an Increase OF the former to an
cquhhty with the navy list recommended, on
account OF the ardu0us services required In the
relief To be extended by 10 TO distressed naviga-
''I Thsre az w " pssayin9 @ On the CONS,
OF Cape Coz, Rhode Island Long Island and
New Jersey. There have been nine wrecks on
Long Island. and thirteen on the coast Of New
Jersey; total, thlrty.two. There were 215 lives
mpefiied, 23i Of which were saved and one lost.
he was IS; hunter Of days sne,ur
afforded was III value OF property imperiled,
$3.50, ,23O, Of which $780, ,02s was lost The amount
expended for maintenance OF this service, ex-
elusive OF the construction Of stations, was
SST, ,sal.
Contracts have been made for the construc-
tlon OF twenty-one new stations at the follow
ing points: On the coast Of Maine. West Qnoddy
Head, near Carrying Point Cove; Cross Island,
Browneys Island, Whitehead Island, Venobscot
BayO The Pool (saco Bay9 On the coast Of New
Hampshire, Rye Beach. Coast OF Massachusetts,
Plumb Island, Davis Neck. Gurnett Point, Man.
omet, Surf Side (south side OF Nantncket) Coast
o. Virginia, Cape Henry; Coast Of North Caro-
Cafirsys Inlet, Kitty Hawks Beach, Nagis Head,
Body Island, Chlcamacomic, kinneput tnear
Cape Hatteras Llght-honse.) 1t Is expected that
ten Of these stations Will be ready for occupancy
by the first Of February.
The signal stations Of the army have formed
connections with the life-savlng stations on the
coast Of New Jersey, and are now connecting
with those being constructed In North Caro-
lima, thus giving them the benefit OF telegraphic
communication, from which the best results are
anticipated,
During the year regulations for the govern |
ment OF the service have been for the nrst time /
promulgated, and mas effected permanent or |
ganlzatlon OF the service. Captain J. II. Merry
man was designated as inspector OF llfe-saying /
stations. His experience as superintendent OF |
had given him considerable famill-
arlty with the service, and since his appoint
ment he has laDored with much devotion and 4
success TO render the service effective.
The extension OF the service TO the coasts OF |
Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia and North
Carolina make necessary the establishment OF
two more districts, for which the report asks the
authority OF Congress to make appointments;
also, that authority may be granted TO employ
keepers and crews for them as soon as they are
ready for occupancy. An increase In the COM
pensatlon OF keepers In also asked for, on the
ground OF the dangerous nature OF their duties
and their responsibility for the property placed
In their charge. They receive now but $500 per
annum. They are men who are selecled fer
their known gallantry and expertness ds surf
men, and must he men Of such character as TO
the confidence of their crews.
The examinations OF the sea and lake coasts,
With q view to ascertain where the establishment
" additional life-saying stations are desirable,
~ contemplated by act OF March Q, 1878, has
zen completed, and will be the subject Of q
reciai report hereafter.