National Republican., 1875-12-08

elements.
approaches has been advanced by means Of the
provision made by Congress for several steam YES
sells. Among special records of the year are those
hey
Government authority to observe the late transit
Of Venus.
The inception Of a systematic survey Of the Al;
lantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts OF the united
States, at time when requirements for commerce
and navigation were not as they now are, out
largely prospective, has been fully justned by re-
thought Of those who projected the system. with
in a single generation the results Of the work are
such that representative foreigners may compare,
ary harbors, unsurpassed I'm either fprecislon or
style. These local charts however, represent only
the most important areas In geodetc survey,
which has been prosecuted from the outset with
the utmost care and: by the best methods. That
the system for defining the approaches to our ex-
tensive coasts, wisely adopted originally, and sus-
cognized as yielding also q sure basis for the
future action.of States Of the Union in regard TO
their final surveys and maps, affords additional
evidence of the soundness Of the policy that has
marked successive administrations in our first GEN.
tury as nation.
At certain localities along the seaboard, par,
ticularly about the ports, lighthouse sites and
coast defenses, maps of great precision are re-
quisite in public works. For grounds Of less i'm
portanee details are gsneralized in the representa-
holds dangers so wisely distributed and so great
that no generalization is admissible. The inter
alike require the exact development of all the un
seen ground over which vessels may pass, and
precise knowledge of each separate danger. Dan.
ger-marks, as of hidden rocks for example, insg
nifcant though they may be in pictorial effect on
maritime charts, arc often found to be anything
but Insignificant, in the relation which they bear
TO other developments, as means for the safety oi
life and the preservation of property.
Information Of much Importance is obtained by
the survey concerning features on land where o
necessity stations are occupied. For the great
undertaking now in progress to increase the depth
of water on one of the bars Of the Mississippi
many details Of the work rest on the accuracy o.
survey ordered by tho last Congress. Tables
computed in the Coast Survey office, are now
regularly issued in print to show for year in ad
height oftide in each Of our seaports. The varia
tion of tho compass at places in the interior
which variation for extended periods OF time I;
ut points near the COASTS now subject OF FIRE
quent inquiry.
supplied from the archives Of the survey bearing
on unsettled boundaries between some Of the oldel
States, on the action of legislative committees In
regard to natural and artificial resources in nayi
raty, projects for defense, sites for the con
struction Of lighthouses, and on plans for the
preservation Of harbor channels and anchorages
All of which sufficiently manifests alike the ma
ional character Of the work and the interest and
importance attaching to its progressive and it!
ultimate results. r....r
AARlSE-HOSPITAL SERVICE
As provided by the act of March 3, 1875, "to pro
mote economy and efficiency in the marine -hospita
service" seaman's timc-book has been issued
but II is yet too early to state definitely the eec
Of its introduction on the collection Of hospita
dues.
Hospital relief is now extended to certain sea
men who, previous TO the passage Of said act were
excluded from the benefits of the service. ThiI
service now furnishes care and treatment TO for
eign seamen, sick and destitute American seamer
returned to the United States from foreign port
by United States consular officers, sick and dis
abled seamen belonging to the engineer corps O
the army, and to vessels In the navy where nj
other provision has been made for them, and Il
lighthouse service, while insane patients Of the
marine hospital service are admitted TO the Gov
ernment hospital for the insane.
No considerable repairs have been made to the
marine hospital buildings for several years, and
as none of the old hospitals can be so modified al
TO answer the requirements of the present state o
knowledge concerning hospital construction, any
large outlay ON them is deemed unadvisable
Experience would seem to indicate that extensive
and costly alterations and repairs require to b'
frequently renewed, and, therefore, the erection
of comparatively inexpensive pavilion wards, II
accordance with the most approved plans OF recog
nized authorities On this subject, Is deemed de
sirable.
The old marine hospital building and grounds
at Pittsburg, Pa, were sold during tho year, un
der the act Of June 2, 1874. for So, ,loIT9 and
new site purchased for $4,000. The erection o
the new hospital at that place has not been com
menced, however. owing to the fact that tht
amount realized from the safe oil
portion Of the grounds in 1870 is not available fol
this purpose without the action of Congress.
