Washington sentinel., 1853-12-10


and superinteudents had also been appointed,
and were paid out of the appropriations, but
there was no system Of keeping or rendering
accounts at the respective works, nor of keep
ing the same in the department. With a view
TO more efficient management, application
was made to the Secretary of War for scien-
tiic and practical engineer to be placed in
charge OF the construction of these buildings,
and Capt Alex. HI. Bowman, Of the engineer
corps, was detailed and assigned to that duty.
General regulations for the conduct of the busi-
ness have been adopted and sent to those in
charge OF the respective works, and depart
ment of construction organized for the supervi-
sion of the whole. The general regulations ac-
company this report, as also a copy of the local
organizations, in order that Congress may see
how the business of construction is conducted
by the department. The compensation paid to
Captain Bowman has been fixed at So per day,
less his pay as captain, with his travelling ex-
penses whilst inspecting the works, and the
architect has also been retained to aid the de-
partment in his particular line. The work at
the New Orleans custom-house has made good
progress during the spring, summer, and fall,
notwithstanding the sickness at New Orleans,
aud it is intended to continue the work through
the winter. For the Charleston custom-house,
the foundation is nearly completed, and the
granite for the basement is being delivered ;
and that work also will be continued through
the winter The other custom-houses contracted
for as stated In the abstract, are in various
stages of progress, and it is expected that
greater dispatch, and an improvement in the
work and materials, will result from the new
arrangements.
1t appearing that contracts had been awarded
to persons unskilled in the construction of the
works contracted for, and the contracts subse-
quently sold, in the advertisements published
by the department notice was given that the
contracts would only be awarded to those prac-
tcally skilled in building, and that assignments
would not be allowed without the consent of
the department.
The custom-house contracted to be built at
San Francisco, California, was located on
square embraced by what is termed the gov
ernment reserves, and large sum had been
expended in filing up the square and piling
for the foundation. The State of California set
up claim to the reserves, and upon investiga-
tion it was considered hazardous to proceed
with the customhouse, as the title might prove
defective. Notice was given to the contractors,
and the work was suspended, and application
made to the State of California for relinquish-
ment of all claim to the custom-house square.
The Legislature passed an act to sell the gov
ernment reserves, excepting out OF the sale the
customhouse lot; but there was no release to
the United States of all claim to it. Conse-
quently, the work remains suspended, and the
application has been renewed for the release,
and it is expected the release will be obtained,
and that the contractors for the custom-house
will be enabled to proceed with the building.
The abstract accompanying this report ex-
hibits marine hospitals at Chelsea, near Bos-
ton; Norfolk, Virginia; Ocracoke, North Car
olina; Cleveland, Ohio: Chicago, Illinois; Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky; Pa
ducah, Kentucky; Natchez Mississippi; New
Key West, Florida. Appropriations have been
made for such establishments at Napoleon, Ar
kansas; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Evansville,
Indiana; Portland, Maine; San Francisco,
California; and the hospitals are in course of
construction, and some of them, as appears by
the abstract, nearly completed. At Baltimore,
New Orleans, Charleston, Cincinnati, Nashville,
and Barnstable, arrangements for sick and in
valid seamen are made with medical hospitals
and other institutions. In other and smaller
ports the collectors provide for invalid seamen
conformably to circulars from the department.
The marine hospitals are sustained in part by
the hospital fund collected from seamen, and in
part by appropriations by Congress. The con-
struction of hospitals will be under the super
intendence of the department organized for the
construction of custom-houses, and the same
system of accountability and inspection will be
applied to them. Bylaws and regulations Tor
the government of the respective hospitals, so
modified as to suit each locality, have been pre-
pared and put in force, and the charge Of them
in this department so arranged that the ac-
counts are required to be periodically rendered,
and q proper economy enforced These hos
pitfalls, with adequate provision for sick and
disabled seamen, are recommended to the con-
tinued favorable consideration of Congress.
The act of Congress to provide for the better
security of the lives of passengers on board YES
sells propelled in whole or in part by steam has
claimed the attention of the department. The
supervising inspectors were all in due time ap-
pointed, rs also the local boards provided in the
act. They entered at once on the discharge OF
the duties specified in the act, and have been
arduously engaged in giving it full effect. There
will not have been years experience under
its full operation until about the lst June next;
but so far as its operation has been highly favor
able, and gives reason to hope that better secu-
rity, both as to life and property, on steam
vessels, will be the result of its faithful and
vigilant execution. Interrogations have been
sent out by the department under the provisions
Of the 10th section, in order to elicit the infor
nation designated in the 39th section, and
when answers shall be received, the interroga
tions and the information elected will be duly
communicated. In the meantime, report re
ceived from the board of inspectors convened at
Cincinnati, and giving much valuable informa-
ton is herewith transmitted. The operation of
the act promising to be highly beneficial, the
Pacific coast should participate in all the bene-
fits and advantages it is calculated to afford.
Under the existing provisions of the act this is
impracticable, and therefore it is recommended
that new supervising district be established,
to embrace that coast, with supervising in
spector. Inconvenience arises from there being
two sets of local inspectors-one set under the
act Of 1893, and the other set under the act of
1852. The inspectors under the act of 1898
are in no way under the superintendence of this
department; although, without its concurrence,
the necessary papers cannot be issued by the
custom-house officers. Those under the act Of