New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18
GOOD WORK OF THE LIFE-sAvERs.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE sUPERINTENDENT-HH
PAYS HIGH TRIBUTE TO THE

MEN EMPLOYE'

Washington, Nov l7.-The annual report of the
Genera Superintendent OF the life-savng stations
shows that during the last fiscal year the number
of disasters within the scope Of the service exceeds
that of any previous year by seventy-nine rms
large excess Is in a measure found 10 be due TO
the extension OF the service. but principally 10 the
conditions of weather which prevailed during> the
year. While the work Of he service is thus shown
10 have been increased. il IL satisfactory 10 know
that the record OF the year shows smaller proper
ton of .oss. in both life and property than any
previous year since the general extension of the
service. except. regards .fe, the year lSso and
regards property. the year 1884.
A; the cose Of the last fiscal year the establish
ment embraced 25l stations, 1884 being on the At
lantc SO on the lakes 10 on the Pacific and l at
the Falls Of the Ohio at Louisville. Ky.
The number Of disasters to documented vessels
within the field Of the operations OF the service
during the year 4s3 There on board these
vesse.s 402 persons o. whom 5,SS2 saved and
20 lost The estimated va.ue of the vessels in
vowed was $500. 10 and that of their cargoes
s2,65s6o. making tota value Of property imper-
lei slO6i72 35. or this amount s9,l4j.CS saved
and 81. 502,l $50 lost The number of vessels totally
lost was seventy-three.
In addition TO the foregoing there during the
year 1872 casualties small craft such small
yachts. saboats. rowboats, etc, on board OF which
there were 42l persons. AS OF whom saved and
lost. The result of all the disasters within the
therefore. as follows
Total number of disasters. CO. total value Of
property involved $40 25l75; total value of property
saved 1920 265: total value OF property lost N.5O4
So total number OF persons invo.ved 5,S23; tota.
number Of persons lost. 26; total number of ship
wrecked persons succored at stations. S3, total
Der OF days afforded. 49, number Of
totally lost 10.
Besides the number Of persons saved from vessels
Of all kinds. there 10 others rescued who had
fallen from wharves. piers, etc, the most OF whom
would have persisted without the aid OF the life
saving crews.
The crews saved and assisted to save during the
year $7s vessels valued with their cargoes 49,
56l.665, and rendered assistance Of minor impor-
lance to la other vessels Distress besides warn
ing from danger by the signals Of the patroinlen
2i9 vessels. The number OF lives and amount of
property saved through these warnings is. OF course
undetermnab.r. 1t is certain that numerous disas-
ters were thereby averted. but the lo$s of life and
property prevented never be known
Inc superintendent pays high tribute the
no ife was lost through the lack OF prompt and
5 ann enort me average annual loss OF life
perod since the general extension Of the service
mas been ! on; OF every lO7 persons board the
Vesse.s involved In disaster and the average
oSs II property 2 per cent out of the amount in
- persons on board. while last year Il was ! out
OF every ga TIE loss Of property in the former
involved whe asi year It '' was as only G per a c@nt
In 1884 the loss Of property was 1852 per cent and
hst year as Just stated IL per cent. while the loss
Of life was out Of every do persons on board
as against in every "a ast year
Much attention is paid 10 the improvements Of the
ast year, chief among which Is new station
contemplated IN Boston Hlrbor. Arrangements are
a.s0 about completed for inviting proposals for
building stations at Rocky Point. East Mario1
y. y. on Long Island.
Inc General Superintendent complains that the
appropriation made by the last Congress Of a uni
i9Ein rate OF 1850 per annum as compensation for
me district suoerint endents reducing the salaries
q eight OF them from $500 to 81 800 increa sing
those 81 four from $500 to $500. an in1us-
nee lie shows that the duties Of these officers
are are, OF great Importance and responsibility and
mat they are required 10 furnish bonds ranging
from $4,000 10 5000. he considers that 81 500 per
annum Is none too large salary for each He $50
Ceprecates the difference In the rates of cOnpensa-
ton paid to the surfmen-s6j a month TO those
serving eight and half months less and only So
10 those serving longer period. This causes dis
alton In favor OF the men employ ID on the lake,
as against those serving on the ocean coasts except
as 70 one man employed as extra surfman from
december 10 May each Of ia stations on tho
iantlc coast and also discrimination in favor ~
this extra man az against mis- comrades In the sarna
station ana AL others employed en- the ocean
coasts He considers that simple justice demands
that the compensation should be made uniform nd
believes that the rate u sGj a month establisbad
by the Ac; c: july %, 1882, none too large