The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-07

ment o merchandise, and for other purposes promptly
erea upon her general duties contemplated by that
act During the past one OF the board under iE
ssdetons OF this department. visited the several ports
upon our northern frontier; and from the information
communicated by him, and the satisfactory manner in
which he executed his instructions, The most beneficial
results must follow Another OF the board is about to
proceed 10 California and II is not doubted by the de-
parment that the action OF the general appraisers will
lend very materially establish that uniformity in ap-
pTalsemens desirable, aud by which both he revenue
and the honest importer will be greatly benefited
BY the act OF 81 March, ls45, revenue cutter nor
steamer can ne purchased or built unless appropriation
therefor shall be made.
The several iron then ia progress OF constuc
ton have been condemned unfit for purposes
Some OF the sailing cutters have become unseaworhy.
ana the number o vessels apperalnng this branch oil
the service has BEEN therefore, necessarily reduced
extent injurious 10 the interests of the revenue
The brig Lawrence now the western coast is found
10 be nnsuted To hs service IN consequence of the great
expense attendant upon keeping vessel of her size in
commission, and the want OF proper sailing qualities
therefore recommend that authority be given for her dis
posal and the building OF six additional vessels which
are required tor greatly extended coast Should
authority be given as suggested to sell the Lawrence.
and appropriate the proceeds towards the building and
equppng OF The sN vessels, there will be required
in addition, accomplish that object the OF seventy
| hive thousand dollars.
| would respectfully recommend to Congress consid-
eabe increase 10 the pay OF the officers Of the
marine employed on the Pacific, where their present
pensaon is entirely inadequate, in consequence of the
very heaVy expenses 10 when hey are unavodably sub
jec in that quarter Whilst the army there has had its
with the collection OF the revenue receive double salaries
TO what paid al the Atlantic ports, the officers of the
revenue marine alone left without any addition TO
their pay Al this time the board the revenue
cutters there receiving nearly the pay as the
officers, and at earlier date instances
Cured where The former have actually received higher
rates than The latter. would further recommend that
any increase OF pay which Congress may think proper
grant TO that body of mertoous officers be not only for
the future, but also have retroactive eject
Numerous appropriations were made during the last
session OF Congress Tor additional marine hospitals and
light houses, and also tor the continuation and compile
ton of similar works previously commenced Some Of
these structures have been finished and occupied since
the adjournment OF Congress, and several nearly
completed as to warrant the expectation that they may be
occupied within tue ensuing sixty days The marine
hospitals at Plttsburg, Cleveland Louisville, Paducah,
and Chicago are among those thus finished and occupied
or expected 10 be occupied, within the period stated
Those IN process OF erection al Nachez Napoleon and
ST. LOUIS III such state OF forwardness 10 justify
the belief that they will be finished early in next year
Reports from the officers and agents employed in the
perntendence of these works herewith transmitted
site for marine hospital al Evansville, Indiana, has
been selected but no conveyance OF the land has yet
reached the department, and all further steps neces
saTily impeded until the title is perfected,
design Tor the marine hospital at San Francisco
adopted soon alter The appropriation or TINS object was
made, and commissioner appointed and despatched to
that city in March last, with view 10 the commence
ment of this work site which was then understood
and still believed 10 be the property of the United States
Difficulties however, presented themselves in conneYon
with the titles thereto, sufficient, in the opinion of The
commissioner to authorize a suspension of the work.
Recent advices, however, lead TO the belief that they will
soon be removed when the erection OF the building will
be Immediately commenced
All nearly all OF the light house structures for which
appropriations made by the OF Sd March, 1851,
have been delayed because of the preliminary examna.
lions enoned by the second and third sections OF that act
and several authorized by previous acts OF the
requirements OF The JOINT resolution Of Congress dated nth
September, lS4, will be from the report OF the
superintendent OF The lighthouse establishment
The department has not yet succeeded in making deh
mite contract for the erection OF the light houses the
Pacific coast which have been authorized by Congress.
and great difficulty exists in accomplishing that object in
consequence OF what is considered the inadequate appro
paoa, IN The opinion of those best capable oil Judging of
the facts and circumstances connected with their construc
ton IN that portion OF the Union.
The department will probably have TO await the further
action OF Congress- and II additional appropriations
made early day. the whole OF the structures could be
commenced in the spring, the rainy has
terminated, in which II believed they be
Pe,ed and put into operation previous 10 the ensuing win
\ ter.
In pursuance OF the authority given TO the department
by the sth section OF the Sd March, 1884, entitled
IAN act making appropriations Tor light houses, light
boats, buoys &c board OF officers, constituted as di-
rected by the provisions OF that ACT organized soon
after lts passage. The board is composed OF the follow
ing officers viz General Totten and Colonel Kearpey.
OF the army Commodore Shubrick and Commander Du
pont, OF the navy Professor Bache, superintendent OF
The coast survey and Lieutenant Jenkins, of the navy.
as secretary.
The attention OF the board has been directed to the
fobjecs contemplated by Congress The result OF their
abos will be Transmitted IN separate report at any early
!. day.
The completion Of the experiment for testing the
and economy OF the calcium light has been delayed by
the sickness OF the inventor, and other IL ia
pecied. however that ull report thereof will be made
early day. which, when received will be transmit
/ ted 10 Congress.
Sites for tue new custom houses authorized Bangor,
Pitshug, Louisville ST. Louis, and Mobile, have been
selected and purchased, and the necessary
Tor the erection of suitable buildings progress
| The limited Appropriation Tor the site and building
thorzed AZ Cincinnati wl not justify the prosecution OF
that work hey ond The purchase and location OF the site
have therefore submitted an additional estimate, which
required 10 enable the department TO erect building
adapted TO the several purposes specified by Congress
The restriction placed upon the appropriation Tor Gus
house and lot Bath, Maine has prevented any
pendlture tor that purpose being made The purchase
appropriation as forbid the erection OF building with
the limited amount remaining the disposal OF the de-
parmen An additional appropriation OF S25 900 is there
fore recommended.
The requirements OF the joint resolution OF lth Sep
tembe 1871, not having yet been complied with in
ation the site Tor custom house Norfolk, selected
by the commissioners appointed for the purpose, the
mencement OF that structure has necessarily been de-
ayed
No information in regard 10 proper site for the Gus
tom house authorized IN the Territory Of Oregon has yet
been received
Il is expected that the custom. hon al Savannah will
be completed and occupied within few weeks.
The work upon the New Orleans custom house has
progressed rapidly circumstances would allow
that at Charleston, South Carolina will be prosecuted with
every desire Tor It's completion al the earliest practicable
day.
The intrinsic difficulties in constituting and enforcing
many of The proysona oI our exsung and col