The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09

~ ~ 1OhAl 10 OAN lSl@AASuASA'S
OF that station.
The addition OF several thousand miles OF sea coast
by the purchase OF Alaska renders the cutter force
il the Pacific inadequate for even the ordinary du-
ties pertaining TO he service without regard 10 the
additional demands upon 1t for the protection OF me
fur-bearlng ANIMALS. rhe recommendation hereto
fore made that two first class steamers be built or
purchased for the western coast Is therefore renewed
4 steam cutter IS also needed for Charleston ana
one Tor The coast OF Texas.
In his report the year 1865 the Secretary called
the attention OF Congress especially 70 the condition
OF the shipping interest of the United States. In his
report OF last year he again referred to in the fol-
lowing language
The shipping Of the United States great degree
.n By the war has as not ,sysa nas the
Ps are being chiefly r s e eoaa
nit language his report, that with unequaled
facilities for obtsnin the materials and with acknowledged
with tho finest the world with surpus pro-
@ a sSs IN s & ss aad @
cessfuy with English ships In the transportation OF
change for has taken place since report
shpbuiidns ineres, Eastern and Middle States
been steadily declining and that consequently the United
return specie win do much, but will be SUM-
yd The aeas whsh enter into the Contradiction
should relieved from taxation by of draw
might allowed a. an oss, TAXATION Il subsidies are
foreign S" se. Be- BE- 1
that the peope OF the United States who protably
cheapest market 1t is certainly upon
books law restrictive when
longer accompishes the OBJECT for which enacted
What was said by the Secretary in 1866 ana 1861
upon this subject Is true at the present time and he
therefore feels IL 10 be his duty TO repeat his
mendationS. The shipping interest was not only
Frustrated by the war; but Its continued depression
Is attributable TO the financial Legislation and the
high taxes consequent upon the war; The honor
and the welfare Of the country demand its restora-
ton. -
Accompanying this report there Is a very accurate
and instructing chart, prepared by Mr.. ). Nimmo,
Ir n a i'm m n
condensed form the progresy or shipbulldlng In the
United states from 1917 to 1868. . -
since the abr0gaton OF the treaty Of June A, 1854
between the United States and Canada no favorable
opportunity for reconsideration or the commercial
relations OF the two countries has been presented.
Canada has yet To consolidate political conedera-
ton with the other English colonies and possessions
on thus Continent. aud until the hostility OF Nova
Scotia TO that measure Is removed and the concur
renee OF Northwest British America Is secured the
authorities at Ottawa are in no situation to make
adequate proposition to the United States in
change for the great concession OF an exceptional
tarn on northern frontier in favor OF the lead
ing Canadian staples. On the other hand, until the
United y ates shail have illy qatnrel satisfactory
secretary would be ndisposed to favor any special
arrangement which would remove any material
branch OF the revenue system from legislative con-
troll Meanwhile a Canadian Motley for the enarg
ment OF the Welland and st. Lawrence canals TO
dimensions adequate to pass vessels OF 1000 tons
burden from the Upper Lakes to tho Atlantic,
Will doubtless be regarded as indispensable
to any substantial renewal, by treaty or legislation,
OF the former arrangement. me DISCUSSIONS and
experience OF the last twelve months are regarded,
by the Secretary, warrantng an authoritative COM
parison of views between the representatives OF
Great Britain and Canada and the government Of
the United States, and In that event this Depart
nien will cheerfuliy contribute by all appropriate
mcans to comprehensive measures which shall as
simulate the revenue systems OF the respective
countries make their markets mutually available,
anu for all commercial or social purposes, render
the frontier az nearly an imaginary line possible.
There certainly seems no just reason why all the
communities on the American continent might not
initiate the example Of the Zollverien Of the Ger.
man States.
