Washington sentinel., 1853-12-10

The clerks in oil the divisions were classified
under the act of Congress of last session for
that purpose, the examinations having been
made as required by the act. The proper az
rangement of business in the different Offices
requires that it shall be classified and allotted
to a certain number of clerks, and a competent
clerk placed in charge of each class, and made
responsible for its prompt dispatch, and that
correct rules of action shall prevail in dis
charging the duties The head clerks of these
classes should have better salaries than those
under them. The third and fourth classes do
not furnish the requisite number of clerks {; +
this purpose in some of the Offices, and the
salary of the first class is not a sufficient con-
pensation for any clerk fit to be employed in
the department. The act of Congress requi,-
ing clerks to be classified and examined before
appointment seems to indicate an intention of
procuring more competent clerks, and that the
tenure of Office should be more permanent.
Many of the clerks have families, and a large
number do not receive sufficient coSpensation
for their support; and as the cost oYliving has
greatly increased, the attention of Congress is
called to this subject, with the recommendation
that this class of meritorious officers shall be
better compensated.
There is no limitation to the presentation IF
claims against the United States before the
accounting Offices, and claims disalowed, in
whole or IN part, are presented again and
again upon the same, or but slightly varied,
statements of facts. There are precedents in
the department allowing these re-examinations,
and large sums have been paid upon claims
previously presented, adjudicated upon, ard
disallowed. There are other and, it is believed,
better precedents in the department against
these re-examnations, holding the prior exam
ination and disallowance the claim, in whole
or in part conclusive, until Congress directs
the re-examination. The rule established by the
latter precedents has been adopted, and no re-
examination is allowed, except upon the princi-
pie of new trial at law, or a rehearing or
review in equity, when the application is made
on sufficient grounds, and within q reasonable
time. The attention of Congress is respect
fully called to this subject.
An abstract OF the Coast Survey operations.
under the superintendent of Professor Bache,
also accompanies this report. 1t will be seen
that the work has made good progress during
the past year. The means furnished appear re
have been carefully and economically used by
the superintendent, and to have produced ample
results. The operations, in the field or aHoat
and In the office, have extended to all the
States and Territories Of our vast sea coast on
the Atlantic, the gulf of Mexico, and the Pa
chic. On the Atlantic the triangulation reaches
with an interval OF twenty-five miles, from the
mouth Of the kennebec river, Maine, to Boyne
Sound, North Carolina 1t is commenced in
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and
extends from Mobile nearly to New Orleans
and from the head of Galveston bay to Mata.
gorda bay, in Texas. The other operations
follow it closely. A photographic recon
noissance of our western coast has been
made from San Diego to Frazers river, and
preliminary surveys of most of the harbors,
with charts of them, have been published.
or are in progress. 1t is believed that the
history OF such surveys does not present a.
parallel to the promptness with which the exc.
cution and publication of the work on that i'm
portant coast has been made, Keeping pace
with the development of a commerce.. Itself
without parallel. One hundred and forty
three maps and charts have already been is.
sued from the Coast Survey office, including
sketches OF examinations of dangers on the
coast where the regular surveys have not vet
reached the localities. The report Of the su-
perntendent for the past year Is accompanied
with ffty-6ve maps and sketches, showing the
progress Of the work, and giving information
important to navigation and commerce. The
necessity of publishing the numerous observa.
tons accumulated in this work. and upon which
the results are founded, is respectfully urged
upon Congress. Besides the usual sketches. n
map, ordered by Congress, showing, by colors,
the progress OF the different parts of the work.
is ready for transmission. The present period
of prosperity should be used to furnish all
resources for the completion of this
great work of science and utility; and. in
order to facilitate its final completion it is re-
commended that the estimate presented by the
superintendent be granted. The department
has derived important assistance from the
Coast Survey in the surveys relating to light
houses and in the location Of surfboats In
the distribution Of the reports, papers, &C., the
and his assistant should be
vested with the franking privilege.
report and supplement- from the Light
house Board accompanies this report, exhibit
ing its operations for the past year. That board
is charged with the duty of providing and dis
tributing supplies of all kinds to the different
lighthouses and ightvessels; of making ex-
aminations and instructions; Of submitting esti-
mates OF cost OF repairs of the different towers,
buildings, sea-walls, and lightvessels, and of
raising, cleaning, painting, numbering, and re-
placing all buoys authorized by Congress. &c.
These duties have been discharged with promp-
titude and efficiency, and it is believed with
1t will be seen that there are now
in operation 347 lighthouses; q are in the
course OF construction, and Al more authorized.
bnt not yet commenced. There are ID light.
vessels in operation, and five in the course of
construction. The estimate for this service for
The fiscal year ending June 80, 1854, was
S89O,033 AZ; and for the year ending June 30.
1865, it is $9O6,l6l 43. These lighthouses
and lght-vessels, extending over our Atlantic
Ind Pacific coasts and our lakes, and greatly
o the security of our commerce, which, as It
iugments, calls for additional lighthouses and
ight-vessels on our extended coasts, and con.
equently for increased expenditure These
lighthouses and light-vesses should be suAi.
'iently numerous to afford the benefit of light
wherever the safety of vessels require it; but
lights should not be so multiplied as to mislead
layigators, and should always be Of the best
md most reliable character for their positions
he science and practical knowledge of the
lighthouse Board, aided by that of the Coast
survey, it is believed, will guard the department
4gainst mistakes in the location Of the lights,
ecure the best and most permanent light