Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-18
REVENUE MARINE
Scope of tho 4rduoas Work Reformed by
This Important Serviee.

Scope of the ArdHoas Work Reformed by |
This Important serviee-
The establishment of the Revenue
Marine, or what is more famiIiarly
known as the Revenue-cutter Service,
antedates that of the present navy. The
former was organized in 1870. and con-
>equentiy has nearly reached the CEN
tennial anniversary of its existence.
While it is known that such corps is
part Of the Government machinery.
there is little understanding by the pub
lie generally regarding its scope and
character and the magnitude of its
varied duties
The Revenue Marine at the present
time has complement of 20 vessels. Il
of which are sloops. steam-launches
and harbor boats. i sailing bark. and
the remaining 25 steamers ranging
from $50 TO 500 tons burden The
Bear. noted for the part taken in the
Greely relief expedition. which was re-
Gently transferred to this service, is
slightly in excess of the tonnage men
timed. In 1913 steamers were first
introduced, and BY gradual steps
were substituted for the old top
sail schooner type of craft then
in use IA relic Of the days of privateer-
ing). until now but one sailing cutter Is
left The first screw-propeliers were
the Legare and Spencer; these proved
failures, and soon went out ofuse- The
side-wheel steamer Harriet Lane. chris
tened after the accomplished niece OF
President Buchanan. was among those
first built Her career was notable
enc She took part in the naval expe-
dition to Paraguay. and in the late war
was several times under fire. Most Of
the feet are staunch. fast thorough sea-
gong vessels. of good manageable quail
ties in rough weather, and equipped for
almost any emergency likely to arise
The greater number of them have been
constructed under the immediate super
vision OF officers of the corps. and have
been devised with special reference to
the wants of the several stations. and
many are considered admirable models
of their size and type They are usually
armed with from two TO four breech-
loading rifed cannon. and provided with
necessary small-arms for the use OF
crews The Commodore Perry, one
of the handsomest and swIftest cutters
IN the service. cruising on Lake Erie.
miles an hour on her trial trip. II is
belived that this result has not been ex-
ceede.i BY any Government vessel
The steamers Of the Revenue Marine
are, as a general rule, ready at a
moments call to proceed upon pro-
longed and important missions; as has
been stated they have been among the
first armed force to repel foreign
enemy, or aid in the prevention or Set
t5ement Of international complications.
In less than ten days after the ratihca-
ton Of the treaty l1S561 for the pur-
chase Of Alaska the revenue steamer
Lincoln, under command of Captain
John ". White, was dispatched 10 that
region, and much information was OBJ
tanned regarding the geography, re-
sources. productions. climate, etc, of
the country. This cruise has been fol-
lowed yearly by the cruising of revenue
vessels in the waters of Alaska and up
to the present time no vessel OF the
service has met with disaster while en-
gagged in such arduous work
A vessel that has gained distinctive
public reputation for her various eype-
tons 10 the Arctic IS the steam-cutter
Thomas Corwin-
The Revenue Marine, while being a
part of the Treasury organization, has
always been regarded as belonging 10
the military force of the Government
While a;d NJ the civil establishment IN
the enforcement OF certain laws, il can.
at the pleasure of the President be ac-
counted As part Of the navy Congress
has conferred naval rank and authority
upon the officers. who are appointed by
the President by and with the advice
e IL ha4A
their commissions during good be-
havior- The Secretary Of the Treasury
is intTusfed with the immedi ate control
and management OF The service. as well
As the stafioning Of vessels and officers;
he determines the number OF petty off,
GERS and seamen, and designaies the
collector Of customs under whose su-
pervision each vessel Is placed
The jurisdiction OF the customs au-
fhorisy is confined within limit ex-
tending four leagues from the coast
Vessels arriving in United States waters
are boarded and examined. their papers
certified TO, and proper faStenings. II
deemed necessary affixed to the matches
communicating with the holds This
work IS often accompanied @ifh much
difficulty and danger. as any mlshap IN
lowering q boat IN 4 heavy sea, or
want of skillful management IN going
alongside of a ship under way, N ght
occasion d saster and loss of ] fe- When
ever a vessel liable to seizure or exam
ination does not bring to- when re-
GU red TO do SO, the commander OF a
cutter. after the discharge of a caution
arv gun, can fire into such vessel and
ali persons acting under his orders are
unidentified from any penalties or ac-
tons for DANA res--L9eat eE7a7t H'arth
q. Ross. [. RIM. Sn Rarper's Mag
R-Izc-