The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-12-20

belong. At present, indeed, some of these
hospitals are made available for the benefit
OF the troops, but this use must necessarily
be partial and temporary. Of these, there.
fore, as well as those not thus used, the
Secretary recommends that those least adj
vantageouslY situated and employed be dis.
posed of on the most favorable terms, and
that no new structures be undertaken, ex-
cept in cases of the clearest expediency or
necessity.
The great value of the Coast Survey has
been strikingly attested by recent events.
The knowledge gained by its operations
during past years, the experience and skill
OF naval and military officers acquired in its
service are now available in the operations
OF the army and the navy, the ready aid
now afforded by it, in examination and sur
veys of harbor and inlets, to the forces of
the Union in their movements upon the
coast, demonstrate, beyond question, the
wisdom of the policy which originated and
has sustained it. The diminished appropri-
ations required for its support during the
fiscal year 1863 will no doubt be cheerfully
made.
The number of vessels in the revenue
service of the department on the 4th of
March, 1861, was twenty nine. Five had
been previously seized by the insurgents,
and one had been ordered to Norfolk for
repairs, where, having been taken to pieces
with view to rebuilding, and therefore
incapable of removal, she was involved in
the disasters attendant on the destruction OF
the Navy Yard.
II uQccoc foI ho
service not seized by the rebels, four were
on the Pacific coast, six on the lakes, and
eighteen on the Atlantic coast. Of those
on the lakes FIVE have been ordered to ser~
vice on the Atlantic coast. Nearly half of
these vessels are unfit for the purposes of
the revenue, and will be sold under the
provisions of the act of July %.
Under the same act three steamers have
been purchased and equipped, and have been
OF essential service in the suppression of un-
'Hwful commerce of the Chesapeake, and in
aid of the expedition by which the authors
ity of the Union was recently restored on
the Eastern shore OF Virginia.
With view to the increased efficiency
of the service, the Secretary directed
thorough examination to be made by
competent board of officers, of all candidates
for appointment, as we'll as of all officers,
except captains, already in the service, and
has made certificate from that board of
entire competency an indispensable con-
dition of appointment.
-Four revenue cutters are now engaged
in Coast Survey duty, in connection with
the naval and military expeditions on the
coasts of the insurgent States; and the
whole of the remaining number are actively
engaged in the enforcement of the revenue
laws, and in the protection of commerce.
Under advertisements for proposals for
the construction of additional revenue
steamers, under the act of July, a large
number of bids and models have been re-
ceived, and contracts will be made for FIVE
which, when completed, will fully answer
the existing demands of the service.
The Secret lry desires to avail himself of
this opportunity to invite the attention of
Congress to the Importance of a uniform
system and uniform nomenclature ofweights
and measures and coins to the commerce of
the world, in which the United States al
ready so largely shares.
The wisest of our statesmen have regard
ed the attainment of this end, so desirab BILE
in itself, as by no means impossible. The
combination of the decimal system with
appropriate denominations in a scheme of
weights, measures and coins for internation>
al uses of commerce, leaving, if need be,
the separate systems of nations untouched,
ls certainly not beyond the reach of the
daring genius and patient endeavor which
gave the steam engine and the telegraph to
the service of mankind. The Secretary
respectfully suggests the expediency of
small appropriation to be used in promot.
ing interchange of opinions between intelli
gent person of our own and foreign coun
tries on this subject.
ln closing this report, the Secretary takes
pleasure in asking the consideration OF Con-
gress Tor the various suggestions OF the
heads OF the bureaus of the department,
contained in their several reports, which
are herewith transmitted. 1t has been bis
endeavor. since assuming the charge of the
department, to infuse into its action the
greatest possible activity and vigor and it
is source OF very great satisfaction to him
that his efforts have been. in general, faiths
fully and zealously supported by the gen.
tlemen with whom he has been associated.
The reports from the several bureaus will
show how much has been accomplished
during the year, and how well. The Secre
tary indulges the hope that continued en-
deavor with larger experience, will make
the department in all its working, what a
department charged with duties and respon
sibilities so various and important ought to
De. S. P. CHASE.