The Chitina leader., 1914-12-15

and McArthur. These vessels are dangerously unsanitary and unsea- | "Thirty-three hundred pinnacle rocks were found, by drag-netting on the Atlantic coast and Ss3 of these were distinct menaces to navigation. Pinnacle rocks in Alaska are known by the names of the, ships that found them-only too often with disas- trous results,
 -he. government apparently is much more concerned in. saving a few dollars than in saving the lives of it's citizens. s s s
 Will the people of the United States regard with patience an atti- tude that says. Let ships go down and let people drown?'
 The secretary asks for an appro- priation of $500,000 to replace the trinity of antiques that do duty as survey vessels in Western waters. and an appropriation siof $225,000 for the commencement of a thor ough dragnet survey
 The greater part of the volumin- ous report is devoted to Alaska and the Pacific coast. In general it recommends economy in the vari- ous bureaus in the department of commerce, and it reviews briefly the important work of Investigating commercial conditions in the United l States and foreign countries.
 In dealing with the coast survey, Secretary Redfield says that it's work comes first in the protection of life and property along our shores and in opening the way for trade, wet after an experience of 20 months I affirm that the past atti- tude of the government towards the coast and geodetic survey * has been-both with respect to it's housing, it's vessels and the neces- sary apparatus as regards the Paci- fic Coast and Alaska-like that of a wealthy and prosperous man re- fusing to give his loyal children the necessaries of life."
 Referring to the Alaska railway, the secretary says:
 We put 30,OOO,00 0into a railway to develop growing national pos session from which we have drawn Hundreds of millions in value with out providing the ordinary appar- atus required to make surveys to insure safety in waters known to De dan gerous by their continued ter rible record
 This record includes 290 vessels 4of total value of $12,792,250 Three of these were government ves- sels-the revenue cutters Perry in 1910 and Tahoma in 1914 and the lighthouse tender Armeria in 1912 | The secretary invites special at tentiop to the fact that appropria- tions for special works in the light house service for the fiscal year 1915 total only $136,000. while the average amount for the ten preced- ing years was S946,927 annually. Referring to the antique coast survey vessels now in use-the En- deavor, Gedney and McArthur-the secretary says:
 '.To continue the use of these ships is but little removed in WIS dom from policy which would re- fuse to build a new battleship be- cause the old Constitution is still in existence. By the time new ships can be built to replace them it will be grave question whether these ships can be sent to sea at all, and the important work which they must do be stopped till safe vessels are provided.
 "These ships have earned an hon. orable repose. I trust they may sur vive to get it without carrying with
  them. ere it is gained, the officers and crews whose misfortune it is to be continued in their use. # These ships are expensive luxuries, extravagant in the waste of time and fuel and likely to be even more extravagant in the waste fo lives.
 These old, obsolete ships, with out wireless equipment and deficient in many modern appliancese, can not be safely used except in pro- tected waters. The Endeavor, now working in sheltered waters on the Atlantic coast, cannot be sent to the Pacific, since she could not survive the voyage. The steamers Gedney and McArthur, while still employed on surveys in sheltered waters Tn the Pacific, are unfit for the service.
 These three steamers are respec- lively. 52, 39, and 38 years old, are