The sun., 1908-03-25
For Life and Property.

Three measures Of important interest
to those who 20 down TO the sea in ships
and to those who do business in great
waters are under more or less active con-
sideration in Washington. One Of these
proposes the construction Of an inland
waterway by which vessels might avoid
the dangers Of Cape Hatteras; another
provides for additional work on the
refuge at Point judith, and the third is
designed TO increase the efficiency Of the
life saving service.
While the Hatteras canal scheme is
not at all a stUpendous enterprise, 1t is
sufficiently extensive and costly to make
probable delay in It's execution. That
It will be undertaken some day there can
be no doubt. Commercial interests and
humanity alike demand the completion
Of such a route, II would mean an in
crease Of business, an economy In busi-
ness, a saving Of property and a saving
Of many lives. The work already done
at Point Judith has proved the value Of
that enterprise and has emphasized the
importance of its extension. Appropria-
tions for the work have been made from
time 10 time since 1890 The total eX-
pended and available apprOXimatcs
Sl,SOO,0OO. 4 recently submitted report
states that since the work was begun
more than 1900 vessels, not counting
launches, sailboats aud similar small
craft, have taken advantage Of the
shelter afforded. A modest sum would
serve for the completion Of this shelter
station on what is probably the busiest
Of our marine thoroughfares. II ma
tional economy is necessary there are
many directions in which we can better
afford 10 curtail expenses than in an en-
terprise which has no other purpose than
the saving Of life and property
The third of these measures is the
Lowering bill for a small increase in the
pay Of tho men Of the life saving service,
The force consists Of about 1000 men
On the Pacific coast they are employed
throughout the year. On the Atlantic
coast the work lasts for ten months, and
on the Lakes and the Gulf it lasts for
eight months. The pay for most Of the
men is Sos a month, out Of which they
must furnish their own mess and living
their uniforms and clothes and support
their families Their work is arduous
and perilous in the extreme. In black
night, in bitter Geld and in raging storm
these men must patrol our coasts, alert
for signs Of vessels in distress; and if
need be they must launch their boats
and make their way to the relief Of ship
wrecked sailors and passengers, Their
work requires q skill that comes only by
training and experience, and we expect
10 get skilled men who will stay in such
hazardous employment for the muniicent
sum OF SOS a month Mr.. LOWERING pro-
poses an increase OF $3.50, 900 in the appro-
priation, making total Of Sl,635,O62, and
the increase should be given without
delay or opposition. As he said in his
brief address on the measure, 1t will be
difficult TO find class Of men in our
Government who are subjected TO more
hazardous service or who daily live
nearer 20 deaths door than do these men
Of the life saving service, for whom this
bill provides relief
The Hatteras canal bill must probably
wait a while, but the Point Judith refuge
and the life saving service should be
provided for without delay