The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-12

chiefly in the legends told by some an
cient mariner and fugitive articles in the
daily press. Congress continued to make
small appropriations from time to time
until the coasts of Long Island and New
Jersey were supplied with huts, and a
small increase was made in the number OF
those on the coast of New England. But
for want of proper direction and system
the movement languished and almost sub
sided, only waking at intervals after some
more than usual large wreck and conse-
quent loss of life. The scheme had not a
few enemies in congress, who, while ad
hitting its usefulness, claimed that it
was unconstitutional. This argument
was also advanced and carried in other
countries, where the service has reached
the highest perfection. This is notably
so in England and France where
the establishment is supported by
voluntary contributions helped by occa-
sional appropriations of the government.
But, though under the patronage of some
member of the reigning family, the gov
eminent has no control of it. The United
States service is the only exclusively gov
ornamental establishment of the kind in
the world, and to it belongs the distinction
of having organized, after many years de-
lay, the most complete service in opera
ton, with, perhaps, the single exception
of the Royal society of England.
Matters went on in shiftless sort Of
way until 1854, in which year frightful
disaster occurred on the coast of New Jer-
sey, involving the wreck of the ship Pow
hatan, and the loss of over 300 lives. A
bill was Immediately introduced in con-
gress providing for the appointment of a
superintendent at a salary of $1,000 per
annum. keeper was assigned each sta
tion at salary of 5000; the stations and
their equipments were made serviceable,
and bonded custodians were secured for
the life boats. Partial improvement in
the service resulted; but the absence of
drilled and disciplined crews, of regula-
tions of any kind for the government of
those concerned, and above all of energet-
ic central administration of its affairs,
were radical defects, and the record con-
tinued to be one of meagre benefits
checkered by the saddest failures.
The need of crews to be sta
toned permanently at the depots
was mperatively felt, and in 1870 she bill
granting the appro priation for this pur-
pose was, after hard struggle, passed.
Order now began to come out of where
chaos had reigned for so many years, and
after few more terrible wrecks, where
many lives and immense sums could have
been saved, 100000 was appropriated to
be spent in improving the service under
the supervision of the secretary of the
treasury. Mr.. Sumner L. Kimball was
appointed superintendent of the bureau,
and under his management the establish
meat for the first time during its exist
ence. was conducted in a business like
manner. The whole service was reorgan-
lied; new houses we're erected and fur
nished with the latest improved appara-
tus; keepers were appointed for their fit
ness for the work and not for political
services, and the patrol of beaches by day
during thick weather was inaugurated.
The next step was to bring the stations
within distances of from three to five miles
of each other, in order that nelghborlng
station crews might be massed by signal
or message should extra help at wreck
be required. To this end twelve new sta
tions were built OF the New Jersey coast
and six on Long Island, and the location
of some existing stations changed. lhfse
measures and arrangements, somewhat
provisional in character, carried the
young service on with success for sew
eral years. The result of the new Or