Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22

| The United States life-saving service
| has been a fully organized department
| of the federal government since 1873, and
was the first in the world to be put on a
| national basis 1t has led all others
since that time, both in size and In the
| devising and use of inventions peculiar
| to it's needs. The United States has the
| longest coast line of any maritime power,
and the service necessarily parallels 1t.
Today it maintains thirteen districts and
80 stations. The net annual eXpendi-
lures for the. fiscal year 19l2-l913 were
81, 346, Ss1 IL. More than 10000 miles of
coast were guarded, including $500 miles
along the great lakes. Rescue work was
extended to 1,671 vessels, carrying 1881
passengers the total value of commercial
and personal property being 81, O4S, 40 in
the past year.
Notwithstanding the great length of our
coasts, which are very dangerous in some
places, the life-saving business of our
country struggled along with very pltlful
results for nearly a century. The Mas
sachusetts Humane Society was the first
in the field in 1886, when it put few
huts along the most desolate and DAN
gerous parts of the Massachusetts coast
for the succor OF mariners; me nrsl
hut was built on Lovells Island, near
Boston In 1907 it established the first
Hfeboat station at Cohasset. Federal in
terest began in 1913 with an appropfla-
ton to the society of $1,000, and later
the government put real life into its own
small service at Cape Cod Interest. how
ever was spasmodic until 1901, the
winter Of which is memorable Tor several
fatal storms along the Atlantic coast
where life-saving stations should nave
been.
George S. Boutwell,. then Secretary of
the Treasury took the matter up with
such vigor that he secured an appropr1a-
ton of $500, 600 April 20 ISL Then sum-
ner l. Kimball, chief of the revenue ma
rine service, was put in charge of the
life-saving stations. He is the heart OF
the service and directs 1t today with the
same sympathy that he did forty-tWo
years ago. An investigation mace IN loiI
by Mr. Kinball and Capt John Faunce
of the revenue marine service showed
deplorable condition of affairs at the va
rious stations, due to neglect ana RACK
of system. More help from Congress was
Forthcoming thereafter In 1878 Congress
provided for the organization of the serv-
Ice, thanks to the eloquence OF the FAMOUS
congressman, Sunset Cox Inc Dill
passed the House OF Representatives
without a dissenting voice, and barely
lacked a unanimous vote in the Senate.
Mr.. Kimball was Immediately appointed
and confirmed as general superintendent,
and has held the position ever SINCE
X y
The majority Of the go life-saving sta
tions. as well as the houses OF reiuge'
are located on the
Most of Stations Atlantic coast. al
though adequate
on Atlantic Coast. provision is made
Co., ~. ,,..;sc coast. the Gulf Of Mexico
and the great lakes. A unique station
Is at the falls of the Ohio river at Louis
Vile. XIV. and there is an interesting
station on the lake shore at Chicago.
The Atlantic coast has the most stations
because of its terrors, and in some places
they are only five miles apart, with their
respective patrols meeting day and night
From the eastern extremity Of the coast