The San Francisco call., 1897-10-26
TO whom IS
CEuSURE DUE
Delay in Establishing a Life
Saving Station at Point
Arena.
Major Blakeney Says the Coast
Representatives Are to
Blame.
If They Had Exerted Themselves the
Appropriation Might Have Been
Secured.

The wreck of the Caspar off Point Arena
has caused the ques ion to be asked why
| the life-saving station authorized by Con =
gress some nine months ago has not been
| essa blished and upon whom the bla me
for the neglect is to be placed.
Major Thomas J. Blakeney, superin-
| tendent of the Pacific Coast district OF the
United States Life-saving Service, was in
terviewed in regard 10 the matter and in
| t:mated that the delay in estabishin :
the station was caused by the fact that
| the Senators and Congressman represent
! ing the States on the coast had not ex-
erted themselves TO bring the proper pres
sure to bear on the heads of the depart
| me Mt at Washington. Said he:
II have received number of commu-
| nications from various parties in and
about Point Arena who are interested in
| the establishment of a station at that
place, but have been able to do nothing,
as have had no instructions from the d =
partment. While at the last session oi
Congress bill was passed authorizing a
stati on at that place, l have no power to
take any steps toward locating or build
ing life-savnG station unless instructed
by the authorities at the head OF the SER
vice.
The authorization by Congress Ia
establish a station does not carry with il
any specific appropriation 10 build that
station. The APPROPRIATION for the estab-
lishment of life-savin stations on the diff
ferent coasts of the United States is made
in q lump sum. That of last year was,
believe, IN the neigh oorhood OF $50, ,000
This may be expended at the discretion ol
the general superintendent of the service
wherever he shall determine that the
necessity for stations is most urgent
when it is decided 10 estab ish sta
ton il is customary .or the Secretary oi
the Treasury or he &c leral Superini lend
ent OF the Life-saving Service 10 appoint d
commission consisting OF the district SUI
perintendent and one other man 10 select
| a suita BILE site tor the station and II posi-
| Bile secure title to the necessary ground.
"The Pacific Coast is a long distance
| from The seat of The Government and II
| som metimes appears TO US that the depart
| ment is slow in acting In matters OF this
/ kind where our Interests are concerned,
| but We should bear in MIND mat the stormy
| coasts of the country, Including those OF
| the great lakes, require looking alter as
| well as our own. However, it may be that
| the Senator'S and Congre>smen represent
ing other sections OF The Union are more
| persistent and successful in securing eX.
| Tor the enlarge ment of the scope OF the
| Llfe-ssving Service than are the legisla-
tors re pre- ming the Pacific Coast.
III there had been a station at Point
Arena IL is very proba bic that the di aster
10 the Caspar might have been averted, as
ne patroimen would no doubt have been
aoie TO warn her TO change her course.
Lives could have been saved at any rate.
"hen heard OF the accident | made in
qulrles with the view OF sending a tug
boat up with life. saving crew, but learn
ing that the vessel was bottomside up
judged that any attempt to that sort
| would be useless
Il nave been trying for some time to
secure the establishment OF q station at
70 ut Bonita, but have been unsucces. VI -.
That | consider fully as important a
point for station as Point Arena. / am
constantly in dread of a wreck occurring
on that dangerous section of the COAST.
and an attempt TO save lives by approach
| ing from seaward would place the would
be rescuers in great jeopardy.
Point Bonita and Point Arena should
boih have life-saving stations as soon as
possible"