Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-13

qpenty for increased expenditure. These light houses
Ight vessels should be sufficiently 10 afford tie
btn iii of light wherever the safety of the vessels requires
but lights should be multiplied as to mis!ead vga
and should aways be OF the best and most chnr
acrer for their POSITIONS The science and practical know
ledge CT the Light House Board aided by that OF the Coast
Survey is believed will guard the department against mis-
tnkrs in the location of the lights the best and mos
permanen rh houses with the proper lights and confne
The expenditure the real objects sought 10 be obtained with
the necessary economy
The abstract accompanying this report shows twenty.
three houses belonging 10 the government are now
in usc fifteen for which appropriations have been made
BY Congress and proceedings taken towards their construc
lion This abstract exhibits the condition OF the title and
Jurisdiction to each far as acqured Inc mace un
de' inc appropriations The amount thereo win esaIes
OF Inc sums that will be required 10 complete ose uh-
der contract and the required 10 proceed win inc
others The appropriations sufficient 10 complete these
buildings {" the MATERIALS and in the style suitable 10
such structures and therefore additional estimates have been
submitted.
The construction of these buildings conded 10 the de-
parmcnt and utmost every thing hut the OF the ap
prOpriaiOn left TO HE discretion Of the Secretary. No sys-
had been devised for the due performance Of this duty
ind The OF the business been conded
particular branch OF the department. An architect had
been employed in the department salary Of $4,000 per
annnm with travelling expenses allowed when absent in
speeding the work, &C. He paid of the several ap-
propriations according TO The time given 20 each work
Local architects and superintendent had al been appoint
ed and were paid out OF the appropriation there
no system OF keeping or rendering accounts the respective
works, nor OF keeping the 10 the department. With
view TO more efficient management application was made
the Secretary OF War for scientific and practical eng
be placed in charge OF construction OF these
buildings and Captain alexander H. Bowman OF the eng-
neer corps detailed 10 that nty
regulations for the conduct Of the business been adopt
ed those 10 charge OF the respective works and
department Of construction organized for the supervision
OF the whole The general regulations accompany this
port also copy of the local organic ons in order that
Congress may how The business OF construction is
Quoted by the depa The compensation paid Cap
tain Bowman has been fixed at SIS per day. less his
apian, with his travelling expenses whilst inspecting The
wOk and the architect has also been retained aid the
department In his particular line The of the New
q
spring. summer and fall, Notwithstanding the sickness OF
New Orleans and il intended TO continue the work through
The winter. For the Charleston custom house the iounda
ton is nearly completed and The granite for the basanen,
being dei"ered ami that work also will be continued hroneh
the winter The other houses contracted for as stated
ia The Abstract In various stages OF progress, and II 10
expected that greater despatch and improvement In The
work and materials will result from the arrangement
II appearing hal been awarded persons
unskrd in The construction oil the works contracted Tor
and The subsequently, sol in the advertisements
published by the department notice given that me con-
would only be awarded TO those practically skilled in
building, and that assignments would not be allowed with
Uu! the consent Of the department.
The house contracted to be built al San Francis
CO. California was located on square embraced % "na ID
termed the government reserves and large sum had bear
expended in filling the square and pilng for the ounda-
tun The State Of California set up claim reserves
upon investigation il considered hazardous 10 pro.
coed with hc custom house the title might prove dcec-
tive Notice given 10 The contractors, and the WORK
tndcj and application made The State OF Caor-
nh for renqulshmen OF ell claim TO The custom house
square The legislature passed nc. 10 sell the government
OF the The huuse
there elensr the United States OF all claim TO IT,
Consequently the work romans suspended and The appca
has been renewed for The release and II is expected me
e!ease will b. obtained and that the contractors Tor The
will be enabled 10 proceed with the building
The abstract accompanying this report exhibits marine
hospitals Chelsea, Boston, Norfolk, Val Ocracocke
burg, Pcnn yIvuna; Louisville, Kentucky Paducah, Ken
tucSy Nalchcz Mississippi New Orleans, Lous ANA; Mo-
BIZ Alabama; and Key West Florida Appropriations have
been for such establishments OF Napoleon, Arkansas
Vlc:sbus, Mississippi Evansville, Ia diana Portland
Maine; san Francisco Californian and the hospitals are in
course Of construction and Of then ss appears by the
obsac nearly completed. At Baltimore, New Orleans,
Charleston, Cincinnati, Nashville and Birnstabe arrange
for sick and invalid seamen are mace win medcai
cspilas Ind institutions In other and smaller ports
the collectors provide for invalid seaen, conlomaby 10 cir
cuias from the department. The marine hospitals are sus
famed in part BY The hospital fund collected from seasi
and n part By appropriations by Congress. The construc
hospitals will cc under the superintendent oil Inc he.
