The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-06

and orphans Of the men who thus perish In the
effort to save life. benefit which might al-o bo
properly extended to members OF crews grown
veteran or become disabled In this arduous and
pcrilous service. These men are invMianly rOor;
earning acanty subsistence by 0shing, and
largely dependent upon their small pay ~. SURF
men, and age or innrmity lessons their slender
means Of support while death leaves thcIi ialh-
lies unprovided for
The subject OF proper compensation for the
serious consideration. These Keepers are r5-
CURED to be men OF exceptional qhaiihcatons
among their fellows. Their duty Is to save life
and property ieoparded Nv The stranding Of ves-
sells. They are noted tor their mastery IN hand
ling DO t. In dangerous seas and in the haz .rd-
Gus contRuities of wrecks, AMI, being captains
Of their respective crews, IRE tesp nsible Tor the
selection and conduct OF the tier. and must
have the faculty of commanding men. They are
also responsible for the putl,c property under
their charge at the stations. At present they re-
ceiye only 500 per annum, and II Is absolutely
necessary that this should ne Increased. At
the time Of the re"reanization in
1871 1t was barely possible to secure
proper men at this rate, and up to this time they
have boon retained chiefly upon the hope of
augmented remuneration. This hope has
almost ceased to exist. aud the superintendents
Of the districts represent that the difficulty OF
obtaining good keepers vcrgcs MISUNDERSTANDING
Unless an adequate compensation Is provided
for these Officers the service must inevitably
suffer, and the country be disgraced, upon some
the serious duties of lfe-saying have fallen into
incompetent hands. Legislation, therefore, to
secure appropriate phy to the keepers OF the lie
saving stations Is recommended.
SEPARATE DEPARTMENT.
The success which has attended this service
since ita reorganz ton In 1871 has hcen pr
eminent but the consideration OF tts r1picly-
| increasing proportions aud signal Import nee,
induce the conyic Ion that the time clnnot he
| longer deferred for its erection into distinct
| establishment. under n recoguized and respOn.
| sibe administrators upon the comnietiOn OF
| the few remaining stations authorized. the
charge will comprise the entire coast Of tue
| United states. and the gulrdian.hip OF the
greater portion OF all tho lives aud vessels Inn
periilcd thereon. IL will involve the care of
| over $50 stations, and the direction ana dls-
cipline Of more than Lao subordinate Tue
! determtna'lo nj acqu,sion OF uroDcr sites Tor
| the stptions the transfer Of the latter from
tune to time, TO sucn locations as constant
| changes IN the character OF the coast me grow
ing frequency OF wrecks 1T given points. or
other causes NAV necessitate; the devlsinx,
| erection, and preservation OF ttion houses
| suitable for the accommodation Of crews
| aud those they rescue ana for the protec-
| ton of their various apparatus ana equip
! ments; the iudicious purchase of tneir furni-
| tue and supplies tho choice Of able and tSl-
Gent dtstttct superintendents. keepers, and surf
| mem and the constant supervision of their opo-
| ritiOns: the lretui tabulation OF wreck stats
lies Tor the ben nt Of shipping interests: tho
perpetual reference to multifarious sources OF
Information 1T home aud abroad Tor data anu
sugges ions calculated 10 further the develop
IN ut and perfection Of the systsm; aud the un-
ceasing surveillance OF all pIins. devices, anu
Inventions for establishing COMMUNICATIONS
with wrecks, or saving lives tmpefriled upon
them. includIn1 tho practical trial and decision
upon the nv nlapilitg Of such as may bo pIe-
scnted-ali pertain TO the 500 q OF the Life-
: wing service, sud amply justify it, formal
creation as sucU ana l 4, cOntnittn TO Tue care
| OF an experienced anu ahie Ofncer, VINO G IN ue-
vote to II his undivided faculties aud energies. .
The legislation proper 10 accomplish TINS end
| IA therefore recommended.
Tho act OF June ~. 1874, provides for two
classes of lif.-sdVing medai,-the dtst 90 be De
slowed upon those persons WAC sign nv endaIiI
ger their lives In tue effort To rescue others, M
IN. second for thusc VINO snow ~ siuiiar en-
deaVnrs n gallantrS less hazardous In degree.
IL Is sugYe- ted that there re Iu-t noes where,
without lie being actually riskcd. silnal eNer
tons are made In rendering assistance t. snip
wrecked or drowning persons. Involving CON
la a. aHa al
aud property. and that modiD- .tion OF Inc ,c
50 as To recognize, up.er the provision io
meuris OF Tue SSoond class, such cases. mielt b'
expedient.
