Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-12-13
ACTIVE work NEEDED.

-.
The importance of having our harbor
was made manifest during
the season just closed by the many dis
vessels labOred under in
taking on cargoes at this port. During
the entire season large crafts were
obliged to go outside, into deep water, to
complete their cargOes. Last season the
large steamers of the Western TranspOr-
tation company called here regularly.
The past season, owing to the low stage
of water, they could not make the port,
and consequently gave Cheboygan the
go-by. 1t is highly important to the fu-
ture interests and development of our
village that the harbOr be completed at
the earliest day possible. In order to do
this it is necessary that there should be
a sufficient appropriation made by Con-
gress for doing the work. The question
is, is it likely that Congress will make
such an appropriation unless our citi-
zens, who are the most deeply interested
in the improvement, take some interest
in the matter? Other places interested
in securing appropriations work to Sc
cure the best appropriations possible,
and the result is shown in the amounts
they secure. The business of our har-
Dor is increasing very rapidly each year,
and the probabilities are that it will
continue to do so, and this makes it inn
perative that the work should be COM
pleted in order to accommodate the traf-
fic. u ~ H-t o. t +
If any effort is to be made on the part
OF our citizens to secure such an appro-
priation as will accomplish the work
needed, it is time some action was being
taken, and no time should be lost in OF.
ganizing and perfecting some arrange.
ment whereby the Importance of having
the harbor completed can be fully sci
forth and presented to Congress. We
are satisfied that such showing can be
made as will convince our national leg.
islators of the business of our claims fol
a liberal appropriation. I'VE are conf.
dent that Representative Horr, of this
district, will do all he can to secure Che
bOygan fair share in the appropria-
tiOns for harbor improvements, and that
his efforts will be ably supported by all
of Michigan's representatives and sena-
tors, but unless their efforts are backed
by our citizens by show of interest in
having the work completed we have very
great doubts about their success in Sc
curing an appropriation adequate to do
the work so imperatively required. The
harbOr should be completed next season,
and we believe that if our citizens take
hold and work for it that sufficient ap-
preparation can be secured to do the
work. Shall it be done?
THE annual report of the general
of the life saving SER
vice shows that, at the close of the fiscal
year, the establishment embraced 172
stations, of which 1876 were on the At
lantic, 80 on the lakes and on the Paci-
fic. Within the limits of the operations
of the service, there were 319 disasters
to vessels. The number eff persons on
board these vessels were 2,1O7, of whom
1904 were saved and So lost. There were
succOred at stations 81 shipwrecked
persons, 1,O74 days relief being afforded
them in the aggregate. The number of
persons brought ashore from wrecked
vessels by life saving appliances of sta
tiOns was 412. In addition the life saw
ing crews assisted off when stranded,
got out of dangerous positions and pilot
ed to places of safety, SO vessels. The
estimated value of the whole number of
vessels involved was $1,922,276, and of
their cargoes $685., $40, making the total
value of property in peril $2,887,8S6. Of
this amount 81 ,445,0S6 was saved and
$1,442,SOO lost. The number of disasters
involving total loss of vessels was 81.
The number of disasters to vessels, 217.
is greater than that of any previous
year. the highest former number hay
ing been III. The report closes with an
exhibit of the efficacy of life saving sta
lions, special instance given having
reference to the lakes. 1t is shown that
on these waters the loss of life in 1876,
when there were no life saving stations,
was I out of 81 persons on board vessels
suffering disasters, or one out of every five
casualties. In 1877 IL stations were in
operation portion of the year, to which
10 were added in the latter part. As a
result, only one out of every 60 persons
imperilled was lost, or one out of six cas-
ualties. In 1878, the number of stations
was further increased and the loss of life
was reduced to one out of every 1O2 per-
sons imperilled, or one out of every eleven
casualties. All this time the stations
were crippled by the insufficiency of the
arrangements for the proper mainten-
ance of crews. This being remedied by
the act of June Is, 1878, in 1879 the loss
of life sank to one out of every PIG per-
sons imperilled, or one out of 21 casual
ties. 1t is further shown that since the
commence of the present fiscal year, up
to the date of the report, including an
unusually calamitOus autumn in that
region, 81 disasters have occurred with
in the field of life saving operations on
the lakes, there being on board the YES
sells involved, 468 persons of whom only
one was lost.
SECRETARY SHERMAN does believe the
three-and-a-half per cent refunding
scheme practicable. The Secretary
holds that the naOnla will not invoct in