The New York herald., 1871-11-30

present property, thus saving the ehtle cost VI u5
necessary repairs, which are estimated az upwards
o, twenty-five thousand dollars. l also desire TO
renew my recommendation that the smaller marine
hospitals be disposed Of and that hospitals De man
tanned by the government at the principal ports
only.
The supervising architect after giving the result
OF his examination OF the public build ngs IN Chi
cago, says:-"ln my last report called attention 10
te Iact that although the entire space wlilin tne
Custom House building at chicago, including the
cellar, had been occupied, 1t was still entirely IN
adequate for the transaction OF the public business
per cent during the past three years The hre mas
@ peen productive OF SIM iurtner increase,
commodate that department in the building
even were II desirable to attempt its recon.
struction. The increase OF the customs business
ny reason OF direct lmportaGOns OF dutlaDle iner-
chandlse from foreign countries, under tne proyi.
slons OF the act OF July IL, 1870, has been even
greater with every prospect that u will continue to
augment for years to come. Under all these clr-
cumslances believe the necessities OF the govern
meht require the purchase OF the remainder oil the
block on which The Custom House building Is
located ana the erection thereon without delay, or
building OF sufficient capacity TO accommodate all
branches OF the government service in tnst city.
The completion OF the granite dock on the Battery
IN IN New YORK city renders eecsion Ia regard 10 u
! eW Barge Ofce imperative as 1t VIII be OF uttie
or no practical value to the Revenue Department.
lor whose use IL was originally intended. until
suitable building Is erected thereon. In this con-
nectlon again call attention 10 the importance OF
securing the whole or portion OF the Battery as a
site ior tne erection oil new custom House, ana
other buildings Tor the Of the Revenue Depart
ment IN that CITY, The present buildings are over
ness OF that port, ana cannot much longer be used.
me battery IS the natural anu only suitable location
ior such structures, ana should be secured before
too late. respectfully suggest that authority pe 0D-
tanned rom Congress Tor nll and thorough nvcsti-
CATION OF thus subject also desire to call attenuon
to the Importance OF erecting appraisers stores IN
that city The building now occupied IS not only
unsuitable for the examination aud appraisal OF
goods or for their safety while in the custody OF
the government, but for tine accommodation OF It's
officers and The public. The enormous increase Ia
that branch or public business can be wei illus
the months OF August and September OF
me present year with me corresponding 9er0a per0u
the present year OF thirty and a nall per cent aud
unless some definite action Is taken soon tue rent,
which amounts at present TO S66,3l5 per annum,
must he increased and additional Accommodations
procured elsewhere. II the present system OF
ernment VIII pay more than the value OF suitable
building and site without even OBTAINING lacileeS
for the transaction Of It's business or any adegua1e
security for the goods in It's custody.
believe that few expenditures are more ur.
gently demanded oy the % necessities ~ o 9, c,ai .ne
| attention to the great Importance OF providing
similar stores at the ports OF Boston, Chicago, en-
cinnati and Louis, all OF which should be iitc-
| proof, not only in name out III fact, which can
realty be accomplished in buildings Of that char
! acier, and at moderate cost.
The appraisers stores at Philadelphia and Baltt-
more are located in well constructed buildings j
brick and iron, the former being N my OPT. ION
nothing but the addition OF ireproof c.oors an
s"".".- - .,, .uem equally so ms rranrh
the public service IS well provdcd for u tle oa.'0
| Houses at new Orleans, Charie 'Inn' Wn
Portland and many minor ports" .,nal
arnhitnGt aIaln recommends "a COLI supervisor
States Mint bun. ~" orieaas ms ana Charlotte
n. c., neither OF n"ich required for tn
use OF the government, and urges .lne pas
sage OF an act authorizing tho dcpartnien
nm u us discretion to dispose OF such pubic
ploperty uuuer It's charge as may no longer be
REQUIRED lor government purposes Such a law
would greatly facilitate the business or the dcoart
menl ana oDviatc the necessity OF obtaining spec. .a
legislation IN each case. lie also calls special aten-
! ti0n TO The necessity for decision In regard to
| quarantine buildings and property now owned by
the government. II appears that as effective quar-
anime Dy state authorities In the present state
OF ntcrcommunicauOn, impossible. that II quar-
anune Is 10 be maintained 1t should be under the
direction OF the general government. 1T needs no
argument TO prove that quarantine at the port or
New YORK, however strict, without u quarantine at
the ADJOINING ports, would bc or no avail, III
1ectcd passengers and merchandise could he landed
In the adjoining states and transported by rail 10
nat city almost as quickly they could pass the
binary examination ana be landed ut the wharf in
that city. Should 1t be deemed eXpedlent to place
the matter under the charge OF the general govern.
ment the quarantine property should be placed in
good condition, to do which Will require the expen
0lturc Ol considerable sum OF money. IT, on
the other hand, 1t should be deemed desirable to
leave the enforcement or quarantine In the hands
OF the State authorities, 1t appears him they
should provide proper facilities Tor carrying into
elect their own laws, ana that the governme NJ
should not be expected to bear the expense OF q
quarantine over which 1t has no control.
The tabular statements show that on June 30
last $2,S93O39 were available Tor the New York Pos
Olnce anu Sl,22S,OlS Tor the Boston Post ONCE.