The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-11-20
OUR LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
Eight New Stations to Be Built on This
Coast,

YIN LII = GA fl.Nu oLIk itbs
Eight New Stations to Be Built on This
Coast,
Before q year from this time Major
Blakeney, superintendent of the gov
ernment life-saving service OF this
district, is confident that lie will have
fitted up in readiness for work, eight
new stations at various points along
the coast, where the need of them has
often been demonstrated. They are
rendered possible by the recent action
OF congress and more especially by
the subsequent action of general
superintendent KimbalI, at whose
discretion funds appropriated are ex-
pended. Within a few days b ids will
be advertised for by Major Blakeney
for the construction OF station
building on the Preside reservation,
Just east of Fort Winfield Scott; for
another similar on the beach at Point
Reyes north of the lighthouse. and
for desired improvements to the sta
ton at Humboldt bay.
The Park station is also soon to be
enlarged by adding an l., to give
room for more men and for improved
equipment. The surf boat is likely
to be removed from this station, as it
is OF little value there, to the new
station inside the Golden Gate. Only
the beach apparatus, mortar lifeline,
etc., will be left at the Park station.
A plat of ground 300x600 feet, has
been given the service for the Pre-
sidio station. A station building, two
stories high, with a tower and a
launching way 200 feet long, will be
built, and also two story house for
the keeper and men. A large lifeboat
of the the most improved "non-cap-
sizing" pattern will be put here, as
we'll as all other necessary appliances.
At Point Reyes the station will be
very similar, only no launching way
will be required. At Humboldt there
is some talk of removing the light
house to another part of the bay. If
this is done it is planned to make use
Of the present light keepers house
for the life saving service. The other
new stations provided for, to be built
and equipped as rapidly as possible,
will be at San Pedro, Gray's harbor,
Loomis Point, near Shoalwater bay,
Fort Stevens, near Astoria, Yaquina
bay and iUmpqua river harbor. It
is planned, also to move the Neah bay
and Cape Arago stations to better To-
cations near, and to improve by ad-
ditional equipment, ETC., the stations
at Shoalwater bay, Cape Disappoint-
ment or Cape Hancock (as residents
now call the cape).
The board of marine underwriters
of this city recently, moved by the
apparent neglect for some years Of
this coast in the way Of life saving
| improvements, wrote to general su-
perintendent Kimball, setting forth
earnestly the needs OF the service
here. In response Mr.. KimbalI re-
piled at length, announcing his in
tention of Immediately taking the
necessary steps toward the desired
additions and improvements.
In the letter of the underwriters
reference is made to the recent City
Of Chester disaster, and opinion is
expressed that the loss of life there
might have been avoided had the
proposed station on the Presidio
beach been in service. The hearty
cooperation of the superintendent in
securing the stations provided for is
asked. in the interests Of commerce
on this coast, and the business COM
munity generally.
In his reply, dated October 3lst,
| general superintendent Kimball says
"that ever since the return OF lieuten-
ant Mcclellan and engineer Won
Bayer, who were sent to your coast
as q commission to ascertain its
needs, the attention of our architect
and engineer has been entirely de-
voted-with the exception of certain
unavoidable interruptions-to the
preparation of plans and specifica-
tions for the new stations contem-
plated for the Pacific coast and the
improvement of the old ones. At the
date of your letter authority of law
existed for the construction Of Sta
tions at Fort Point, Point Reyes and
Point Adams Fort Stevens) at the
mouth of the Columbia river only.
Plans and specifications for the sta
ton first named are completed. and
as soon as they can be printed in
form for submission to contractors,
advertisements will issue inviting
proposals for the work. The same
may be said in reference to the sta
ton at Point Reyes. 1 think that I
may safely say that the advertise
ments will issue within three weeks,
perhaps sooner. Proposals for the
building of Point Adams station will
also be shortly invited. I hope,
therefore. to be able to have oil three
of these stations well under way in
the early spring."
Mr.. Kimball mentions also his in
tentlon to have the stations above
named built, and concludes: 81
recognize the fact that the Pacific
coast is greatly in need of the protec-
tion which these stations would af-
ford, and shall put forth earnest
efforts to supply this protection as
soon as possible. ."-S. T. Bulletin, Is.