The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-07
$500 RESCUED BY LlFEsAvERs.
Assistance Given to 1861 Vessels In
Year-770 Disasters.

WASHINGTON, Dec THE an
nual report of the general superin-
tendent of the lif-saving service for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1904,
shows that during the year assistance
was rendered by the lif-saving. crew
to 1861 vessels Of all kinds. the lives
of more than 5000 persons. and prop
erty to the value Of nearly $1,000, 900.
The crews also rescued 1903 persons
not on board vessels from various
perilous situations. and the signalei
Mornings of the beach patrols saved
from possible destruction 161 vessels
in danger of disaster. The vessels
wrecked were generally of small tom
mage.
There were $50 casualties to regis
tered vessels, involving 2509 persons,
of whom POI were lost. The estimated
value of these vessels was $4698,655,
and of their cargoes $1,757925. maxi
ing the total estimated value of prop
erty imperiled s6.456.7So. OF this
this amount there was saved $5.OSs.-
$50, and $l,S66.S3O was lost OF the
$50 vessels which suffered disaster
Fifty Were Totally Lost.
Among the smaller craft not regis
tered, such as sailboats, rowboats,
pleasure launches, etc, All casualties
occurred imperiling the lives of 900
persons. of whom thirteen were lost.
The value of these vessels with their
cargoes was estimated at $24S,750,
with a loss of $500
This makes the total number of dis
asters to vessels of all kinds no, with
a valuation of $6,7O5.53O, of which
/ $3.50. $50 was saved and $1,375.45O was
lost. The total number of persons in
volved was 1928, of whom "a lost their
ives.
The net expenditure for the mian-
cal year was $1,766,4 46.
The telephone system maintained
by the service has proved of great as
sistance and much attention has been
given to its Improvement and extern
sion. Numerous points not heretofore
reached have been connected and the
line has been kept constantly in such
repair that, even under the most adj
verse circumstances. communication
more than a few hours at any time.
Life Saving Service.
The life-saving service lines now ex-
tend practically unbroken from Maine
to the Carolinas, and have connections
at all important points with the COM
mercial telephone and telegraph lines
of this country, and also. where de-
sirable. with the lighthouses and
weather bureau offices on the coast.
The life-saving stations; the report
says. constitute an important factor in
the system of coast guard patrol main-
ldIlCu w thc 4 navy NiSpoi 'iiSiie iOA
protecting the coast in time of war,
and it is expected that the wireless
telegraph system, now being tested Dy
the navy, when sufficiently perfected,
will be extended to the life saving sta
tons; in fact, plans already are being
prepared for it's installation.
Phone Service On Lakes.
The telephone service on the Great
Lakes, which consists of number
of short lines maintained by this SER
vice and the weather bureau and con-
necticns with local exchanges, has
been materially improved during the
year by the construction and operation
of a line recently authorized by con-
gress from the mainland on the eastern
side of Green Bay, Wis., across Deaths
Door to the Plum Island station, thence
across Washington island and termin-
ating at the lighthouse on Rock
island.