Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22

winter. The uiangulation Of the Columbia river has
been extended thirty-three miles from its mouth.
has also been made in the survey Of
the Santa Barbara Islands, including the land surveys
by the geodetic method In connection with this rapid
progress Of the survey this coast observations have
been made for latitude and longitude and the mag
netc variation The geographical position Of the coast
the Straits Of San Juan de Fuca to San Diego has
been established the latitude and longitude Of the most
important headands having been determined by sufficient
ly and reliable preliminary observations The
latitude of seventeen stations and the longitude OF nine
teen stations and the magnetic variations Of seven sta
tons have been thus determined On the Atlantic and
Gulf coast the usual attention has been given to the same
subject Magnetic observations have been made at thirty
three stations Sixteen longitude and seventeen latitude
stations have been occupied and ten base lines measured
great extension has been given to the method OF de-
termning the ongudes Of cardinal points by using the
electric magnetic teegraph-a method admitting OF de-
gree of precision hitherto atanabe by other means
The exploration of the Gulf has been continued
Great progress has been made in publishing the results Of
the survey. Forty-two charts, elaborate and highly
finished and fortywo preliminary charts, have already
been published and twentyseven sheets are in various
stages Of engraving. The geographical positions de-
termined by the survey from its commencement to july
1851 have been published The latitude and longitude
of 1900 points have thus been given to the public
and furnishing information Of great value for general and
local purposes. Many special examinations have been
made to determine the proper sites for lights ghtboats
beacons and buoys along the whole coast from Maine to
Texas and regards the western coast the entire duty
selecting sites has devoved upon and been performed
by the Coast Survey 1t gives me great pleasure to &C
knowledge the promptude with which this duty has been
performed and my confidence nthe results thus reached
1t has been arduous and responsible duty requiring
in each personal examination, and in many cases
accurate surveys Of the localities Much valuable inor-
nation also been furnished in connection with the
river and harbor improvements greatly expedtng the
plans for prosecuting these works and making available
the results of the surveys and the personal examination
Of the superintendent to this branch of the public service
In view Of the very extensive correspondence which
necessarily apperans to such extended and varied ope
/ 30 v rac0pn nm nda
authority to receiving or sending official communca
tons connected with the survey exercised by the
bureaus Of this Department. may be extended to
the Superintendent Of the Coast Survey and to the assist
in charge of the survey Office the superintendent
being necessarily absent in the field much of his time
The duties of fankng thrown upon this Department
are extremely onerous, while it produces delay incom
pabe with that prompt dispatch of the business OF the
survey always to be desired.
Miscellaneous.
In pursuance of the act of the 3lst Of August last
thorizng the formation of lighthouse board officer
of engineers of the army and one of the Typographical
engineers naval officers of high rank, and two civil
ans of distinguished scientific requirements, have been
designated by the President to form this board and
officer of the navy and Of the engineers secretaries
The board constituted immediately organized and
tered upon the duties assigned them by law The clerks
employed upon the lighthouse business being tempo
rary clerk from the office of the Secretary Of the Treasury
and four from the Fifth Auditors Bureau, were, re-
quired by law transferred to Office Of the Lighthouse
Board
The board has been assduously engaged in the proper
duties assigned it. From the practical knowledge and
high professional and scientific atainmens combined in
the eminent gentlemen comprising it, there is reason
to doubt that all the benefits contemplated by this new
organization of that branch of the public service will be
fully realized
detailed report of the operations of the board,
prising 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 3lst August last providing for
fha IF
Department advertised for proposals for the building OF
six vessels Of designated size and finish Proposals 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 appropria
ton made will be sufficient for the construction of said
vessels, and their perfect equipment for service
OF the several custom-h houses authorized in course
of construction that New Orleans has progressed
fast as circumstances would permit that at Savannah
has completed and occuped at Charleston the foun
dation is progressing with all possible Dispatch Sites
have been purchased and proposals publicly invited for
the erection of customhouse buildings at Mobile, Nor
folk Bangor, Louisville, St. Louis and Cincinnati Sites
have been selected at Bath and Wadoooro Maine and
Wilmington in Delaware; and their purchase will be
completed when the cesson Of jurisdiction shall have
been obtained from the States in which they respec
lively situated in accordance with the requirements OF
the Joint resolution of September 1S4l site has been
selected for the building authorized at Richmond yr-
gnia SO much of the appropriation, however, will be
absorbed by its purchase that it has been deemed adv
sable delay for the present any steps towards the
Congress additional appropriation and the removal of
the existing restriction to the amount Of expenditure
Contracts have been made for the erection Of the custom
house buildings San Francisco in California and Pitts
burg in Pennsylvania; and the buildings will be prose-
cuted to completion with the utmost possible dispatch
The restrictions imposed upon the Department by limit
ed appropriations in the various acts authorizing the
erection Of and post Offices forbid in many
the erection Of fre-proof buildings the adoption Of
! plans embracing style material comparable with
many of the local public private buildings in the
places.
Within these limited appropriations in many
commodatons must 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 aforementioned
Offices demand that every precauon should be taken
the part Of the Government prevent their destruction
by fire. Some Of the appropriations at the control Of the
Department have been reduced by the purchase of the
necessary site or originally limited render
it doubtful if the contemplated buildings with proper &C
commodaton can be erected without additional appro
prations being made Special communications in relation
TO Of these will be made to Congress soon as spe
| cifc information can be obtained.
The contract for the extension and reorganization OF the
Baltimore customhouse building has been concluded, In
! conformity with the act Of the last session.
The great distance and consequent difficulty and delay
in communicating with Oregon has prevented any definite
being made in the erection Of the proposed build
| Ing ut Astoria.
The operations Of the Department arising out OF the
provisions made for sick and disabled seamen are De-
| coming daily more and extended
In consequence Of the rapid expansion of our commerce.
both foreign and domestic, the funds arising from the