New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-23
WASHINGTON,
Report of the Director of the Mint-The
Branch Mint at New Orleans.


WARRINGTON, November 22.-Tbe report
of the director of the mint Just completed,
states that the experience of the last year
has demonstrated the insutficiency of the
facilities OF the treasury and Its offices for
the convenient and safe storage of COIN
particularly in the Western States, and
more silver coin has of late been retained in
the custody of the mints than could be
properly cared for. In view of this fact,
and the increased amount which will have
to be stored in the treasury offices in differ.
ent parts of the country before specie paw,
ments shall have been resumed, it is aug.
gested that the provision Of additional
vaults should be under taken at an early
day.
Under the provisions of the act of Con-
gress, the mint at New Orleans has been
prepared for reopening, as far as the limited
appropriations therefor would permit, and
it would now be practicable to conduct
thereat the operations of melting, assaying
and stamping OF bullion; but the appropria-
tiOns having been made for the purpose of
reOpening the establishment to be con.
Quoted hereafter as mint, subject to the
provisions and restrictions of the coinage
act of 1873, do not authorize it to be con.
Quoted as an assay office. Estimates for
the appropriation necessary to carry into
effect the provisions of the law above re.
ferred to will be submitted for the secre.
tary's consideration, and such action a. he
may deem proper.
Report Of the Lighthouse Board.
The Lighthouse Board report that
as soon as suitable lamps can be pre-
pared, mineral oils will be substituted
for lard oils in the higher order of lights
The success in the experiments for fog ia
marked. The board hopes to arrive at re-
suits not only valuable to science, but of
practical importance in enabling it to con.
tend with one of the worst elements of
danger which the mariner has to meet with
on our extended and dangerous coast. Since
the jurisdiction of the board has been ex-
tended over the waters of the Mississippi
and Ohio valleys, it has been found
that the change of banks and the short
range of lights do not Justify permanent
or expensive structures or q high order of
lenses. The best quality of lanterns have
been obtained, and steamboat owners, cap
tains and pilots united in testifying to the
great value of the lights, and the success
Of the system is assured. A large number
Of lanterns and buoys will be required, and
An increased appropriation is necessary.
The necessity Tor lights ON these waters
is now unquesti0ned. Two light vessels
for the shoal waters Of the Virginia shoal
coast are nearly completed.
Report Of the Chief Signal Omcer.
General Meyer, the chief signal officer,
concludes his report thus: "The chief sig
nal officer finds, a. he reviews the results
of the year, causes for encouragement. The
question Of the useful reannOuncement
of approaching meteoric changes may be
considered as determined by now five years
of successful service. With each year of
labor the paths tor improvement open more
plainly; what was conjecture becomes GER
tainty. The cooperation of scientists is as-
sured both at home and abroad. The uses
of the work accomplished, the results to be
hoped from that in ne future, have been
well appreciated. The popular support
and the support of the press have not failed.
Legislation has been favorable. The Oppor-
tunities for rendering public good have
opened wide to the service. The effort
must be to use them wisely"
Report Of the Chief Of Rnaiseers.
The report of the chief of army enpi.
neers shOwp that the work now in progress
upon our seae0ast defenses consists exclu-
sively in the construction of powerful
earthen barbette batteries for guns of the
heaviest calibre, which batteries are either
exterior to and supplementary to the older
Casemated works, or are notifications and
nts of the corbette batteries of
former times. These earthen corbette bat
teries, with massive psradoes trsverses on
either aide of each gun and strong paradoes
where needed, will furnish, with depress-
ing gun carriage, tho greatest projection
for the armament and cann0neers that can
b obtained soutsiae of iron casemste con-
struCtions. Ths necessity for tho continued
preparation Of these massive batteries hes
eeen presented In the annual report of the |
Department from year to year. Their size,