The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-01
Report of the Work Done
During the Year.
The Percentage of Loss Has
Grown Much Smaller.
Attention Called to the Low Wages
Paid Men In the Service.

Washington, Dec. 1.-The report OF
Mr.. Kimball. the superintendent Of life
saving service. for the year ended June
30. exhibits the most satisfactory results
yet achieved by that service. Although
the total number OF disasters was greater
than i'm any previous year, the per cent.
age OF lives and property lost was less
The next best record was that OF the year
1895. In that year the loss OF life was
one out of every 224 persons involved
and the loss Of property ID per cent Of
the amount imperilled, while during the
last year the loss was only per cent out
OF 26O, and IL l-5 per cent of property.
At the close OF the year the establish.
ment comprised 256 stations, of which
156 were located on the Atlantic and
gulf coast, 90 on the great lakes. IL on the
Pacific coast and one at the falls of the
Ohio at Louisville. The number OF dis.
asters TO documented vessels within the
scope OF the service was 437, involving
460S persons. Of whom 1895 were saved
and 13 lost. The estimated value of the
vessels was IS, $50. .140. and Of the cargoes
s3,S46, $50. aggregating a total of S12, 1885,.
$40. or this amount sl,432, $50 was lost.
The number of documented vessels
totally lost was 81.
There was also during the year "a:
casualties to undocumented small craft
small boats, rowboats, etc. OF the 57s
persons on board SAT were saved. The
losses are estimated at s47s. 551, of which
Sli4.925 was saved. The total number
OF shipwrecked persons succored at sta
tions was 613. Other persons (not on
board OF vessels) to the number Of 50
were rescued from drowning, all OF
whom would probably have perished
but for the vigilance and prompt as
sistance OF the lifesaving crews.
During the year the crews saved and
assisted TO save Az vessels, valued, with
their cargoes, at 1853. ll0. OF this mum.
Der 3lS were saved without outside as.
sistance, aggregating, with their cargoes
value OF S977, ,495, with a loss of only
sll,712. In the remaining l54 instances
the lifesaving crews assisted other
agencies In saving property valued at
S3,59s,775, out Of total of S3,s75, ,6l5 i'm
perilled.
Less important assistance was rem
dered to 167 other vessels in distress.
The patrolmen also warned from dan
ger by their night signals 210 vessels.
and by day signals. 19. The loss of life
and property averted in these 22s in
stances, Of course. cannot be estimated.
but the circumstances under which n
large proportion OF the waraings were
made indicate that they would have been
considerable. The cost for maintaining
the service for the year was $l.4l0.So5.
Attention Is invited to the inadeouacy
or the compensation of the lifesayers.
who are required to furnish heavy bonds.
In some cases with penalty as high as |
$4,000. An annual compensation OF |
5000 is recommended.
The existing discrimination I'm the !
rates OF wages paid the surfmen--a small |
receiving S65 a month, while the |
majority receive only $60-continues to |
be source of discomfort. and uniform |
rate Is demanded. IL is said, by common |
fairness and the good OF the service.
The general superintendent recon-
mends that suSh rate be established.
and that IT be fixed at s65 a month. as
was formerly provided by the act of |
July %, 1892.
-FOUR new stations, located, respec-
lively. at Core Bank, N. c.; Bailev's
Harbor and Plum Island, Wis. on Lake
and Yaquinabay, Or. have
been finished during the year and
manned for duty. Two others. one To-
'ated at Wood End, near Provineetown
Cape Cod. Mass. and the other at Rocky
Point on Long Island sound. N. Y. have
oeen erected, and are now receiving
heir equipments.
The floating station In Dorchester bav.
lear Boston harbor. designed to render
assistance In the numerous casualties
occurring to yachts and sailboats in that
Vicinity, has also been completed
lnchored In position and put in commis-
sion
Titles to sites have been received for
stations authorized to be established on
Oamarish Cove island, Me-, and Pater-
on's point. and plans and specifications
or the structures are nearly completed
Old and inadequate stations AT I,ittIa
each, Absecon (below Atlantic CITY,
t Cape May. and Cape Disan,
Wash. have been replaced
" new ones. and important repairs and
have been made 20 yari-
us stations in the trade district. coast
{ Long Island; Eleventh district. COAST
{ Lake Michigan. and Twelfth district
N the Pacific coast.
-- Il