The republic., 1852-01-07

coins already fixed and regulated by our laws. IL
10 be observed that the proceeds OF the coins thus
procured WILL after assay, be returned 10 the
Treasury and carried TO the credit of said appro'
priation for subsequent disbursement, in like man
ner. 1t will therefore be reduced only by the ex'
pense Of transmitting the coin from abroad and the
loss consequent upon their assay
MISCELLANEOUS.
Br the I'd section of the OF 10th August, 1916,
the money received from the property Of John
Smithson amounting to S5l5 ,lG9, was lent TO tue
Treasury six per cent interest, and In addition
10 the interest which had accumulated on this fond
nj the Time of the passage of said act, amounting
10 S2I2 l29, the Treasury has continued 10 pay,
under the provisions OF snid law, annua! in
icrcsi of upwards of thirty thousand dollars.
Duing the whole OF this latter period large
surplus, including, of course this fund, has been
laying unproductive IN the Treasury, and the above
annual payment has been an extra charge upon the
Treasury, and will SO continue to be, unless Con.
gress should think proper 10 otherwise order. As
there Is at present every prospect OF continued
large surplus In the Treasury would respectfully
suggest in order to this annual payment,
that the Department should be authorized to make
the above fund actually productive, by investing
the full amount IN stocks OF the United States, on
terms which will render the result equally advan-
apcous to the Smithsonian Institute as IL now Is
under the present annual payments direct from
the Treasury
The Board Of General Appraisers established in
pursuance of the Sd section of the act OF Sd March,
1851 entitled "An act TO amend the acts regulating
the apprnisement of merchandise, and for other
purposes, promptly entered upon tntIr gcneraI
duties az contemplated by that act During the
past season OF the board, under instructions OF
this Department visited the several ports upon our
northern frontier; and from the information com
municated by him, and the satisfactory manner IN
which he executed his instruC tons the most bene-
fetal results must follow. Another OF the board Is
about To proceed to California and il Is not doubted
by the Department that the action OF the general
appraisers will tend very materially to establish
that uniformity in appraisenent5 so desirable, and
by which both the revenue and the honest importer
viii be greatly benefited.
By the act of Sd March, 1915, no revenue cutter
steamer can be purchased or built unless an
appropriation therefor shall be made.
The several iron steamers then in progress OF
construction have been condemned as unft Tor rev
enue purposes Some of the sailing cutters have
become unseaw worthy, and the number of vessels
appertaining this branch Of the service has been,
therefore necessarily reduced to an extent injuri-
ous to the interests oil the revenue
The brig lawrence, now on the western coast, Is
found be unsuied to this service in consequence
of the great expense attendant upon keeping ves
sci of her size in commission, and the want OF pro-
per sailing qualities. | therefore recommend that
authority be given for her disposal and the build
ing of ak additional vessels, which required
for our greatly extended coast. Should authority
be given, as suggested TO sell the Lawrence
and appropriate the proceeds towards the building
and equpping of the six new vessels, there will be
required in addition 10 accomplish that object the
sum OF sevcnty-iv thousand dollars
j would respectfully recommend to Congress q
considerable increase 10 the pay OF the officers OF
the revenue marine employed on the Pacihc, where
their present compensation Is entirely inadequate,
in consequence of the very heavy expenses to
which they navodably subject in that guar
ter Whilst the army there has had its pay great
Iy augmented and all the civil officers connected
with the collection OF the revenue receive double
salaries TO what paid at the Atlantic ports, the
officers of the marine alone are left with
out any addition TO their pay. At this time the
ssamen on board the revenue cutters there are re-
ceving nearly the pay as the commissioned
officers, and at earlier date instances occurred
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 meritorous onlcers
be not only for the future, but also have retroact
i've effect.
Numerous appropriations were made during the
last session of Congress for additional marine hos
pitfalls and lighthouse and also tor the continua-
ton and completion oi similar works previously
commenced. Some Of these structures have been
finished and occupied since the adjournment OF
Ccugress, and several are so nearly completed as
20 warrant the xpec taion that they may be occu-
pied within the ensuing sixty days. Tne marine
hospitals at Pittsburg, Cleveland, Loul5vlllei Pa
ducah and Chicago, are among those thus finished
and occupied, or expected to be occupied within
the period stated. Those in process Of erection at
NatchCz Napoleon, and SAINT Louie, are IN such a
state of forwardness as to justify the belief tha,
they will be finished early in next year. Reports
from the officers and agents employed IN the super
intcndcnce of these works are herewith uans-
mitted, marked
cite for a marine hospital at Evansville, Indi.
ana, has been selected, but no conveyance Of the
land has yet reached the Department, and all fur
ther steps necessarily impeded until the title ID
perfected.
A design for the marine hospital at San Fran
cisco was adopted soon after the appropriation for
this object was made, and commissioner appoint
ed and despatched to that city in March last with
view 10 the commencement of this work on site
which then undcrstO d and still believed TO be
the property Of the United States. Diihcultics,
however, presented themselves in connexion with
the titles thereto sufficient in the opinion OF the
commissioner, TO authorize a suspension OF the
work. Recent advices, however, lead 10 the bchei
thai they will soon be removed, when the erection
of tie building will be Immediately commenced
All or nearly all of the lighthouse structures,
for which appropriations were made 10y the act oi
81 March, 1854, have been delayed because OF the
preliminary examinations enloined by the second
and third sections Of that act, and several author
ized 10y previous acts. on account Of the require
Inents OF the Joint resolution Of Congress dated llh
September, ISL, will bo seen from the report o
the Superintendent Of the Lighthouse Establish
ment.
The Department has not yet succeeded in makine
a definite contract for the erection Of the Lgh
Houses on the Pacific coast which have been au
thorized by Congress. and great difficulty exists
ia accomplishing that object, in consequence o.
what IL considered the inadequate Appropriation
IN the opinion Of those best capable OF judging o
the facts and circumstances connected with theii
construction in that portion Of the Union
The Department will probably have 10 await the
further action Of Congress, and II additional appro-
priatiol?s are made at an early day, the whole o
he structures could be commenced in the spring
40 soon as the rainy season hss terminated, IN
which case il j. believed they can be completed
and put into operation previous to the ensuing
winter.
In pursuance OF the authority given 70 the De
parment by the Sth ton Of the act OF 81 March
ISL entitled An act making appropriations for
lighthouses, light boats, buoys," &c, board q
officers constituted directed by the proyisions o
that act wac organized soon after its passage Tn,
board is composed Of the following officers, viz
Cen. Totten and Col Kearncy, Of tho Army Com
tnodore Shubrick and Commander Dupont, OF th'
Navy; Prof Bache, superintcndentofth the Coastsur
vey. and Lieut. Jenkins, OF the Navy, as secretary
The attention ef the board has been directed Z
the objects contemplated by Congress The resul
Of their labors will be transmitted in separat
report at early day.
The completion Of the experiment for testing th
use and economy Of the calcium light has beer
delayed by the sickness of tie inventor, and othe
causes. II is expected, however, that fall rcpor
thereof yin be made at an early day, which, whci
received. will be transmitted TO Congress
Sites for the custom houses authorized a
Bangor, Piusburg, Louisville, Saint Louie, anC
Mobile, h8ve been selected and purchased, and th'
necessary measures for the erection of suitnb
buildings in progress. The limited appropri
alton for the sitc and building authorized al Gin
.,rt "a. a.. nj IA.