[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 750 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 16, 2004.
Whereas in 1871 Sumner Increase Kimball was appointed as the Chief of the
Revenue Marine Division of the Department of the Treasury;
Whereas in overhauling the Revenue Marine Division and decentralizing the system
of lifesaving stations, Mr. Kimball recommended the establishment of
lifesaving stations on the Great Lakes;
Whereas in 1874 Congress authorized the organization of the Life-Saving Service
into 12 districts, including 3 on the Great Lakes;
Whereas the 8th district consisted of Lakes Erie and Ontario, the 9th district
consisted of Lakes Huron and Superior, and the 10th district consisted
of Lake Michigan;
Whereas in 1878 these lifesaving stations were organized with others around the
Nation as a separate agency of the Department of the Treasury known as
the United States Life-Saving Service;
Whereas in 1854 at the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, lifesaving
capabilities were first introduced to the Great Lakes with 9 lifeboats
placed on Lake Ontario, 14 lifeboats placed on Lake Erie, 23 lifeboats
placed on Lake Michigan, and 1 lifeboat placed on Lake Superior;
Whereas the forgotten heroes who served at lifesaving stations contended with
giant squalls, wrecked vessels, and low pay;
Whereas these men performed amazing rescues, but by far the largest amount of
work for the crews revolved around drilling with the rescue equipment,
patrol and lookout duty, and general station upkeep;
Whereas the United States Life-Saving Service enabled the shipping industry to
rapidly grow on the Great Lakes;
Whereas when the United States Life-Saving Service ended in 1915, 63 Great Lakes
stations were in operation, including one on the Mississippi River in
Louisville, Kentucky;
Whereas during the years of its operation, the Great Lakes Life-Saving Service
contended with 9,763 disasters, saving 55,639 people and $110,038,860 in
property;
Whereas over the course of the United States Life-Saving Service, 20 brave
employees gave their lives while performing their duties;
Whereas the organization that Mr. Kimball formed provided the basis for the new
search and rescue organization of the Coast Guard; and
Whereas the constant attention to practice with rescue equipment and inspections
employed by the United States Life-Saving Service is still in use today:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 130th anniversary of the creation of lifesaving
stations on the Great Lakes, which became part of the United States
Life-Saving Service;
(2) commends the personnel of the United States Life-Saving Service
whose efforts saved lives and property on the Great Lakes; and
(3) acknowledges Sumner Increase Kimball for his foresight in the
field of marine safety and commitment to maritime safety on the Great
Lakes.
Attest:
Clerk.