The progress OF the coast survey has been salts
factory and commensurate with the appropriations,
AS viii be seen from The annual report ofthe super
intendent OF that work. During the past year
veys have been In progress in the following locali-
ties, named In geographical order, viz. :-0n the
coast OF Name in Penobsc0t bay and on the Islands
lying within Its entrance; the shores Of st.
Georges and Meionlak rivers; in Muscougus bay;
on the estuares OF Qaoog bay and IN the vicinity OF
between the Penobscot and Cape Elizabeth.
In Massachusetts,, between Barnstable and Monomoy,
completing the survey OF Cape Cod. In Rhode
Island. on the western part OF Narraganset Bay.
In New York, a. Rondout and In the Bay OF New
Barnegat Bay. In Maryland and Virginia, on the
Potomac river and the southern part OF Chesapeake
Bay. In North Carolina in Pamlico Sound and on ts
western shore. including Neuse and Bay rivers and
or the coast north OF Hatteras In South Caro-
lima, on the estuares Of Port Royal sound. In
Sounds; in the Florida Straits and in the bay be-
tween the keys and main shore OF Florida. On the
COdSC UctWccO felSdcOih anu hiODuc eIJTaUCeS. AT
the passes OF the Mississippi and in Galveston Mata-
gorda and Corpus Christi Bays, on the coast of
Texas. In California surveying parties have been
at work on the coast betwes Buenaventura and
Santa Barbara, at Point Sal and on the Peninsula
OF san Francisco; in Oregon on Yaquinna Bay, Co
lumbia and Uehaleur rivers; In Washington Terri
tory, on Fuca Straits and In Puget Sound.
In the Coast Survey ONCE forty eight charts have
oeen enl,re OF Parsay engraved during the year
observations OF the tides at seven principal stations
have been kept up and tide tables for all parts OF the
tfnd&
lished. A new edition Of the Directory or Coast
Pilot" for the western coast has been prepared and
preliminary guide for the navigation Of the north
western coast has been compiled.
This brief glance at the operations or the Coast
Survey during the past year shows the great scope
OF public favor Its Importance to the com
merce and navigation OF the country Is now well
understood, nor Its incidental contributions to
OF the people The work should be pressed steadily
forward, with means sufficient for the most effective
working OF the existing organization, so that IL may
embrace, at no distant period, the whole OF our ex-
tended coast line within its operations including the
principal harbors IN our newly acquired Territory Of
Alaska.
The report OF the Lighthouse Board Is as usual an
interesting 0ne No bureau OF the Treasury Depart
ment is conducted with more ability or with more
strict regard TO the public interests than this.
In view Of the extepson OF the lighthouse SYSTEM
consequent upon the Increase OF the commerce OF the
country and the acquisition of coast territory 1t
Is respectfully submitted that some authoritative
definition OF the limit to which aids to navigation
tHuu Dt Wy tic ktlCthi koNcflincus suOutu
DE established.
II may well be doubted whether the general gov
eminent should be called upon to do more than to
thoroughly provide the sea ana lake coasts with
lights OF high order both stationary and floating
and to place lights OF inferior order TO enable
vessels to reach secure anchorages at any season OF
the year.
The act OF Congress, approved August 81, 1852
establishing the Lighthouse Board, directs that the
coasts OF the United States shall be divided into
twelve districts. IL IL recommended that authority
be given to increase the number OF districts 10 four
teen.
The business Of the Bureau would be facilitated IL
Congress should confer the Thanking privilege upon
tile Lighthouse Board in the same manner and upon
the terms IL Is now exercised by the several
bureaus OF the Treasury Department.
The attention OF Congress Is called to the annual
report OF the Director Of the MINT, when contains
the usual statistics OF the coinage OF the country
and various suggestions aud Recommendations
: hich are worthy of consideration.
The total value OF the bullion deposited at the mint
and branches during tue fiscal year was $27 l06,3ls,
OF which S25,472 SOL was in gold. and $780, i23 In
silver. Deductlng the redeposit, the amount OF
urf Pms pnutf. q y