The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-11

all operated successfully, Il was decided 10
use different engines In these steamers, the
boilers, screws, and hulls being the same.
Upon their completion, at the request, and
with the cooperation Of the Navy Dcpart.
ment trials on q scientific basis were made
Of their machinery; the report Of
which has been published, aud will, IL Is he.
lieved, be found Of great value.
These three vessels are Of about $50 tons
each, and have displaced four old ones hav.
ing an aggregate tonnage 81 $40 tons. Their
completion practically accomplishes the ~.
organization Of this branch Of service. which
has been In progress during the last three
years upon the plan recommended nv the
commission appointed December 10, 1sse,
whose report was submitted to Congress NAV
~, 1870. (EN. Doc, No. 90, iist Tong, "a
SESSION. For nearly all the old slow and
unwicldy sailing craft, and the large steam.
crs Of heavy draught and complicated ma.
chincry, which were ill-sdapted to the re-.
quirements Ut the service and expensive ~
maintain, small steamers Of light draught
and good speed have been substituted, effect.
ing q reduction In the tonnage II the fleet of
nearly 1000 tons; reducing correspondence
the number of men employed and otherwise
lessening the expenses Of maintaining the
ency. Equally important changes have
been made In the character Of the official
corps, through the removal Of incompetent
officers aud the institution ~ rigid PRO.
feSsional examination Of candidates for al.
mission. Constant Improvement has NJ.
tended the progress Of the reorganization,
and the benefits already derived indicate
even better results than were anticipated
There have been erected during the past
"a.
follows: Five on the coast 1T Maine, one on
the coas, Of New Hampshire, Eve on the
coast Ut Massachusetts, one On the coast of
Rhode Island, three on the coast uf Viz.
rinia, aud seven on the coast of North faro.
lima. They are c,snpletely equipped, aud
were manned Tor the winters service on the
first OF the present month. Contract has
been entered into Tor the construction If six
stations on the coast of Marylnnd aud Viz.
ginia, between Cape lIcnlopen aud Cape
Charles, under suthority Of the act IL June
~, 1874, aud arrangements will be made for
the erection 1T two other stations between
these capes, on the coast Of Delaware, a.
soon a. possession II the sites selected for
them. which are the property Of the State,
can be obtained.
when these stations are completed and
nut in operation, the Atlantic coast, from
luoddy Head To Cape IIaticras, with the
judith; will he well protected. South Of
Cape Ilattcras nothing is needed, except the
houses Of refuge provided for by the act
above referred To. Early steps will be taken
Tor the building of these. Sites have been
secured for the thirty stations authorized for
the great lakes, aud plans and specifications
for the buildings are being prepared. II j.
expected that these stations will be com.
plcteL in season for use during the autumn
4 N Il A. A.
to have the stations authorized for the Ia.
cifc coast in readiness for occupancy next
winter.
There have been in operation during the
past wear eighty-two stations. They are all
located in the three districts designated a.
the Cape Cod district, Rhode Island or Long
Island district, aud the New Jersey district,
which embrace the most dangerous portions
Of the Atlantic roast.
The reports OF the superintc ndents show
that during the season OF 1851, fortv-cight
vessels, valued, with their cargocs, ut s2,Ssi,.
6ssi, and having on board 100 persons
were driven upon these shores. In twenty
nine instances the liie-saving apparatus was
called into requisition, and 303 persons wer.
rescued nv II. In the other eases Its use was
not required, but assistance Of some sort in
administering 10 the comfort 1T the ship
wrecked or in saving property, was rendered
ia nearly all by tn. force Of the service. Of
the amount II property jeopardcd, only
SlS7 ,2s2 was lest, and the number Of lives
lost was but two. Both Of these were caused
by the falling of the mast Of vessel when
she struck-a ease in which, uf course, life
saving appliances were not available. The
number of days' shelter afforded ship
wrecked persons ct the stations was Ial.
The operations Of the coast survey within
the present year again illustrate the special
utility ot that work. Near several Of the
sailing courses on the Atlantic coast and on
the Pacific, dangers that would clude ordi-
nary care in photographic research have
been developed, and made known 10 navi-
gators. The data, scientific and practical,
gathered In all branches OF this important
service, and on record for future uses, and
the experience Of the officers employed, are
now sought by the governmental and other
commissions Tor determining questions com
mitted to them, whether in regard 10 bound.
aries, measures for the preservation Of
barbors, special structures subject TO the
action of tides aud currents, or for incrcas-
ing local facilities IN navigation. Several
routes suggested for an interoceanic ship
canal have been traverscd by officers Of the
survey, and one Of them now acts A. a mem.
Der OF the commission for devSing means to
improve the outlet Of the Mississippi river.
In the prompt issue Of charts with eNact
delineatisn Of the shores, and Of tables pre-
dieting the tides for each day Of the year
the large and steadily increasing number of
points precisely deterxined in latitude and
longitude; aud development Of the Law OF
magnetic variation for the entire area Of the
United States, the survey well deserves the
wide repute which its organization has
L. asl. -. Il