ogcnzed for The construction OF custom houses
and system OF accountability and Inspection VIII
applied 10 them Bylaws and regulations for the govern
en Of the respective hospitas modified as TO suit each
locality prepared and put in oce and the charge
of them in this department. arranged that the accounts
required 10 he periodically rendered. and proper ccono
my enforced These hospitals with adequate provision ioI
SICK and disabled seamen recommended 10 The continued
favorable consideration of Congress-
Tie of Congress provide for the better secury"oi
lives OF passengers board vessels propelled IN whole
part by searn has clnmed the attention OF the de-
par.;:" The supervising inspectors were all in due Time
appointed also Inc local boards provided 10 The act They
entered nj the discharge Of the duties specified In
.ie acI been arduously engaged in giving mi
effect Trrc will have been yeurs experience under
ts ! operation until about the June but a
operation has been highly favorable and gives reason TO
hope that better security both as 10 life and property on
vessels will be the result OF its faithful and vgiant
execution Incnogaiuns have been out by the de-
arlren undrt the provisions of the 40h eeclinn in order
to elicit the information designated In The 39h section and
when sh III be received the iaerrogaons and the
information elected vii! be duly communicated In inc
mean time report received from the board OF inspectors
convened Cincnna, and giving much valuable nioma
on is herewith transmitted The operation oil The act pro-
buh itt
cpae in oil the benefits and advantages is Calculated 10
atnrd.
Under lie exng provisions OF the act this is !mprae
cable and therefore recommended that new superv
sing district be established embrace that coast with
supervising inspector Inconvenience arises from there De-
local nsPcc;ors-one set under the act Oh
1888 and The other under the act OF 1851 The nsPec
toss under of 1888 in way under the superin
eIcrce Of departments although, without its concur
encr necessary paper cannot be issued by Inc custom
house otccs Those under the act OF 1852 are under inc
suprrn Of the department. is not desirable
Inspected under the act OF 1855 should be subject ~
all the provisions Of The Of 1852 but il desirable that
there should be Of inspectors and that all SHOULD
b., under proper surer!nentencc
Attention called to lhe l. iu!5vle and Porana caha'-
TIE Thousand shares o.! capital stock 10 hn company
under The provisions OF tho ACT Of the @ OF MN
urky have reduced 37l2 OF which Z9OZ bionS 10
the United States and S0 Individuals Iheae elo shares
will be reduced by the earnings OF the canal Tor Inc
Is53 of which the company will furnish report, and the
earnings OF 1854 will complete the purchase and leave the
jnc the stockhoder and proprietor of the ca
mai and entitled possession of It on complying with The
stock has been purchased That condition requires that no
more tolls shall be collected than will be sufficient to Keep
The canal in repair pay The necessary cost OF supe:nen
dcnco and custody and make all The improvements needed
fully to answer the purpose o ts cstaoIisnch anu ~
,cci aga. a,a,d the interests OF An appropriate
ac, il wanted az the present session. 10 provide Tor Inc su
of the canal and the carrying out oil the pro-
visions Of the act the Legislature OF hentucky' III otu'
10 make the canal Tree, lar practlcaoe 10 INC co"
n,ercc Of the OHIO. 20 ,oo nm ,,.,. or tho
Attention also called 10 the OOO00O balance OIL 'ne
$40 O00 agreed 10 be given TO Texas IN the "
e boundary OF New rNco and not yet Issued but retained
under the proviso the boundary bill The aie admins
sIion decided That the stock Of Texas mentioned III la
nroyisc nu.t fist he released To the United States before c
stock could be Issued, and The present
nined not to disturb decision. The consequence ~
that the creditors CT Texas remain unpaid no"en ""ny
are willing To file stock and release al cam y, Gna nno
IJned States and receive the proportion OF inc w.
,ccoI.t 20 them by Texas while the Unlied Sta'es"tn
abundant 10 pay, canuo 90 co. a t'' ~, un n
,hs 10 c, 70. interest which, under Inc act cou'u MOI
well be- refused H., a.. ,,.o,. h,i;d
Attention is also called the fact that the treasury ohna
inc does no, afford sufficient room Tor inc acccmnocaon
Of tho clerks of the department. and maj the Land oce oc
,sno T., inc Department Of the Interior Is now accom-
moJutcd In the building 10 the exclusion OIL par, u .ne