The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-04
Annual Report of General Superin-
tendent Kimball.
DISASTERS DURING THE YEAR
Lists Of Stations Equipped and in Opera.
tion-ImrOvemenls Suggested.
WAsHisGros. Jan. 3. 1878.

the las, 6scal year. Tho reports OF the superintend
ents OF tho show that there have been
during the year l34 disasters TO vessels within the
limits OF tho operations OF the service. On board
these vessels there just 500 persons The est
mated value OF tho vessels was Sl,9s6, 744, and
that Of their cargocs l,3o6,5SS making
total valuation OF So. 293, 1872 Tho number
Of lives saved 1,46l, and Of those
lost 80. Shpwrecked persons. numbering 1858, were
sheltered at the stations, and the total number OF
days. shelter afforded them 963 The total amount OF
property saved was $l7l3 CAT, and tho amount lost
$l5796s5. The number of disasters resulting In total
loss 10 vessels and cargoes 81 On nearly every
occasion of disaster AID oil rendered by
tho crews OF the Stations either succorng the ship
wrecked or saving property, and, upon fifty occa-
SONS by the OF tho lie saving apparatus an az
gregate OF ST. persons were landed
FATAL DISASTERS
There were four fatal disasters within the limits Of
the operations OF service In 1876 and by an odd
coincidence, the same number has occurred during
the present year. The Jour wrecks referred TO have
involved the loss OF thirty-ninc lives, and although
this number exceeds that OF the preceding year by
seventeen 1t Is gratifying TO DO able TO state that In
10 instance the sad result referabie to the conduct
Of the life saving crows any defects In the meth
DDS OF deliverancc employed ny the government.
In fact this dismal record Is solely one
OF mcu pcrshng by their own mpru-
denco or in fortune and Il s m,tieaed by the con
sideratlon hat ali possible efforts were promptly and
powerfully made IN their behalf by the Lilo saving
Service. The disasters alluded to are those OF the
Circassan, the Massachusetts,. the Amcrque and the
Margaret and Lucy, uli ana interesting de-
tails OF which are contained 10 the report
STATIONS ssTADLIsiiED.
In addition to tho stations which we're incomplete
a. the date OF The last annual report, but have
surOS Inc pb Sss usS sIro, yeIS 'eOHd s
GroC Pain vnu Sf onl
10, three teboat stations in district No IL Pa-
chic coast located respectively at Neah Bay, Shoal-
water Bay and Capo disappointment, have been
erected aud those at Buffalo and Crosse Point have
been iuly equipped aud opened tor thespresent sea-
The three stations on the Pacific coast are now
receiving their equipments and will be ready Tor
SERVICE An excellent for the liieboat station
thorized to be established near San Francisco has
been Obtained through the courtesy and Kindness OF
the city authorities Of San Francisco, within the
limits OF Golden Gate Park just south OF tho
Cliff house, aud contract has been entered into Tor
the construction Of a creditable building.
CONDITION OF DISTRICT NO. b.
Under tie head OF Inflammation OF Keepers and
Crews" superintendent Kinball says.
The condition district No. the Board Of Examiners
found quite or the eight xeepcrs Examined
ave incompetent. and OF the sarfm more than
evidences OF neglect aud indifference were ABUNDANT and
.ns pu. IN order for although BEEN
!or some time At the ss..icrs The Board en-, en-;
OF the grave responsibilities resting upon them and
* aa Then 70 also
into the causes Of this unfortunate condition
@sonespion on me Par. Of the Of his
aud bee" in lis mind the aud
lions small local politicians. OF them hold
es. ns he ws. Of the ana had eonsrse
sdssy on ns . 70 &C o..
sonr both keepers and surmen, thereby producing a
ann being to savsnce their own political through
the d these parasites and retainer They had
int endent to the extent Of making him believe that the
their desires belief iossred by frequent endesvors
which actually made tor his displacement by local
IMPROVEMENT IN APPLIANCES.
The report gives spucc TO the important question OF
improvement In life saving appliances, showing that
effort for the improvement oil the appliances
use Ior saving lie from shipwrecked vessels which
tho department has steadily made since the reor-
OF the service have been continued during
tnc past year. and have boon rewarded with important
results. An Increased compensation IN the pay Of
keepers Of the various stations IS recommended. and
on tnis topic superintendent KimbalI Says
There has been disposition to unduly extend the life
saving service but rather In the interests oil
sons bn il would be remssness least not to
the OF certain stations for which there
existing 1%sod "a ns % Of
points and lake OF the United
Si life saving stations. that the Tor gala
ing the valuable when ne statistic. Of wrecks
available and the commission had rely
as they could CLEAN from the Of
ship masters officers OF the customs and others whose
The OF their work Is indicated by the
point selected by them 1T which have been e.tsb
shed The researches 4 the commission the southern
being extremely account Of suspension Of trade
The 70 ,s
has plainly showed the need OF additional stations the
a. was stated in the report Of last year that
81: Of these S. ss might be
was maze during the last winter ana sprius Tut the
coasts named stations, the distance
between winch averages ten miles which lar too great to
the service.
THE PATROL SYSTEM
On other portions Of the Atlantic coast which
admit or the patrol the stations are from three to
four miles apar!-a distance FULLY, great enough
ton in the fierce storms OF winter, with
safety 10 the patromen. The distance Is also great
ss 70 materially impair the chances IL reaching IN
occur midway between the stations
ADDITIONAL STATIONS RECOMMENDED
IL is therefore recommended that authority DO given
for establishing additional stations coast,
sermedste points between those oxstnR Five others
should also be located between the southernmost sa
ton and Cape Fear. Strong petitions Tor the estaC-
lishmen Of lfeboat station at Galveston, and upon
other portions OF the coast OF Texas, have been
received. The commerce Of Galveston has had
large and rapid growth within tho past few
years, and the increase OF the shipping Of the port
has been accompanied with such corresponding fro.
disasters extend to shipping At other points tho
coast-more especially those most exposed TO tho
force OF the northers which sweep over the Gulf.
-Four life boat stations are, therefore,
10 be estabiished-one NJ Galveston, ono at Pass
CnvslIo. one at Mustang Island and one a. Brazos
Santiago. On the great lakes additional stations
should bs established as io!lows:-
On Lake hichigan-comple.e life saving stations at
Sleeping Bear Point and at Baycy's HsrDor, and lifc
beat stations al Kcnosha and Muskcgon.
On Lake Huron-Complcte .lie saving stations Mt
OLD Point Aux barques. near Port Austin, ana at Mid
die Island, and liIeboat station at sand Beach.
There should also DO established complete life
saving stations ~ Cranberry Isles, Ne, and Watch
Hill, r. !.
stations Il may be remarked that the members of tho
Commission referred 10 concur Less hesitancy Is
felt IN urging this recommendation III view
OF tho TACT that but small appropra.
ton will DO required an economical manage I'm emit
of ne appropriation Tor tho cstab OF the
tons authorized by tho act OF Juno 20 1874 having
left an uncxponded balance OF more tban $780, 900,
which would suffce TO construct and equip a large
proportion OF the stations suggested The oldcr sta
lions will begin 10 require outlay repairs and
4 n C0ulpmentB. and ha n