The New York herald., 1877-01-11
OUR LIFE SAVING STATIONS.

INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE PAST YEARS
oPEIArIoNs-THE WORK DONE AND THE
LIVES SAVED.
Mr. S. j. Kimball, Chief Clerk Of tho Treasury, hav.
ing charge the United States LILO Saving Service,
has submitted his annual report tho Secretary
Treasury.
The total expenditures during tho past year have
been $2Ol, $50.
The Lilo Saving Service establishment present
organized, comprises eleven districts, embracing tho
ocean and lake coasts
CREWS AND COMPENSATION.
Tho personnel of the service administered
embraces a superintendent for each DISTRICT keeper
for each station, and oil surf Tor each,
the latter being employed for different periods diff
feren parts OF tho coast the length oil the nclcmcn
season is supposed TO require The annual compensa-
ton of the superlntendents IS 81 600 that Of tho
Keepers $780, and tho surimen receive $40 per month
during the period OF their active employment. Tho
enlirc service IS under the Immediate charge si an
officer oi the Treasury Department
INTERESTING STATISTICS
Tho number OF shipwrecks at these stations during
their cargocs, $470, ,03S number OF lives saved, 729;
value OF property saved $s47 1884, The total number
25 The superintendent staes that the past year has
been the most caamitous OF any IN tho annals oi tho
service sinCe its reorganization in ISL
FATAL DISASTERS.
-Four fatal disasters occurred within the limits
OF the life saving operations during that PERIOD nvov
ing tho loss OF lives, ncludlng those OF
the o.thc Italian. This number exceeds the az.
gregate of the whole loss suffered the service during
the four years OF It's existence under The
TEN. Mr.. Kmball hero proceeds relate successvcy
the partcuars OF each disaster referred 10 in the
port.
| STORM SIGNALS.
The storm signal system OF the Signal Service is
now directly connected with the life saving stations al
localities the Atlantic coast, and the benefits
derived from The combination OF the two systems have
fully equalled anticipation, particularly during the
past year The number OF disasters In this ncghbor
hood mas been diminished by the display OF cautonary
storm signals TO greater extent than would be sup
posed, unless upon comparison oil the statistics OF dis
astcrs during the past ten years.
ACCEPTABLE
1t is gratifying says Mr.. Kimball to note, among
the incidents OF the year, the donation OF books
several occasions Tor the use OF the life saving sta
TONS The ucccpablcncss ol such gifts to the
who placed In locations OF isolation can readily be
appreciated, particularly when IL Is remembered that
! tho government makes provision for reading mat.
ter for the crews ol the life saving stations.
REcoMaENDATioyS
Mr. kimball rehcarses tue history OF the fo Saving
Service from Its first establishment coasts and
recommends that u rate OF compensation be Above
for this service commensurate with It's prvatlons
hazards and to the qualifications OF those cmpsy ed
also that authority be gwen to enlist crews ior
period of from three to five years increase OF the
number OF stations between Capcs Henry and Hat
OF all the TO render them capable in time
station keepers with the powers oil Inspectors OF Gus