The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-04


dollars and sixsy cents which Is now much below The
b. resolution approved February a. 1867 the pro-
visions Of the joint resolution TO provide for codfyng
vsrs oon.sgsa ia force aus ne IL day Of January u
Under authority and direction Of these resolutions
the Department has caused to DO prepared tbs dram OF
act embracing ali provisions deemed necessary for rsgu
a!ng the foreign and coasng trade the assessment aud
tries and for consolidating and psrfsctng the Navigation
laws The draft was transmitted TO the HoYse Espre-
sentatvss on the sth OF March last and the report
companying sves general yiew Of ~ scope and an
proposed TO b made
IhS laws relating 70 the foreign and coss,ug trade
and the collection Of the from customs now
dispersed through many volumes OF Statutes and have
been 90 frequently modified by amendments Of their
merchants a. well as for the officers whose duty II s to
construe and execute them 70 determine what is the
Il great importance that laws regulating interests
% various and vast should be systemazed that the
rights and duties OF the classes whose interest most
directly affected by them may DO clearly apparent Their
present complication 10 o source OF serious embarHss.
ment 10 tho mercantile community, and IL IL not less
positions demand prompt action and An intelligent sppi
cation OF law TO facts as they arise The Department has
sndeavored to obviats these smbarrsssmens far
measures are only partial remedy and fall far short OF
supplying the want Of uniform consistent code.
COnsluorALlOuSs
proposed acs win receive the early attention Of Congress-
Tho Secretary respectfully recommends tho reorgani-
cation OF tho accounting oces Of tho Treasury Dopsrt
ment 80 a. to place this branch Of the public service
under one responsible head according TO what
have been designed in the original organization OF tho
Department. and followed until the increase Of business
led 70 the creation OF the office Of Second Comptroller
and subsequently, 10 that Of Commissioner OF Customs
There are now three officers controlling the settlement
OF accounts, each Independent Of tho Others and,
consequence, the rules and decisions not uniform
whore the same or like questions arse. In the judg-
counting Offices under one head would greater
ecency, ~ we'll IS greater uniformity practice than
ievsd also that ii would b adyanageous to relieve
tho Commissioner Of Customs Of the duty Of settling
accounts and 70 conne hs labos to the supervision Of
the revenue from customs sufficiently large to de-.
mand his whole time II y therefore recommended that
the once Of Chief Comptroller be created having general
ouporv OF tho accounting ocers and appellate u
risdioton from their decisions; TO which should be
transferred the duty OF examining and countersgning
warrants on the Treasury and Of collecting debts due
the government constituting part Of the duties Of
the First Comptroller: and that the Adjustment Of
counts pertaining TO the customs be restored TO the latter
once.
The Secretary also rensws the recommendation con.
tained In his last annual report Of reorganization Of
and earnestly socs for il the favorable action Of Con-
gresS. The compensation now paid Ia inadequate TO the
service. performed and simple justice to gentlemen Of
partment requires liberal addition to their present
compensation Since the rates Of compensation ai.
bss OF the Bureaus have been largely increased and
the necessary expenses Of living in Washington have
The total value Of the bullion deposited At the Mint
and branches during the fiscal year SAL $685. 100 of
which $40 069 200 In gold and 81 1928 900 silver
Dsdecsng ne ssdepost the amount Of actual deposit
The coinage for the year was gold COIN s2s 1877
Bars ssa Nickel copper and bronze eoInas. ons
coinage ssl s9s total bars Stamped SO l07. Si1
The gold deposits or domestic production were, at
PHILADELPHIA $24S 1877 at San Francisco SIT $780, 100
at New York, $40 $50 s2l; at Denver sl3o,55s The
Francisco s7aa, ISL; New York. s274, 500. s'''
Tho gold and silver deposits OF foreign production
The amount OF gold coined at Philadelphia was
$10072 O60; at San Francisco SIS 225 o0O OF silver at
Philadelphia 1851 AGO. at San Francisco $3.50 04s Of
$1679 $40. Total number Of pieces struck 54 no. 384
valuable site for branch mint In Fan Francisco
been purchased during the past year and an additional
ing mint building. complete in all Its appointments,
upon the Pacific coast.
The Director OF the Mint recommends the opening OF
the branch mint a. New Orleans, upon an economical
basis for the coinage OF nicke-coppor pieces The
branch mint at Charlotte NJ c. is being repaired and
placed in condition for melting and assayng the precious
metals II will DO unnecessary execute coinage
At Denver or Charlotte and the branch mnts those
points should DO converted into assay Offices, and thus
The Director also recommends tho repeal OF the coin
age charge, the tax bullion and the redemption Of
the cent coinage. His remarks upon international coin
age aud hts suggestions for the protection OF gold
from debaSeInent, worthy careful consideration.
An appropriation Of $4,000 was made by Con.
gress on the 2Sth Of July, 1860, TO enable the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury to collect reliable Statistical
Instrumentation concerning the gold and silver mines OF
tho Western States and Territories Under auth ory
thus conferred upon this Department. Mr. J. Ross
mineral regions west or the Rocky Mountains His
preliminary report was submitted TO Congress on tho
9Th OF Januray, 1867 Tue districts OF New Mexico,
Colorado, Montana, Dakota and Minnesota were as.
signed TO Mr.. James W. Taylor, whose report
was submitted on tho 18th Of February. 1857 No
Our mir
the nature and extent OF the metaiferous
veins the mode aud cost Of working tho mines or tho
yield OF bullion. had previously appeared in an official
form. Little known Of the local rules and regula-
tons the practical effect Of federal Legislation on tho
nation contained In these reports has been atesed
marked degree by the pubic favor with which they
have been received throughout ths Atlantic and Pacific
States new and increasing interest has been J.
tested IN the exploration and development OF mine.
raj regions both east and west OF tho Rocky Mountains
Az stated letters OF tho department dated January
and February L. 1861 these reports were merely pre-
lminary. Provision having been made by tho appro-
pra,ion act Of March 1857. for continuance Of this
service, the special Mr.. Browne has been
examination OK the mineral districts within his
division. He has travelled extensively over the
principal mining regions Of the Pacific slope,
and collected much valuable Information. The
. 2. MS ,0vessaSn, reaching from Bri.
extensive 10 permit Of personal visit TO each strict
and he deemed It expedicns tho services OF an
TO aid him performance Of his duties Special in
structions ware given 70 Thorn in writing mpressing
INV srasd statements from Interested parties and the
importance OF accuracy aud critical adherence
In their own Through the services OF these Assistants
who have visited In person nearly all tho districts de-
sorbsd, he has been enabled to obtain detailed reports
the products population and Characteristic features
Of Utah, Western Montana, Idaho, Washington Terri
tory, Oregon. Nevada, California and Arizona Tho ad
jaceut foreign territories In which American capital IL
Invested also briefly noticed Particular at enton Is
gfven TO the typographical, geological aud
features Of each State and Territory; 10 the va
rous systems OF mining; She coat Of labor
In reduction and incidentally, to tho clate facili-
ties for communicating Agricultural capabilities and IN.
tai Az Important feature Connected with the develop
mont OF tbs mining interest Is presented ln the tabular
statements accompanying the report While tho pros.
pect generally favorable and the permanency OF tho
mineral deposits Astested by indspuiabc evidences the
loss sustained 10 the treatment OF the repre-
interest
On the comsiock lode. where gold exists chiefly In an