. Under the present aystem. a constant patro
Of the c.s-i l. maintained 10y the Keepers oi "a
! llfc-SaNINg stations FOR from Tour 10 six month
of the year, together with some degree Of watch
fulncSs for the remainder. Iy vcstng the-
keepers with the powers Of Inspectors of Gus
toms, gn effective coast guard. largely proven
tive. of smuggling and plundering of wrec =
might be created without expense and leg ia
ton to this effect may be deemed advisable.
, During the year several donations Of bcOhs, e
form Libraries for the use If the crews OF tn,
! Iife-savlng stations, have been received from be
nevoleut persons. They VIII undouotedly con
) the tedum and nonotoDy Of me wdton at tines
Isolated positions, and suitable cases have beet
prepared Tor their protection and ,lso to enable
them TO be exchanged from time l. tine betweeI
the stations win visW OF extending their ben
cnts.
shipping. required Uy act Of CONGRESS, June ~
1874, Viii toe folud append I'd to TIL anhuAirepOr
VI TIC SpttaNouo VI t4c htlfiNp.
LIGHTHOUSE EsrABLIsHNENr
During the last DC 4 wear ~ new lighthouses
- river lights, l. ~ si-n ls' - oeaSons ni ;
70 hupNs have been established. aud II lighthouses
IL liver lights. hgntsnip, II be cons. and
buoNs have been discOntiuued. Tue total mum
Der OF such niis nt the close u the were 60
lighthouses. NJ river lights, - nEht .
: steam i1r si-nas. a, nracuus, ana @.N,i buoy
distributed upon an extent ot ocean. lake, an,
Iiyer coast uueGuAiled by tb.t WITHIN tne scop
OF .ul similar establishment In the world.
The multlfarious duties couuscled with th
lighthouse service have oetn satisfactorily yer
formed ny the Lighthouse Board. anI tue cntir,
establishment i ~ an emcient and creditdul'
The .rouoseI Introduction of mineral OIL "A
an iiluminaut fer lighthouses nus been ncl yct
by "a claim that tie burner used by the Ii-nt
house Board iufringes u patent granted t. pri
Vate parues Inc matter - receiving tnr aften
ton OF the board aud tue dep t.ucnt, anj a. q
hoped thit toe delay Will be hlt tom Gravy.
The lights recently placed upon The Nc-teri
rivers continue To- eve great satl-iActinn to tu'
immense siippnS iuicscsts upon those waters
men IN I tn lighting ui the riv,r-. winch hA
pten eue'ted a. com. ilhtVeb uiu'n-t xpehse
other measures taken " the Government 70
thcir improvements
Lighisnip No. a, for witch nm appropriation
Vas made bv Congress Is nearly clmpietcd
THIS vessel has been uuiit with ercit care aut
hdtei WIN every Appliance 10 render his safe an'
emiieh'. She VIII nave, Tor fog si-nal putpo'us
cdoric siren, frl which excellent results a.
expected, and viii &c valuable addition 10 tn
aids needed upon our coast for the safety o
mArtnors.
Ia its estimates tho Lighthouse Board has
az in asked an apprlprdtipa Tor bIliiug 81
lighthouse At or In the NlcilitY OF An .riran
Sho1l, Florida reef 10 Nght the Il AK space Ire
tween SOmrreTO and ~tni Key Ignt,. OWN
b t. the strong ana variable currents along tn
e llOuda reef, NAVIGATION IS difficult and danger
Gus, many wrecks involving heavy loss occur
ftu9 every vnar rho Iisnt upon American ShOd
b Is one 81 the system Proposed ~ tho ldght
- ! house Board for permanently aud cillcientl
lighting tails dangerous 60 AT, aud should b
$ | bulit without unnecessary delay.
- lue bofrd has ais estimated for money n
| place u nghtship ana fox signal upon lunit
81 NhOal, "A Troublesome and dangerous luCli.y 81
4 the south at 81 Louisiana, and Tor new
4 steam tendon fOr the Pacific cotst. uotn the-
| items are o. especial import Ance, ana Shout
T. ! receive attention.
COAST SURVEY.
, The important work committed to this branc
, | Of the puOliC service hls Dcen adv need uunu
: the year by numerous reCOnnOissl rccs, ri .ngl
latiOns, tidal observations, and extensions a
"a coast tupOIrdulN at nc rlY one huuuled otnli
/, ties upon the Atlantic, Gun, and Pacific coast
= There have also been certain DETERMINATIONS q
: latitude and longi tude IN some Oi tine interiu
I States OF tho Union, several OF whi'n have re
a comfy Instituted systematic surveys of thel
" area. lide taules for the PRINCIPAL ssaports %
=, the United states have been pm ulishrd, a nu N
Der OF new charts 81 the coast unlsued, an
=, others have received additions bV cngfayiul
, Inc second volume OF the \ iantic Coast Pilu
=. has also been under prepaTati ", and Is noaTl
Ulal