Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
PENSIONS FOR LIFE SAVERS
SUPT. KIMBALL URGES LEGIS-
LATIoN.
Work Of the Service in the Past
Year-New Stations-Use
Of Power Boats.

Mr.. s. I. Kimball. general superin-
tendent Of the life saving service, urges
in his annual report the passage of
bill providing pensions and retirement for
aged and disabled members Of the service,
and urges legislation not only as an act
of Justice to the life-saving crews, but
also as a matter Of sound public policy.
The number of disasters to vessels OF
curing within the field of operations of
the service was 1913 in the last fiscal year.
Fifty-five of the vessels were lost. The
value of the property saved was $7,432,9 1856,
the property lost being 1895, 800, as
against a loss shown last year amounting
to $2.775.04O. Aboard the vessels meet
ing disaster there were SIP persons. Of
whom forty-flve were lost Eight hun
dred and seven persons were succored at
the stations. The number of vessels
warned from danger by the signals Of the
service patrolmen was 2O4: these warn
ings were given at night in 49, instances
and twenty-five were given during the
day in thick weather. Ninety-Stx of the
vessels so warned were steamers.
The amount expended for the main
tenance of the service during the year
was S1.T9O. 1881.
New Stations.
Contracts were, made during the year
for the construction Of a new life-saving
station at Bethany Beach. Del, and at
Garibaldi., Ore. at the entrance of Tilla-
nook bay. The station at the first
named place has been completed and put
in commission. and that at the entrance
of Tillamook bay is approaching compile
ton.
Title was secured to a site for a new
station to sbe placed at Neah Bay. Wash.
hi, cfoti IN, iy ncfo
conjunction with first-class ocean-going
tug Ito be built and operated by the rev.
enue cutter service) in saving life and
property along the Washington coast.
The necessity for such protection was
forcibly emphasized by, the terrible dis
aster to the steamer Valencia, which
vessel. it will be remembered, was
wrecked and sunk near Cape Beale. Off
the coast of British Columbia. January
% 1906, with appalling loss of life.
year for stations-at Isle of Shoals, N H:
Green Hill (South Kingston), r. l., and
Cold Spring inlet, N. j., respectively
and contract was let for building sta
ton on Wood Island, Me-. in lieu of the
old station at Jerrys Point, the station
site at the last-named place having been
restored to the War Department for mil
itary purposes.
To afford adequate protection to craft
frequenting the new harbor at the south
vantageous site for station building was
secured at the harbor entrance. When
completed this station. will be manned by
the life-savng crew heretofore quartered
in the station building erected in 1893
upon the grounds at the Columbian ex-
position, and which Is no longer IA
vorahe base from which to afford speedy
relief to water craft in distress.
The Santa Rosa life-saving station, sit
uated on Santa Rosa Island, near Pensa-
cola Fla, was. September u. 1906. de-
molished by a hurricane, which also
swept away all the .life-saving equipment
of the station except a single boat, in
which the members of the station crew
and their families fortunately made their
escape. Within the year contract was
awarded for replacing this station by a
new structure, to be located not far from
the site of the former one.
Use of Power Lifeboats.
Within the year motive power was in
stalled in several more of the large self
righting and self-bailing lifeboats of the
service, making the total number in OPP
GRAFTON at the end of the year seventeen.
Numerous reports have been received
80 fha in, bo