Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-02
9Hs uuI4HD STATES LIPB saw
Iuo aBnvIcE


"o8s A8tuD 88u ~ ACOo9Pasoovo.
Eaisors Of tie Ke~ae5es Journal:
The general public Of our vsss ccnti-
mental nsssou. even ia those portinus mcss
interested. are, doubtless, quite isncfsnf Of
the merits md prominence Of that impof-
t4nt branch Of our 9overrmsns service
kroxn ~ the Life Saving Service bfsreh
which for years. Vas 80 igncfAnsly or care
lesssy ignossd or neglected TIA. j. barely
had An exisencs in name and practice. bus
has nov net oniy become . fixture. bat =
remarkable ore, in pcius Of effectiveness
and usefulness. claiming not merely the
attention OF this countfy but that OF the
whole CIVILIZED world, ard excs!iins All
other methods fer saving life and properly.
Ia describing some Of the chief features.
conditions and usss Of this service, / mu.t
il The Srss place acknowledge ny indebted
ne IS 70 the general sapsfin.endens, who has
kindly furnished ms with all suia siens data
and facts desirable ALSO 10 Hon. w. d O'Con-
nor the late assistant superintendent. whose
compilation Of statistics are often partially
embodied IN this description
Sumner I. Kimbal. TIE general supsrin-
tend NJ. vss horn 81 Lebanon, Maine
NEAR PoYtland) ani i, Ab3Ht so Yeas Of
sse. He graduated a. Bowdoin College,
adopted the profession OF Law, but subse-
qaentiy accepted . position 10 the second
auditors of.ce Of the treasury under Ezr.
r. French. formerly member Of Cong
rom gu, State.
Mr.. Kimball soon after became chief
clerk Of tina. office, from which be WAS ap-
sointed Chief OF the Revenue Maine Div
- st "a r..fI
gatil the Life saving Service was serara-
ted from that branch, when he vas nomin-
sted and confirmed ~ its general supsriu-
ssndent- He has shown marked ability and
judgment in each of tbs positions held b.
nm, but emipensiy these In the lister
His genius, aIer'ness. esrscisy, indefsti-
gable labors, perseverance under great diff
entities and andc1btsd success In his lines
# duty, nave not only commanded the
attention but the appreciation Of the Cav
sroms Mt and, wherever his Iabors are best
known, the admiration and gratitude Of the
people. He has brought up 3 Pickering,
Iimorous falnt-hesrEsd attempt at saving
human life ard valuable property, into
stout, vigorous, self ssserting, scxnow!-
edged reality aud success.
Such being the facts and success assured,
IL will undoubtedly be interesting, especial
~ 10 mariners and those people of our
country whose locstions aud interests CON-
meet them closely with the sea, to lesra
some Of the points relative TO the inception,
growth and development Of the system, its
salient features, methods, progress and
usefulness.
Want Of space for newspaper articles,
will oblge me to bs brief in degree for
= record Of all the facts incident to its his
tory would fill volumes and make me 40
suthor. New England particularly, which
10 80 greatly concerned in commerce and
shipping, should be well informed as to the
adAptsbiIity and workings of this grand
undertaking to save life and property Cd
the high seas.
The ses and lake coasts Of the United
Safes, not including Alaska, extend be.
tween 10 900 and 1000 miles, large
portion Of which are greatly exposed. and
consequently dangerous, especially so along
the entire Atlantic and the larger portion of
the lake eoasts-the latter being dashed by
fresh water waves often proving the more
dangerous.
The New England coast, particularly in
Massachusetts, bay, along Cape Cod aDd
around Nantucket snd off Newport, is ex-
ceedingly treaeherous, while the shores OF
New jersey, Delaware bay, Cape Hstterss
and vicinity and the Floriia reefs are
equally dangerous and sometimes much
worse.
The Gulf Of Mexico, also, especially
around Galveston, presents many difficulties
to navigation The water is shoal for a grea,
distance from shore, and the coast line low.
marshy and ssndy--the sands shifting rap
Idly at many entrances and leaving bars.
either permanent or temporary at the
en1snce OF some important ports.
The Pscific coast is not considered very
dangerous. as the shore line is quite regular
and has few hsrbors. Yet there are times
when dangerous storms occur and wrecks
are liable therefore stations are required
in some places.
Summing up, then, we are advised that
from Names eastern limit to Race Point
en- Cape Cod (4l5 miles) there are Elk cen
stations, ten on the Maine coast (including
the small extent of that of New Hsmp-
shire.) Two more are coon to be added to
Msine's portion aud possibly one or two to
the remainder. The Maine Gard N. H.
coast is called the LIST District with stations
as follows: