New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-08


under tne present system three on the coasts Of
Long Island and NewJersey and two years on the coast
OF Cape Cod. The statistics ~ disasters upon these
coasts during this time are reported as follows;
S SaSSsr Of Of 1--we, nochi
S S:$S:: :: :, r.; H.: i5oi
Number Of sb pwreeked persons sheltered AMI .ao
ys %isa S "fcayS ,f III
Tot. value Of property inpenled - G9j 9}5
T,,, y'lae Of prooe ;syei.'....."........ Zd$Ss!
Almost an the disasters wh cn occur upon th-o3 roI,,
from tue sraudlng Of yes 's, ani It Is agan,.
and loss Of property rrsultn ron th, cis, u
disasters that the fe-siylng service thereon e'ab
sbed is designed to afford protection. The success Of
the system, which the foregoing siati'tcs luDt. $
certainly all that cou be hoped for. IL Is hardy 20 -
expected that an equal measure OF success WIN os
Of large proportion o. the disasters are OF DIN reus
nature. That benefits % be derived from toe cxen
sion Of the service there however, Will amply Justify
the expense involved cannot be doubted.
In te prosecution OF uq Iries essential to compliance
win The OF the second section ~ the ac, u
March g. 1873 directing the secretary OF the treasury
report 70 the House Of Representatives the ponis
the sea and lake coasts OF tne United States az
the establishment Of fesaving stations wOld nest .ub
serve the Interests ana humanity" yalua
bic statistics OF disasters 10 shipping, which have
occurred upon our coasts within the last ten years were
gathered with trouble from Underwriters. wreck.
Commissioners. officers OF the customs lighthouse keep
err. and all other available Sources and all practicable
were taken to verify them Although i'm Dortint
statistics OF some Disasters are lacking, IL - believed
tpat the information obtained Is very nearly correct
As these statistics afOrf Information OF con-idrribe
interest to ship-owners underwriters and persons en-
gagged in commerce generally, IL has been thought
proper TO nave them arranged IN tables with rsprr 10
years aud months 10 classes OF vessels 10 su1 and
cause OF disaster 70 tonnage 10 Ioealy 81 disaster &c
These tables may be found IA the appendix 10 ts re-
port.
important "a they arr, were ncY.r authOr titFcy
required by The Government until the Of ne 20.
1874 directed the owners dui masters OF ves" to 'up
py them. At commencement OF the last fiscal year.
however the Customs of;er of the various ports " tue
country were directed 10 obtain AMI iOrwAri 10 tao
department tue particulars OF al disasters occurring 20
vessels withln their collection ditics, or 10 yes-rs
Tic returns received were very fun. Trey nave been
taDuated as ABOVE described, AMI wreckiA< cnAtts'
have been prepared. The tables may be Iouni Ia ina
THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE.
The Lighthouse Establishment when exceeds in mag
nude that Of any oher natoU providing as II does for
the necessities OF coast line, including tae great
Northern lakes 1000 miles in distance. beside an
extent OF 40 miles inland rivers-hakpg total
OF 1900 miIes-Geeps pace with the demands for
the past year Twenty-Five lightnOuse two ghishlps,
buoys have been established The total nunOer Of
such aids to navigation how in U.s. In the United states
IS $40 lighthouses % lightshps AZ fox snals, IS! DeA
cons and 2s65 buoys IL appears from the report ~
the Lighthouse Board that from the nrst means hiyo
been adopted not only Tor introducing tue Impr'ye.
ments which have made In foreign countries. but
also. by original Investigations, 10 add % tue etehcy
OF tue system In the latter the Board has recehtly
been successful the introduction OF tterI, Of
Illumination, and OF greatly lmproy ii fo+-sgIIls.
Week meetings OF the Board. iu-t-ad Of quarrly. as
formerly, have been held during the past an rng
increased opportunities for IN" discussion Of ueY ID tn
DDS and deDeratiOn upon proposed improvements As
suggested by scientific discoveries the pric-
tees of countries; and series Of special lDFes-
legations have been co nnenced with tho view deter
mine how far the changes. suggested as possible ~ tue
late engineer secretary as tue result Oi M rcchs
examination INFO the systems aoroad-Iilulel 70
IN tGe last annual port OF the secretary OF tue treas
ury-may be with advantage introduced Into our own
system.
