New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-07

Con,umption .........--.--.--7 5i,75o -
Or 69l pounds per head.
ISee Toble j.
Thus We perceive that the actual consumption
of iron, which, under high duties and prices, was
steadily augmentiRg In quantity, is under the
present reduced rates, both Ia duties and prl-
ces, gradually falling off, Notwithstanding the IN
crease of population and the great extension oil our
farming interests.
That this great interest is in most depressed
condition, the foregoing comparative production,
being for the present year less than one-halt
the capacity of the works, sufficiently attests.-
From The evidence furnished to this apartment 1t is
clear that the rolling mills the charcoal fur
and iorges utterly unable to produce iron
at the prices at which 1t IS now imported. During
the last year many establishments were enabled to
survive only by carrying the iron to tne high stages
OF manufacture, as the making OF rails and forged
work. At the present time the prices are below the
cost Of production. II the present policy continues
must witness, in short time, the total prostra.
ton of this industry, which, once destroyed, Will
require many years TO replace II upon us piesen'
footing as TO skill and experience, and we snail De
come dependant upon foreign countries for the mos'
important materials in the arts OF peace and the moss
indispensable Of the muniments OF war present
with this report several tables intended 10 SHOW The
sudden and extraordinary fail III the invoice values
OF certain articles which, prior TO the tafif act OF
1916 had been subject 10 specific duties but which,
BY that law, were made subject to duties ad valorem
Ii must be apparent from these tables tina! great
frauds prdcticed by INTERPRETATIONS daily,
which no expedient can prevent, unless such arti-
specific instead OF ad vaoTem duties.
COAST SURVEY.
The Coast Survey, under the superintendent OF
Professor A ID. Bache, has made excellent progress
during the past year. hsoperations have been con-
tnued in all the states of The Atlantic and Paelhc
Coast. The series of nearly continuous Hiangula-
ton, spoken of IN my report OF last year, now ex-
tends from the mouth OF the kennebec, In Name 70
beyond Ocracoke inlet, in North Carolina The work
has been assdu0usly prosecuted IN South carolina,
Georgia and FLORIDA, is nearly completed IN Ala
bama and Mississippi, and has made good progress
IN Louisiana and Texas, and on the western CoasS
Of California and Oregon.
The report Of the Superintendent will show the
details OF progress With 1t is most valuable ard
extended list Of geographical positions determined oy
the preliminary calculations OF the Wofh, ana eA-
tending over the whole coast which was under survey
previous 10 July, 1880 The numerous hydrosraphlc
sketches, which also accompany that report present
more than two-thirdS Of the work OF the season,
which admits OF being thus shown IN form suited
TO immediate use, by navlgators and Diners inter-
esied III It. new edition OF the hydrographlc no.
tees of the Western Coast Is also prepa ed for pup
hcation. The activity and judgment WITH which
this work 10 prosecuted, and It's efficiency aud econ
omy, recommend 1t, IN the opinion OF thlS Depart
nent, warmly to the fostering care oil congress
The Injunction of Congress to employ as many OH
GERS OF the Army ana Navy on the work as prac'
tcable, In addition TO the civilians, has been stead
lily kept In view, and at present, slxty.sx navy ON
GERS, and twelve army officers are attached 10 the
Survey.
The reasons given in my report IN reply to
resolutions of the Senate in the early part OF the
last session of Congress, why the present organl,,
zaton of this great work should be maintained ana
It's control remain as at present IN the treasury
Department, met go general AN acqulescence on the
part of Congress, and may say OF the whole coun'
Try that refer 20 II merely to express my unsaaken
confidence in the value Of tina. organization, the
fruits OF which the whole country is row 50 aoun-
dainty reaplDg.
The Superintendent of the Coast Survey has,
under the third section of the Light House act,
caused examination for sites for Lighthouses
to be made by the officers OF The Survey, and
has reported as BY law directed on me necessity ioi
construction in all cases where the Filth Auditor had
had been doubtful. This duty has been promptly
and acceptably discharged, and constitutes new
claim on the part of the Coas; Survey to consid-
Grafton
The operations OF the Mint during the pas,
year, have been conducted with efficiency and
with highly satisfactory results. Under the pres
ent system, the deposi,ors promptly receive the
value Of their bullion, so soon as II IS as
saved, and though the deposits are made IN large
masses, al short Intervals, on The ARRIVAL oil the
Canfornia steamers, yet the assays are MADE, and
the payments commenced usually within forty-eighI
hours, and the Whole generally completed within an
average OF FIVE or six days after those heAvy
amounts OF bullion frequently by two or three hun.
ded deren epositcrs are received al the Min. and
tile whole duty Is performed wlihou. any charge 70
tie depostors except mere fractional per ceniage
FOR the actual cost OF separating the ouluon IL Is
bShey ed that equal facilities are not pIcscE'el 10
INDIVIDUALS by the MINIS OF any other Hation as are
non given by the Min, the United States.
The reaz tlon Of the value oithese large Quantities
oieulhoD b. the oft without loss Stnln few
Gays after 1t arrives Ia the United States, IS accom-
plshed oy means OF the heavy bullion uHd, wnich
can at present be spared without inconvenience
,iVlh the excess Of means IN tie treasury IL may
however, hot always be Convenient 10 keep 50 large
sh amount reserved Tor THIS purpose from tae pnoc
luhOs ana even If Il were Otherwise, zoe amount OF
'nis 'u'iu epphtd 70 the purchase AMI exanguish-
men, OF 20 much Of the National Debt, would save
neaiiy ssVv,VVV annually IN interest piIi ~ the
and all the advantages present Ell ,yed ag The de-
pos!iois OF s0lc " other bullion sI Iciaei. IL ia
stead Of a,ing The Mat cert &c aes IA cAsh ass 40
done, CChFfsss would make them rrctiv.,ls TOT all
cues The Gogeinmert under suitable TestciIinS IS
10 the tue and place Ot their rScsip, caa see n 0
able oh,ectou 10 such OF tifse c-ruh re,