New-York tribune., 1881-12-03
LyFF-g1VIYG sRRVTCE REPORT

The cheerful, encouraging tone of the report
of the Lifc-Savng Service for the last year, just
published, seems justified by the general work
Of the Service and the faithful efficiency Of
both officers and men. la consequence of the
almost Unprecedented length and severity Of
last winter the number of disasters to shipping
was larger than that Of any year. except that of
the one just preceding. since the Service was
innugllratcd. So also with the number of
wrecks involving total destruction of vessels
Yet, in spite of this, the number of lives lost in
1SsO-'Sl was smaller than that of any year
excepting the last Nothing could afford IA
more positive proof Of the increasing efficiency
Of the Service than the fact that i'll the two
years when disasters have been most numerous
and irreparablc, the number of lives lost has
been the smallest.
During last year the number OF lives i'm
periled reached 1850. and of these only
twcnty.six were lost Besides this actual saw
ing of life, thu crews rescued or assisted in
the rescue Of property to the valuation of
Si.O5i, 1852. The evidence in favor of their
faithful performance of duty becomes stronger
when We note the fact that OF the twenty six
persons lost, twenty were drowned Immediately
before any help could reach the vessels endan-
gered two persisted from exposure, on ship
drifting to land and two from the breaking up
of the same vessel one from trying to land on
the ships boat, and one deserted by the ships
crew For none of these deaths should the
Service Justly be held responsible.
Superintendent Kimball records the fact that
three members Of crew perished last year
while rescuing the lives of Others and the re-
;,,,, and ptr
pled for life. Captain Joseph Sawyer also died
on this field of honor. He uoes not state, how
ever, that any pension has been awarded to
the wives and children of these soldiers who
laid down their lives in better cause than that
fought for on any tented field. They are left
10 starye, in company with the widows and
orphans of the crew that perished at Point aux
Barques.
Mr.. Kimball calls attention to another matter
which threatens not only the efficiency but the
very life of the Service. The pay of both
kecpers and surfmcn is so much below that
which able men can earn at less perlOus work
Mt many points of the coast that large num-
ber have thrown up their positions, and others
are only induced to remain for this season, hav-
ing been encouraged TO hope that the present
Congress will raise tho salaries to sums more
adequately representing the labor and danger
involved. One station is closed, as no compe-
tent men can be found willing to take the places
of keeper or surlmen at the present rates of
compensation. Few words are needed for this
matter If there is a shadow of suspicion that
the money appropriated to this Service is mis-
applied, then let US withhold it, But the fact
is and the people know it, that the Life-Saving
Service is the one single branch of the Govern
ment against which no such charge has ever
been made or could be made. Every dollar
given to it has been accounted for, and every
dollar has yielded enormous interest in prop
erty saved and in priceless human life The
management and working of the Service in the
minutest detail have always been open to public
scrutiny, and their exemption from political
faint and corruption and their zeal and steady
adherence to duty have been as deserving of
praise as their noble purpose. If the Govern
ment, then, is doing great work. and doing it
well, in this matter, willy should it fall to the
ground for the lack of paltry sum, less than
would be Daid for tbs erection of a singlA