Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09


The table 35, which accompanies this report shows
the growth Of the deposte system, the number of dis
burng agents who deposite with the places and
Of depase at different periods 1t will be that in
September these deposites exceeded 600, whilst
All disbursing agents who could have awaited them
selves of the privilege and many dsbursng agents could
not do SO because there not deposares convenient
to their location.
The returns Of these deposites furnish the means Of
ascertanlng the operations Of dsbursiDg agents. and
whether the funds kept in readiness meet the ap
preparations whilst, upon the removal resignation,
death Of a disbursing agent, the amount deposte
passes at into the United States Treasury, and
the credit Of the depostor without the
caused by having await settlement by the agent
an administration and at once be applied to the pur
poses Of the appropriation through another agent.
The money thus on deposite is safe and secure
that in the Treasury and is without risk to the deposit
tor and it is right the Government and the sburs
ing agent should be at the expense and risk of keeping
the public money until actually disbursed.
is to be regretted that oil disbursing agents conve
neuty situated have not awaited themselves of the right
to depcsite because it furnishes Of mstrus
strict compliance with the law both respect to the de-
posite and Of the public money and does give the
United States the benefit of promptly obtaining the
amount not discussed upon the removal, snation
death of the incumbent.
The work the coast survey continues to make good
progress and the means appear to have been carefully
ana economically used II the work shall have the con-
tnued support Of Congress for few years more the full
est and reliable knowledge will be obtained Of our
extensive coast ana OIL all our harborS TO the great a
vantage of navigation and The work is
recommended to the consideration of Congress, with the
belief that convenient time will be found for its
continuance and completion, able corps Of
officers to which it can be confded.
The report of the lighthouse board No 3 also
panes this report, and is referred to for the detailed
operations for the past year. The business has been
promptly and faithfully attended to in all its branches,
and the system made efficient the time and
would allow and is to the continued favor
Of Congress- in order that increased facilities may be
given to navigation in all its branches and connexions
Under the appropriation of $40 900 for continuing the
system of protecting human life from shipwreck the
New Jersey coast, and $4,000 appropriated without
specifications (Which the Department has thought advs-
able to expend the coast of Long Island) Mr. s. c.
Durham was appointed for the New Jersey coast and
Mr.. j. N Schellnger for the Long Island coast with in
sructons to examine existing stations and report what
would be needed to put them in perfect state and to
select intermediate stations, make the stations
on each coast five instead of ten miles apart.
Both these agents have reported, and now employ
ed in building the houses the stations, and pro-
vding the articles required for them and the old ones
and the additional boats have been built and being
shipped to the stations.
Under the appropriation Of 500 for locating boats
at different points Lake Michigan tweny three boats
have been purchased and sent to the places indicated
the act Boats for the remaining points will be pur
chased and sent persons be found to take
the proper OF them for which purpose the
sary inquiries being instituted
The late melancholy disaster to the ship New Era has
throwing lines vessels in distress and establishing
communication between the wreck and the shore. Ex
periments now being made with view of providing
mortar mounted and capable of throwing ball and line
the requisite distance. The appropriations will not be
sufficient to place all the stations in entirely effective
condition.
The report (No. 3s) from Captain A. II. Bowman, Of
the engineer corps charge of the construction Of GUS
tomhouses hospitals &c., which accompanies this,
gives information in detail Of all that has been done to-
ward the completion OF those under the direction Of this
Department since the date of last report and of the
working of the system of operations and affords all
cessary information upon that subject The attention of
Congress particularly called to that part of the report
which relates to the customhouse being built at New Or
leans 1t satisfactorily appears that the foundation is not
sufficient for the weight and character of the supersruc
ture specified in the plan according which Congress
has directed be built and that there urgent
sity to modify the plan and remedy the evil far
practicable, and modification Of the plan, indicated
by Capt. Bowman, is recommended.
The attention of Congress is also called to the report
of Capt Bowman upon the site for custom-house at
Detrot and it is recommended for the stated
by him. that authority be given to sell the present lot
and purchase more suitable
The Department has selected sites for the custom
houses OF New Haven, Connecticut; Burlington, Ver-
mont oswego, New York; Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio !;
Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee Wisconsin and Wheeling,
Virginia. in accordance with the report ofCapt Bowman
No. SO, accompanying this he having been sent to
anime the sites offered in the several Cities and confer
with the commissioners and others upon the subject and
early action in having the buildings constructed
The table No. 40 exhibits the sites and prices agreed
be paid in the several cities No report made
the site at Buffalo, New York, Cincinnati Ohio and Bur-
ugtop Iowa. for the stated in the report
There has not been time for information from New Or
leans since instructions issued to obtain offers for
site for the marine hospital there.
The Department, having learned of an embezzlement Of
bullion by of the officers at the mint at Philadelphia,
determined have the mint and of business in
yestgated and detaied report made, with view to
the better security of its operations Messrs Richard
Smith and j. c. Pickett appointed for that purpose
copy Of the letter of appointment mo. Ali and their
report accompany this, with copy Of the regua
tons which the Director of the Mint has adopted with
the sanction Of this Department, for the government of
the mint and branches They submitted to Congress
for such additional legislation the circumstances may
seem to require.
The condition of the mint at Philadelphia IA to safety
as depository and security from fire. examined by
Capt Bowman, under the direction of this Department
His report NO. Az accompanies this and states the
cessy of giving the greater security mint and
depository, and of Its being made freproof and esti-
mates submitted for the alterations and also for
proving the vaults the Treasury building Washington
In Capt Bowmans general report it is stated that the
appropriation for the repairs Of the branch mint at New
Orleans is not sicent to make it thoroughly re-proof
and secure as mist and depository and estimates
itted for that purpose The attention Of Congresses
called the condition Of the mint at Philadelphia, and
Of the branch mint at New Orleans and of the vaults in
the Treasury, and such appropriations recommended
will make them reproof and perfectly safe. The pro-
prety Of annual appropriation for keeping in repair the
vaults and safes for the assistant reasurers and depos
tories is submitted
The table A. which accompanies this report exhibits
fyfour places including the marine hospitals where
lief is afforded sick and disabled seamen under the d.
recton Of this Department, with the average per day