The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-29
TREASURY CIRCULAR.
Instructions to Collectors Of Customs at
Frontier Ports.

Instructions to Collectors Of Customs at
Frontier Ports.
WASHINGTON. July %. 1873.
Representations have been made to the Treasury
Department that at some OF the ports on the
Canadian frontier the present instructions Of the
Department relative to ascertaining quantities OF
imported grain and lumber WILL II strictly carried
out, tend to seriously embarrass trade and prove
OF no corresponding advantage to the revenue.
To remedy this, Secretary Richardson to-day issued
q circular to collectors OF customs and Others in
which he SAYS
The instructions now In force contemplate the
actual measurement OF all unseaed carg0es of i'm
ported grain and lumber at the port OF first arri-
val, whether intended to be entered for cOnsump-
ton thereat or for transportation in bond to other
ports. This, so far as grain Is concerned can
easily be done where 1t is delivered through an
elevator; and in such cases q careful count OF the
num0er of bushels must be Kept, and at ports
where the importatons OF lumber are small an
SUCH h cargoes arriving there from Canada. At some
OF the larger ports however, 1t has been found i'm
practicable to make an actual measurement OF all
such cargOes OF grain and lumber and for the gen.
eral Information OF customs officers and to make
the practice in such cases uniform the following
instructions are prescribed The inspe ,tor in
charge of the discharge OF cargo from the car,
vessel, or other vehicle, will carefully note
the in invoice quantity with view Of deter,
on board overruns the invoice. AS the carry
ing capacity OF such vessels can be readily
Y
can soon satisfy himself whether the vessel or car
has, or has not, more than an average cargo. II,
after such examination and inspection and such
measurements as he may deem necessary, he shall
be satisfied that the quantity does not overrun the
invoice, he shall so report tol the collector:
of first arrival 1t can be piled closely and
measured in bulk, but when intended for interior
ports, to be shipped under transportation bond,
careful inspection of it must be made either on
board the importing vessel or on the dock, as the
case may be, and the cofSector, II satisfied that
the invoices are correct, shall pass them accord
ingly. Where such cargoes are allowed to go In
bond to otner ports without measurement the
transportation entry should 80 state, for the
information OF the customs officers at the port
OF destination, so that careful inspection may be
made there also, and II the quantity is found not
to overrun the invoice it will be delivered sccor-
dinghy. The same general instructions will also
apply to cargOes Of grain In bulk imported from
Canada. or course much must be left to the dis
cretiOn Of customs officers in such cases, and they
enjoined to exercise it in such manner as will
prevent the preparation Of frauds upon the reve.
nue. and at the same time not unnecessarily en-
barrass trade. 1t will be expected of them that,
occasionally, and as often as circumstances may
seem to demand, actual measurement of entire
cargoes of grain and lumber will be made In order
to actually verify the invoices.