The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-17
WHEELING CUSTOM HOUSE.
History Of the City as a U. S.
Port of Entry.
Valuable Records Resurreoted
and Put In Print.
Within up for the wheeling IntellIgeucer.
"1NTHE BEGISNIS0,n

Do not be startled at the head line Of
this communication, for it is not the IN
tention to furnish you with discourse
upon the geological evidences Of that long
gone period. Neither is an anthropolO-
veal discussion contemplated; in which
mans perfect creation, and subsequent
MlI; or his gradual development from the
loves. atom, shall I've asserted, or denied.
But dealing with facts and not surmises,
caring not even for the genealogy, or gen
eric character Of the name, we introduce
the reader 10 the establishment, by law, Of
the "Port Of Wheeling"
e.. Sec. /. Chap. 81, U. S. Statutes, Act Of
March 2, 1881, says: Be it enacted by
the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States Of America, in Con-
gress assembled, That when any goods,
wares or merchandise are to be imported
from any foreign country, into Pitts
burgh, in the State OF Pennsylvania;
Wheeling, in the State Of Virginia; Gin.
Cinnati, in the State OF Ohio; Louisville,
in the State Of Kentucky; st. Louis, in the
State Of Missouri; Nashville, in the State
Of Tennessee, or into NatChez, in the State
Of Mississippi, the importer thereof shall
deposit in the custody OF the Surveyor OF
the place schedule OF the goods
10 intended 10 be imported, with
an estimate Of the cost at the
place Of expectation, whereupOn the
said Surveyor shall make an estimate OF
the amount Of duties accruing on the
same, and the importer or consignee shall
give bond with sufficient sureties TO be
approved by the Surveyor in double the
amount Of the duties 30 estimated, condi.
toned for the payment OF the duties on
Alch merchandise, ascertained az herein.
after directed; and the Surveyor shall
forthwith notify the Collector at New
Orleans Of the same, by forwarding to
him q copy Of said bond and schedule.
Sec. 2. That the importer or his agent
is hereby authorized 10 enter any mer-
ohandise imported as aforesaid by the
way Of New Orleans, at that port in the
manner now prescribed by law; and the
collector shall grant permit for the
landing thereof, and cause the duties to
be ascertained as in other cases, the said
goods remaining in the custody Of the
collector until reshipped for the place OF
destination; and the collector shall Ger.
tify 10 the surveyor at such place the
amount Of such duties, which the said
surveyor shall enter on the margin of the
bond, as aforesaid given 10 secure the
same, which goods shall be delivered by
the collector to the agent OF the importer
or consiguee, duly authorized to receive
the same, Tor shipment to the place Of
importation, and the master or com.
mander ofevery steamboat, or other vessel
In which such merchandise shall be trans
ported. shall previously to her departure
from New Orleans, deliver to the collec-
tor duplicate manifesto Of such.merchan.
dIse, specifying the marks aud numbers
OF every case, bag, box, chest, or package
containing the same, with the name and
place Of residence Of every importer or
eonngnec Of such merchandise, and the
4uantity shipped TO each, to be by HIM
subscribed, and to the truth OF which he
shall swear or Affirm, and that the aaid
goods have been received on board his
vessel, stating the name Of the agent who
shipped the same; and the said collector
shall certify the facts as aforesaid, on the
manifests, one Of which he shall return TO
The master, with permit thereto annex.
ed, authorizing him to proceed TO the
place Of his Destination.
Sec. S. And be it further enacted. That
where surveyors ore not already appoint.
ell in any Of the places mentioned in the
nrst section Of this act, suitable persons
shall be appointed Tor such places, and on
all surveyors, whether appointed, or to
be appointed, shall devolve tho duties
prescribed in this act, in addition to the
customary duties performed by that OIL.
Ger In other places and the surveyor Of
each Of said places shall before taking
the oath OF Office, give security TO the
United States for the faithful perform
ances OF all his duties, in the sum Of ten
thousand dollars, and shall receive, in
addition to his customary fees, an annual
salary OF three hundred and fifty dollars;
Provided, That no salary arising under
this act shall commence until its pro-
visions shall take effect, and merchan-
dise may be imported under It's authority.
This authority for the appointment Of
asuryeyor, at Wheeling, was the initial
point, aud the office once filled, the pro.
visions of Chapter IA, an act to authorize
Surveyors, under direction Of the Secre.
tary Of the Treasury, to enrol and license
ships or vessels employed in the CoastinG
trade and fisheries were subject to an ap-
pltcAtion here, as will be seen by the text
which Is as follows:
ape it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States
Of Amerlca in Congress assembled, That
after the passage Of this act, the Secreta.
~ Of the Treasury be, and he is hereby
invested with powers to authorize the
Surveyor Of any port Of delivery under
such regulations as he shall deem neces.
sary to enrol and license ships or vessels
to Be employed in the coastinE trade and
hSheries, in like manner as collectors Of
ports ofentry are now authorized 10 do
under existing laws
"Sec. 2. And DO It further enacted, That
any Surveyor who shall perform the du.
lies directed 10 be performed by the first