The Portland daily press., 1883-12-10

bureau.
from the Washington Evening Star. Dec A.
A city paper in giving sketch of the lives
and public services of the various candidates
for the speakership, says Of Mr.. Cox: "It was
he who originated and carried through the
bill establishing the life saving service" Gov
Newell, of Washington Territory, formerly a
representative in Congress from New Jersey,
in recent message to the territorial legisla-
ture, claims the honor of having, by his ''indi-
vidual and unaided etforts,'' inaugurated the
life saving service of the United States, and
in support of his claim refers to his efforts in
this behalf as merSber of the House of Rep
resentatives in 1S4S. The governor claims
that while the whole credit of inaugurating the
life saving service of the United States is due
to his individual and unaided efforts" his SER
vices have been entirely igaored; that he has
never received any credit in any official re-
ports ON the subject; by the press of the coun-
try or from any Of the interests specially bene-
fitted thereby. What will the governor now
say, when he finds that all of his own exclu-
sive thunder is now being stolen by, and for
the benefit of, the lively and genial member
from New York.
The fact is the credit of originating, inagur-
ating or organizing the life saving service of
the United States belongs neither to Gov. New
ell nor to Representative Cox.
The records of Congress show that up to
1878 neither of those gentlemen did anything
more than to secure appropriations for the SER
vice on the coasts OF New Jersey and Long
Island where stations had already been estab-
lshed. The efforts of Gov. Newell secured an
appropriation of $4,000 for the New Jersey
coast In an eloquent speech on the subject
he portrayed the advantages of the service
in rescuing life and saving property, and de-
Tended his constituents against the charges
which had been made against them Of decoy-
ing vessels for the purpose of wrecking them.
The inauguration OF the life saving service
in the United States is due to the Humane
Society Of Massachusetts, which society was
originally formed in 1876 and incorpor rated in
1871. Its lend and design" was declared in
its charter to be "for the receiving of persons
who meet with such accidents as to produce in
them the appearance of death, and for promot-
ing the cause of humanity by pursuing such
means from time to time as shall have for
their object the preservation Of human life and
the alleviation of its miseries."
The efforts of this benevolent society was,
from time to time, aided by appropriations
from the National Treasury, which, up to
1870, amounted in the aggregate to $35, 900.
In the mean time certain stations had been es-
tablished on the coast of Massachusetts,. New
Jersey and New York by aid of Congressional
appropriations, and the supervision of these
stations was placed in charge of the revenue
marine bureau of the Treasury department
but the support derived from the government
was so meagre and of such uncertain tenure
that they were of little benefit for the purpose
for which they were designed. The first at
tempt to organize this service and give it eff
cheney was successfully made by the present
head of the bureau, Mr. s. /. Kimball, on his
appointment under Secretary Boutwell,, as
chief Of the bureau of revenue.marine, and to
the executive ability and zeal of that officer is
mainly due the remarkable success of the life
saving service of the United States, which is
to-day acknowledged to be superior to that of
any other country.
The legislation which made the life saving
service national institution, and which re-
suited in establishing the bureau having spec
ial charge of its administration was inaugural
ed by Mr.. Lynch of Maine, during the third
session of the Forty second Congress, as will be
shown by an examination OF the records OF
Congress, December 9, '72 (Con. Globe. D. 82)
Mr.. Lynch introduced bill establishing life
saving stations on the coast of New England,
Virginia and North Carolina, which bill was
referred to the committee OF commerce, of
which he was member, was reported back by
him January % Globe 794), and finally passed
with an amendment, which was made on his
motion providing for an examination,
under direction of the Secretary of the
Treasury, of the whole "sea and lake coast of
the United States" with view to the estab-
lishment of living saving stations, and direct
AHS bAo ocCL0baIl W tcpOEt az buc uo4b boo1lUu
OF Congress, the location recommended for the
establishment of such stations and the cost
thereof. The report of the Secretary was made
to the next Congress and appropriations made
in accordance Herewith. February IL, '73,
Mr.. Lynch introduced resolution inquiring
into the expediency of connecting by telegraph
the light house life saving and signal stations
of the United States, which resulted in an ap-
preparation during the same session to carry
out this object. The results which have been
accomplished under the legislation referred to
are, as we have said, mainly due to the efficient
head of the bureau, who is gentleman of un-
firing energy, of great executive ability, and
enthusiastically devoted to his work-a work
as noble as any ever engaged in by man.
The report of the operations of the bureau
for the last fiscal year shows the whole num-
ber of stations TO be 1874, of which 149 were on
the Atlantic, 81 on the lakes, on the Pacific,
and one on the falls OF the Ohio at Louisville,
Ky. Number who received succor at stations,
651, and of these 1879 days in the aggregate.
The estimated value of the vessels involved in
these disasters was 81, ,100, ,925: of cargoes ST.
075,615; total. $7,176,540. OF this amount
$5,610,S00 was saved, and 81 ,564, ,740 was lost.
The number of vessels totally lost was 6S. In
addition there have been 116 disasters to small
er crafts, such as sail boats, row boats, ETC., on
which were pa persons, 240 of whom were
saved and lost Total number of disasters,
416; total value of property involved, 81, ,242,-
100; total value saved, $5,671, 700; total value
lost, 81 ,571 ,020; total number of persons in
volved 4,036, total number saved, 4017; total
number lost, 10.