The unusual amount of suffering and dfseast
among seamen and sailors who were exposed =
the severe cold of the last winter, caused amarke(
increase in the demand for relief from the marine
hospital fund, and a larger number Of persons en-
yious year. Fifteen thousand and nine sick ant
disabled seamen were treated during the year
and the aggregate number days relief furnished
Is four hundred and five thousand six hundred anC
VT five bp ~ mr. 10 "
s40i, 800 80, and the amount OF hospital dues col
lected S33s s93.7s.
sTEAMBoAT-ISsPEcTIoN SERVICE.
The Supervising Inspector General of Steam
vessels reports the following matters Of interes
connected with this servic for the fiscal year end
the service, 103 number Of steam-yessels inspeeteC
during the year, 3,Ss5; aggregate tonnage o
steam-vessels inspected, ols,l5l s2-loo; number
The number of lives lost by various accidents Il
steam-vessels is as follows: By explosion or acci
dental escape Of steam, 81; by steamers burned
i75; by collisions, II; by snaggIng wreck ant
founder, e.; total number Of lives lost, oO7
Ofthis number four hundred were Chinese pas
sengers, lost by the burning Of the American
steamship Japan on the coast of China, Dec. Il
1874, leaving the total of other losses during tho
year but 206, which Is an unusually small mum
Der. The gross receipts from the inspection o.
steam vessels and officers licensed are $3.50 9lL75
disbursements in payments Of salaries, travelling
ami incidental expenses of inspectors, $2l2 392 81
H
and satisfactory condition. and 1t is believed that
under the operation of tho laws for this purpose
n degree of safety to life on steam vessels hal
been secured equal to all reasonable anticipa
tion.
1t is recommended that provision be made fol
the annual meeting Of the Board Of Supervising
place as the Secretary Of the Treasury shall de
stgnate, instead Of on the third Wednesday O
January, at the city of Washington, as now pro
vided by section +4o5, Revised Statutes.
THE REDEMPTION AGENCY FOR NATIONAL BANKS
There have been redeemed, under the act o
June 20, 1874, circulating notes Of national bank
amounting to s130, 322 9I5. OF this amount, SIS,
2l3, 500 were forwarded to the respective associa
100 LAS unfit for use, delivered to the Comptrolle
Of the Currency for destruction. The aggregate
expense of this redemption was so, O,065.37, eacl
bank paying its share thereof In proportion to IT.
circulating notes 50 redeemed.
At the commencement Of the current fiscal yea
the division organized under the above act came
March 8, 1875, under the direction Of the Secre
tary having been, prior to that time, attached q
the Treasurer's office, and no specific authority
given the Secretary over its operations.
BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING.
In the report submitted by the chief Of thi
bureau will be found q sketch of the history o
this important branch Of the service, with n state
ment in detail Of its operations for the past sca
year. .r-...r..e -r... .,
From this report it will be seen that the organi
u
mechanical appliances and its methods of admin
istration, as to meet all the requirements OF tn;
Government. This bureau is charged with func
tions closely affecting the public credit aud tht
integrity of the national currency, and its man
agement for many years has been most satisfac
tory, whether reference be had to Its usefulness
and efficiency to the fathiullness Of the ofcer
directly in charge.
With the use OF n special and distinctive paper
manufactured under the supervision Of the De
partment, and the system Of checks and counter
checks, enforcing the accountability Of each OH
Ger and employe connected with the business o
engraving and printing the public securities, 1t Il
against unauthorized issues. Discrepancies rare
ly occur, and when they do are readily detected
and easily corrected. The bureau Is thoroughly
equipped with all reenislte machinery Of fimproved
patterns and has assrps Of skilled artisans Whose
engraved and mechanical work shows q high de
gree of excellence.
Pursuant to the direction Of the act Of the las
Congress- the work Of preparing United States
and national-bank notes has been divided ke6weeI
the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing and suci
responsible, capable, and experienced bank-notC
companies and engravers as would contract fol
the work at the lowest cost to the Government,
and at prices not greater than those theret0fOr6
paid for the same class Of work.
rUBLIc BUILDINGS.
z The condition Of the public buildings under the
charge OF the Supervising Architect may be said
to he generally satisfactory. The large amount
of work imposed upon that officer renders 1t i'm
buildings authorized by law as rapidly as de-
manded by local communities IN which tiiey are
respectively situated, and necessarily delays tho
beghning Of some. The suggestion Of the Super
visiug Architect, touching the desirability and
expediency Of causing plans for public buildings