The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-12-13

yeaI 1853, is estimated at 3oO,00O,0 0C
pounds, of which 60, 600 900 is the pro.
duction of the country, and $1,000, 00C
imported as wool. and the balance q
10000, 600 imported in manufacture:
of wool.
The proposed addition of articles Of
general consumption to the free list
such as salt, &C., was deemed more ques.
tionable, but was made because it seem.
ed to have had the sanction of Congress
and the people, as to tea and coffee, and
it was thought would leave the operation
of the tariff laws more equitable in theil
bearing upon all sections of the country
than a general reduction on all articles.
The addition of unadulterated wines
was made to promote our commercial
intercourse with wine producing coun-
tries.
SHIPwRECKS.
Under the appropriation of 90 900 fol
continuing the system of protecting he-
man life from shipwreck on the New
Jersey coast, and $50, 600 appropriated
without specification, (which the Depart.
ment has thought advisable to expend
on the coast of Long Island,) MI. S. G.
Durham was appointed for the New
Jersey coast, and Mr.. j. N. Schelinger
for the Long Island coast, with instruc-
lions to examine existing stations, and
report what would be needed to put
them in a perfect state, and select inter
mediate stations, so as to make the sta
tions on each coast five instead of ten
miles apart Both these agents have
reported, and are now employed in build
ing the houses at the new stations, and
providing the articles required for them
and the old ones, and the additional
boats have been built, and are being
shipped to the new stations.
Under the appropriation of Sl2,50C
for locating boats at different points on
Lake Michigan, twenty-three boats have
been purchased, and sent to the places
indicated in the act. Beats for the two
remaining points will be purchased and
sent on soon as persons can be found to
take the proper care of them; for which
purpose the necessary inquiries are now
being instituted.
The late melancholy disaster to the
ship New Era has shown the inadequacy
of the mortars heretofore used for
throwing lines to vessels in distress, and
establishing a communication between
the wreck and the shore. Experiments
are now being made, with a view CT pro-
viding a mortar, mounted, and capable
of throwing a ball and line the requisite
distance. The appropriations will not
be sufficient to place all the stations in
an entirely effective condition..
The report, No. SO, from Capt A. II.
Bowman, OF the Engineer Corps, in
charge of the construction of custom
houses, marine hospitals, etc.. which ac-
companies this, gives information in de-
tail of all that has beea done towards
the completion of those under the di-
rection of this Department since the
date of my last report, and of the
working of the system of operations, and
affords all necessary information upon
that subject. The attention of Con-
gress is particularly called to that part
of the report which relates to the u S
tom house being built at New Orleans.
1t satisfa ctorily appears that the
foundation is not sufficient for the weight
and character of the superstructure, as
specified in the plan, according to which
Congress has directed it to be built; and
that there is urgent necessity to modify
the plan and remedy thesevil as far as
practicable, and a modification of the
plan as indicated by Capt. Bowman is
recommended.
The attention of Congress is also
called &c the report of Capt. Bowman
upon the site for a custom house at De-
troit, and it is recommended for the rea-
son stated by him, that authority be
given to sell the present lot, and pur-
chase a more suitable one.
The department has selected sites for
the custom houses at New Haven, Con-
necticut; Burlington, Vermont; Oswe-
go, New York; Toledo and Sandusky,
Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and Wheeling, Virginia, in
accordance with the report of Capt. Bow
man, No. 80, accompanying this, he hav-
ing been sent tc examine the sites of
fered in the several cities, and confer
with the commissioners and others upon
the subject and steps are being taken
to obtain the titles, with a view to early
acti n in having the buildings construct
ed. The table, No. 40, exhibits the
sites and prices agreed to be paid in the
several cities. No report was made on
the site at Buffalo, N. York; Cincinnati,
Ohio; and Burlington, Iowa, for the
reasons stated in the same report. There
has not been time for information from
New Orleans since instructions were
issued to obtain offers for a site for the
marine hospital there.