The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-07

number of officers stationed at various points along the
frontier in these districts and the expenses Of collection
exceed by more than one-haf the amount OF revenue
received
What would be the effect on the revenue of the with
dawal OF this force from these points may be perceived
by glance ut the connexions of those DISTRICTS ana OF
the waters OF Lake Champain, with the principal mar
kets and Territory OF Canada Fast.
One of these stations ouses Point where large por-
ton of Canadian commerce first enters the United States
communicates by railroads aud the river St. johns with
Montreal and the St Lawrence. III no preventive force
stationed at those points, merchandise OF provincial
and European origin might be introduced into the United
States by those routes and at various points along the
Canadian and Vermont frontier without the possibility
of prevention and to the serious injury of the revenue
from customs. Where articles taxed by tariff
but made free by the Canadian where the difference Of
duties in Canada and the United States would insure
profit the adventure, merchandise might be exported
IN bond from warehouses to Canada to be thrown
thence upon markets without the payment OF any
duty whatever TO the United States Merchandise so Inn
ported might supply to large extent the consumption
of New England and New York; in whose ports so large
aportion Of the public revenue is now collected.
At the ports of Pensacola, in Florida and Shiedsboro
the mouth of Pearl river in Mississippi Gulf
coast officers stationed, but duties OF any
considerable amount collected But for the presence of
force at those points, the valuable products of
European and West Indian commerce might be intro
duced free of duty into the interior through the waters
commanded by those ports with hardly possibility Of
prevention and to the serious dmnuton OF the
Collected AT the ports OF New orleans ana
Other Instances of the necessity of preventive service
might be readily suggested but it is not deemed necesa
ry IL is believed that the expense of maintaining it
might at points, be reduced without mpairing its
utility and the department has that subject now under
consideration.
At the last session of Congress appropriations made
for the purchase of the best seghtng feboats to be
placed the of New jersey and the best
for the coast of Long Island As the government
had already provided for those stations the OBJ
ject OF the law evidently to ascertain better boat
than those already employed and If found to substitute
it for those in Taking this view of the subject,
appointed commission to test the qualities OF the va
ous kinds Of boats that had been constructed and which
offered 70 the government The report of the com
misioners has been received within the last few days
too late for any action of the department before the meet
ing of Congress 1t is herewith submitted maked 49,
with view of placing before Congress all the inorma-
ton the subject in the possession of the department.
and also that such additional action may be had at the
present session as may be deemed advisable
The report of the superintendent Of the Coast Survey
giving statement of the operations of this service during
the last fiscal year. will be submitted to Congress at
early day.
The report of the supervising inspectors marked ~ is
report from the president and directors of the Louis
vile and Portland Canal Company expected to reach
the department in short time and when received will
be submitted to Congress
The accompanying reports from the various bureaus of
the Treasury Department marked A to ~ will furnish
detailed statements of the business transacted in each of
them
In addition to the regular annual report of the Light
House Board marked No I3,) transmit report from
the board marked No 49, which has been prepared in
to resolution of the Senate of February 1858
The information contained in it will be interesting to
both houses and is therefore communicated at this time
All of which is respectfully submitted.
HOWELL COBB,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. JOHN G. BREcKNRrDaE
Vice President of the United States, and
President of the Senate