The operations OF the coast survey within the present
year again illustrate the special utility OF that work.
Near several OF the sailing courses on the Atlantic coast
and the Pacific, dangers that would eude Ordinary
care photographic research have been developed and
made known to nivigAtors. Tle data scentid; and
practical gathered In all branches OF THIS important
service, and record for future uses. aud the expert
ence OF the officers employed are now sOuKht ny tha
governmental aud other commissions Tor determining
questions CONT tilted to Them whether In re-
gard to boundaries, measures for the pres
eryation of ha DOrs, special structures subject 10
the action Of tids and currents or Tor increasing local
facilities IN navigation Several routes Tor
sn canal have been trayer.rd 10y OH ers
Of the survey, AMI one OF them now act, memoir OF
the commission f)r deVlsing means 10 Improve the OUT
let of the MisssS pp River. In the prompt Issue OF
charts with eXtat delneaton OF the snores, AMI 81
tables predicting the tides Tor each day OF tue year inc
and steadily Increasing hummer Of points precisely
determined IN latitude aud Longitude ana Development
the law Of magnetic variation for tue entire area Ot
the UaIed States, the survey well deserves the VIDE
repue which its organization has hitherto maintained
for public usefulness.
That not one Of the oldest States in the Ulion.
has at this day map OF lis surface sufficiently accurate
for other than purposes OF travel Is nov an neon
venience severely fet Dut IS not matter OF As
regards states or the General Government klu-
dons restricted IN shore hne, and scarcely equal "a
either OF our states in area. tut With resonr nuar.
ALVEY vast enlisted their Sest scientific men wear,
ago In sucn woIB, and now have maps adradate for -
logical surveys, or Tor any other economical req Ira-
ment Our own Government In happy fores ght OF tho
present needs provided for AN exact aud eoutiuuo
survey OF the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts OF tho
United States, ana That work, unriyaled In pre-.
cislon by auy other geodetic survey, Is now
far advanced. While In It's progress all require
ments for commerce and navigation have been met.
much has been Incidentally done tor tue future inter
infar ~ a. IN ia nj
harbors aud tidal rivers aud proving their geogr phcl
relation precisely the states OF the Union are he'd
for their ultimate surveys with basis OF accuracy not
attauabe In any other feasible way Is evident tna
Tor sucn maps TO other natons have proved mdpcn
sable In their industrial progress our S,ates must found
their final surveys poiuts well determined IN thtn
relation 10 the coast. All available means Therefore,
are due for maintaining the preseut scale and O
work the OF tue cOas, OOtn In regard 10 It's
man purpose aud IN orher that The states may have
collateral advantage IN commencing tber uiuate sur
yeys Many years NUS eiapse before the States arc
able to complete their nua maps but the present hce
ior them has been repeatedly Drought 10 the NOTICE OF
this Department.
NEEDED REFORMS IN THE MARINE HOSPITAL. sEIv'
ICE.
Although the rate OF hospital dues was doubled by tho
Marine Hospital lot OF 1870 the average yearly coleo.
ton Of such dues has not yet been orrespoudpgy IN.
creased. compared with the average OF tho tnr,s
preceding tho passage OF that act Aud this ,s
wthstandins there has been since thea Increase Of
about ls per cent IN American tonnage exclusive ~
vessels Engaged In the fisheries and OF Sc ner cant IN
the amount OF hospital relief required. According 10
the most Trustworthy data oOtaina Die for the ,srs
ment OF tbe proportion OF crew 10 tonnage there
lean vessels subject 10 hospital dues a. rho Hrini
period OF service IN the merchant averages
niue months per annun, tnere should have been in
stead OF $ji6,67o the amount received Last wear n
aggregate OF about $4,000. amply sufictent to
make the service elisustaining. An examuauon ,nto
the causes OF this deficiency leads 10 the belief thai t
Is largely due to deierts III the mode az collecting fhe
dues. dne statute authorizes the master owner OF
every vessel. subject 10 hospital dues 10 rsln ou of
tho wages OF each OF his crew. the ~ cents per
montn ior eacn month OF service, which SUNS he 10
Up clhed times, accompanied by true statement III
the number OF men auL tho length service OF e.cs
nan since last OF hospital dues and m, Sc
feLiry OF the Treasury II hOIl 10 direct hs nra