The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-15
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONS OF

THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONS OF
MINING sTATIsTICs.
| for the year 1869, has been printed since
the close OF the season in July last, and
that for the year 1870 will be made
during the winter Tire continuance OF
the work appears 70 be matter OF
national importance.
COMMERCE..
The proportion If American vessels
engaged n foreign trade mas not increas-
ed relatively during the year, although
there has been IN actual increase in
entries Of American vessels at the ports of
he United States, amounting in the ag-
gregate to 10000 tons The total ton
age engaged IN foreign trade, entered at
al the ports Of the United States, has in
creased from 1888 900 tons in 1869, to
5, 957,000 tons in 1870; but the proper
tion of American tonnage remains as in
1859 al 36 pr cent. Without under
t.. king to specify the means by which it
il to be accomplished, 7 cannot over
state the importance of such legislation
as will secure the revival # American
commerce.
LIGHTHOUSES
IL
sets forth in detail the difficulties which
have arisen in that branch of the public
service from the operation Of the fifth
section of the act Of July 10. 1870, making
appropriation for the |, gi,lative and ex-
t-cutlve expenses If the gNvrrnment for
the year GUIDING June 30. 1871. The
legislation asked for by the board seemed
to me TO be necessary
COAST SURVEY.
The report oa the uperlntendent OF
the Coast Survey is gwen, with a brlef'
but satisfactory, statement Of the pro
greSs made during the last surveying
year.
TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS IN BOND.
On the first day OF October last regula-
tons were issued concerning the trans
portation of merchandise from ports or
importation tn certain other ports in the
United STATES, without appraisement or
the liquidation Of duties at the port OF
arrival, agreeable to the provisions of the
act to reduce internal tax, and for other
purposes, approved July ID. 1870. A cop
of the regulations will be transmitted
to Congress In the nature of the case,
the regulations are stringent but when
the railway companies shall have given
the bonds required, and importing mer-
chants IF interior cities shall have mad
arrangement for the mp 'rtation OF
goods upon the basis of the act, am
satisfied that No serious dficutls will
arise either with railways, merchants, or
the government Without donbt the act
increast $ the opportunity for the in ro-
duction of foreign goods into the country
In violation of the revenue law, but the
examination which have given the sub
ject IN the preparation of The regulations,
leads me to think that bu .iness can be
safely conducted.
CUSTOM HOUSE EXPENSES.
The appropriation for the expense OF
collecting he customs revenue, uuder the
act &pproved March 81, 1866, s 1T tbs.
rate of $42, 000,000 annually, IN addition
to such sums as may be received from
fines, penalties, forfeitlres, and from
storage, carriage, drayage, and labor.
Experience has shown that this amount
is insufficient, and deficiency appropria
tion will be needed at each session OF
Congress until the permanent appropria
ton is increased. ] have instituted a
careful supervision in the Treasury De-
partment over this branch of expendi.
lures, and &c tents are employed nvesti-
eating the expenses of the custom houses
of the country for the purpose of asccr
tanning as to whether reduction of this
number of employees and salaries is prac
ticable. By this means some saving will
be effected, but it Will in any event be
impossible to reduce expenses within the
appropriation. From 1853 to 1865, the
permanent appropriation was at the rate
of $3,600,000 per annun in addition tc
the receipts before enumerated as applt
cable to this branch IF the service
From 1866 to 1860, inclusive, the tota re-
ceipts flum customs were about $272, 900,
900, and the expenses of collection were
SIS, $40, QUO, or at the rate of more than
l5L per cent The receipts for the year
ending June 80 1870 were $94 538, 374 A
and the exnenses, $5,912,1 1888, or not
exceeding 81 per cent. From 1866 tc
| 1869, the revenue collected did not ex.
coed an average of $50,000,000 per year,
and the temptation for smuggling and
| fraud was much less under low system
of duties than it is at the present time
At the principal importing cities of the
country, it is necessary to employ d
large force for the protection of wharve.
aud water lines within or near such cities
| 1t is also necessary to guard against
smuggling by the presence often of sew
eral officers upon and around steamers and
other vessels importing large quantitie.
of goods, while engaged in discharging
their cargoes. 1t is also apparent that
the extensive line of coast on the Allan
tic and Pacific Oceans, and guilt of Mexi
co, everywhere furnishing opportunities
for the introduction of goods in viola
ton of the revenue laws, requires the
presence of large number OF skillfu