The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-21


OF 2200 poln have thus been given 10 the public,
and furnishing information OF great value or general and
local purposes, Many special examinations have been
made TO determine the proper sites for ghis hshtbosls
beacons, and buoys, along The whole coast Iron Maine
Texas; and, as regards the western coast the entire
duty o selecting sites has deyolsed upon and been per
formed by the coast survey II gives me great pleasure
TO acknowledge the pIomplitude with wnicl his duy
has been performed and my confidence an Inc results
thus reached ttr u1e Eea r#.H tt.isst ys
IL has been arduous aud responsible da, requiring
III eacb case personal examination. and 10 many cases
accurate surveys OF the localities Much valuable inior"
maon has also been furnished IN with the nv
e ana harbor improvements greatly expedng the plans
1oI prosecuting these works and making available The re-
suits OF The surveys aud the personal OF the
superinlendenis TO this branch of the public service.
la view oi The very extensive correspondence which
necessarily apperans TO such extended aud varied opera
lions, II is respectfully recommended that the same au-
ihonty as 10 receiving sending official
connected with the survey, now exercised by the several
bureaus OF tins department. may be extended TO the Su-
pedniendent of the Coast Survey and TO the assistant ia
charge OF the Survey Office the Supenie ndent being ne
cessarly absent in the field much Of his time The duties
of franking thrown upon this department
iremely onerous, while it produces delay incompatible
with that prompt despatch oil The business OF the survey
always 10 be desired rrefE
.-.' MISCELLANEOUS. s fa r,f.t
In pursuance of the act of als August last author
izng the formation of Lighthouse Board, one officer
engineers TWO naval officers OF high rank, and two civil
ans OF distinguished scientific requirements, have been
designated by the President to form this board and one
officer oi the navy aud OF the engineers secrea-
res. The board constituted Immediately organized
and entered upon the duties assigned them BY law The
clerks employed upon the house business being one
temporary clerk from the Office of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, and four from the Fifth Auditors Bureau,
were, required by law, transferred the Office OF the
I Lighthouse Board. G-t,
The board has been assduously engaged in the proper
duties assigned It, From the practical knowledge and
high professional and scientific attainments combined in
the eminent gentlemen comprising il there is no
to doubt that all the benefits contemplated by this
organization OF that branch OF The public service VIII be
fully realized ...
/ A detailed report OF The operations of the board
prlsDg such changes and improvements in the present
system in its Judgment have become necessary is sub
| mitted with the present report.
Under the act of the 3Ist August last providing ur
the construction OF not less than CUTTER
department advertised for proposals Tor the bnldni Of
six vessels OF designated and finish Piopo, lis
have accordingly been received and the contract for the
whole number has been awarded to the lowest bidder
under ample security for its faithful execution The ap
preparation made will be sufficient for the construction of
said vessels, and their perfect equipment for service
OF the several customhouses authorized, or in course
of constructions that at New Orleans has progressed as
fast circumstances would permit that at Savannah
has been completed and occupied; at Charleston the
foundation is progressing with all possible despatch.
Sites have been purchased, and proposals publicly in
vted for the erection of custom house buldings at Mo-
bile, Norfolk Bangor, Louisville ST. Louis and Gin
cinnati Sites have been selected at Bath and Waldo
boro Maine, and Wilmington, in Delaware and their
purchase will be completed when the cession Of ju-
rlsdc,ion shall have been obtained from the States
in which they respectively situated, in accordance
with the requirements OF the joint resolution OF Sep
tember, ls4l site has been selected for the build
| ing authorized at Richmond, Virginia. SO much OF
the appropriation however, will be absorbed by s pur
chase that has been deemed advisable 10 delay for the
present any steps towards the erection OF the building
with the view of requesting from Congress an additional
appropriation aud the removal OF the existing restriction
as to the amount OF expenditure Contacts have been
made for the erection OF the custom house buildings at
San Francisco. in California, and psburg. in Pennsyl
with The utmost possible despatch The restrictions i'm
posed upon the department by limited appropriations In
the various authorizing the erection OF custom houses
and post Offices forbid in many the erection OF hreproof
buildings the adoption OF plans embracing style or
material comparable with many of the local public
private buildings in the same places. M.
Within these limited appropriations in many cases
onmodaions be provided for the custom house,
post office, United States courts offices for United States
marshal, and clerk of the United States courts The
great value OF the papers which must necessarily collect
within the buildings embracing the above mentioned of
ces, demand that every precauiion should be taken on
the part OF the government TO prevent their destruction
by hre Some o the appropriations at the control oil the
department have been reduced by the purchase OF the
necessary site, were originally so limited as to render
it doubtful If the contemplated buildings with proper
com aons be erected without additional sppro-
pnaiions being made Special communications IN relation
TO Of these will be made TO Congress al soon as
specific information can be obtained.
The contract for the extension and reorganization OF
the Baltimore cuslom-h house building has been conclu-
ded in conformity with the act OF the last session,
The great distance and consequent diiculy and delay
in communicating with Oregon has prevented any definite
progress being made in the erection OF the proposed build
! ing at Astoria. t t.g....
The operations OF the department arising ost Of the
provisions made for sick and disabled seamen are becom
| ing daily more onerous and extended
1 In consequence OF the rapid expansion OF our COM
merce both foreign aud domestic the funds arising ffom
the monthly contributions OF twenty cents from the par
ties for whose benefit this truly benehcen system has
been established insufficient Tor their relief without
the addition OF direct appropriations By Congress.
The previous appropriations from the treasury m The
relief of sck have amounted TO Sg69069 81, be-
sides Se2s,3o 20 for the purchase OF sites, the eecuon
i of hospital buildings, furniture, repairs, &c,
The department recommends continuance OF the ap-
10 the needul extent for supplying the deficiency in the
amount received from the hospital fund but is not at
present prepared 10 advise the erection OF more marine
hospitals The experience Of the department. induces me
10 believe that Il s every way preferable TO make an
arrangement Tor the of sick seamen with local nos
pitfalls Of high standng which are under the immediate
and v,gant supervision OF citizens of the highest re-
spectaby, al the respective places Such arrangements
exist at New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, ana al
some other points, at fixed weekly rate Tor eacn sea
man. the of which is greatly less than ~ woufu DC
in public hospital; and where The care and aeDuon
which the patients fully equal 10 wnat they
could possibly obtain in government institution, and
their ncdca s also under the direction of the
rnos eminent professional talents and experience In
all places where a similar arrangement be made
am Of oeinon il should be preferred rather than erect
oher marine hospitals in addition to those already
thonzed as believe both the comfort OF the sick and
economy OF expenditure, would be promoted by the
adoption oil the former plan.
Under the system which has been long and 20 stead
iy this useful but