The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-12-06

The tonnage Of vessels built, as given by the
Register, Is l7G,592 tons, being a decrease from that
OF the previous year Of 1894 tons, or over IS per
The number Of vessels built is I.o2o.
Official numbers have been awarded by the
Bureau OF Statistics during The fiscal year 70 1901
vessels, whose carrying capacity amounts 10 217,.
6n tons, and since July ], 1871 10 500 vessels, OF the
aggregate tonnage OF 1883.
yEssELs NUMBERED AND RRGIsTFRFD PROM JULY l 10
NOVEMBER 10, 1871
: Glass and character Of vessels. vessels. Tonnage.
sallng ~ So'SAS2s
steam Nettels.;. loa S4lS66B
Uuhgged vessels. ............"...... 1872 l9,494.62
Clio l2o.4So.89
In this connection / wOuld call attention to tho
fact that u large number OF vessels, as defined by
Section 3of the Revised Statutes, propelled neither
by steam nor sails, go TO make ~ the tonnage of
enrolled and licensed vessels, while a large class Of
vessels with no Internal Appliances for propulsion
Is exempt from enrolment and license under the
act OF April Is, 1874. These vessels consist, manly,
OF barges ana open fats engaged IN the transporta-
ton OF coal and lumber on the large nayIgable riv.
ers OF the country. For many years this class Of yes.
sells has been Increasing, and the water tranHpOr-
tation Of merchandise upon such rivers has been
gradually passing from steam vessels TO barges
and other craft Of TEN porary structure, which are
tOwed or propelled by steam or sail vessels. The
act OF 1874 exempted canal.bOats and boats EN-.
ployed on the internal waters Of States from
enrolment, so that q Discrimination now practi-
cally exists between vessels propelled neither by
steam nor sails, as regards their liability to
enrolment, dependent simply upon tho question
whether they are or are not usually employed on
inc INTERNAL WulCTb OF X state, III connection WIN
their employment on navigable waters OF the
United States. The purely temporary char
acter of many Of these vessels renders II difficult
TO apply TO them the provisions for enrolment
that are applicable TO vessels propelled by steam
or sails, especially as they are so constructed as to
admit neither Of a permanent crew nor OF q master
who remains on board.
The discrimination as regards enrolment Ia, be-
sidee, a g%ratuitous cause OF dissatisfaction among
that portion OF the mercantile community which
makes use OF craft not propelled directly by steam
or sails. All these vessels should DO subjected to q
sys,em OF license and enrolment different from
that now In force, or all should be exempted from
enrolment. 10 IL believed that the mercantile
community. would prefer enrolment, II The fees
for the preliminary admeasurement we're mOder-
ate, and the system of enrolling now In force we're
less complex. An entire abandonment OF enroll.
mcnt deprives the Government to a large
extent Of the means OF aScertaining the statistics
of the trade carried on ia this class of vessels.
The Dumber OF entries Of American vossels into
ports of the United States from foreign ports Tor
The fiscal year ending June 80, 1877, was 10000; the
number Of clearaDces Of American vessels, foreign,
entries OF foreign vessels into ports Of the United
states from foreign ports during tho same period
was 1879; the number OF cleara noes Of foreign
vessels, foreign, for the same time was 1874.
REVENUE MARINE SERVICE.
The feet of vessels employed in this branch Of
the public service consists OF t%hiriy-onc steamers
specially adapted for cruising IN the waters where
they are respectively stationed.
The following is a statement of the general SER
vices performed by them during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1877:
Number Of vessels seized or reported for
Number Of vessels boarded and oxamined-.... 9S,ss6
Sa%$SsE e & e SS:so; s, + distress a'aiDted::::::: l''' S q
Estimated value of property rescued. consist
ing Of VESSELS and their carsOes imperilcd
"-;SS'soi. S5S
LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
The report OF the operations Of this service
affords a gratifying EXHIBIT.
During the past year four new life-saVing dis
tricts, ono upOn the coast OF Florida, and three
embracing the line OF our coast upon the lakes.
llfebOat stations on the Atlantic and lake coasts
have been opened for service, together with the
Ave houses Of refuge authorized by law at different
points upon the Florida coast. On the Pacific
coast three lifehoat stations have been completed,
and are now receiving their equipments, and
another is IN process OF construction.
The report makes several important recon-
mcndatlOne, to which careful consideration ia in
vited. Special attention is called TO the recon-
mcnGation for increasing the compensation OF the
Keepers of the stations, a measure the necessity
for which has been strongly impressed upon the
Secretary by d personal examination of the service
during he past year.
THE MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
The AIN cunt received as hospital dues from sea.
men during the last fiscal year was s372. 465 70, and
the ex expenditures Tor the Moriue Hospital Service
for the same period were S3G8,S95 a9-leavlng a sur
plus Of 5000 -.
during the year Yves 1915. The average cost per
patient was $24 2S-the least coat ever attained-a
reduction 10 this amount having been made since
1870, when the average was sos Al. No deficiency
Appropriation has been required for this service
since 1873.
ment OF such destitute American seamen employ
ell in the ~isherieS) returned TO tho United States
under Section 4,577 OF the Revised Statpes, Us may
not be entitled TO tho benefits OF the Marine Hos.
pital Service, and whose condition on arrival re-
quires adnl 'sslon TO a hospital. No reasons exist
for tho abandonment Of this class OF seamen,
W hen sick, upon their arriVnl IN a port of this
country. | would, therefore, ecommen that the
law be so amended rs to authorize the continue
| Iinn OF the relief ful niglpu Them ont Of tho fund
appropriated for that pnr pose, until hospital
treatment ehall be no longer required.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION.
During the past year there have boon inspected
4,O61 vessels, involving an aggregate tonnage OF
l,0l4,gl2,3 SO tone, and licenses have been issued 10
l4,293 officers.
To avoid the expense incurred by the annual
meeting Of the Board OF Supervising inspectors, as
required by Section El40J, Revised Statutes, II Ia
Recommended that authority be glvon TO convene
the Bonrd at such time and place AS the Secretary
OF the Treasury shall designate.
The supervising Inspector General OF Steam
Vessels recommends thai section 4,A0. Revised
Statutes Of the United States, relating TO lookup
safety valves, be repealed. or so amended us 10
compel uniformity In It's applications; hat authority
be conferred upon The Secretary Of the Treasury
TO appoint clerks TO Supervising Inspectors in
districts where their services arc actually required;
also, that u reduction be made III the fees For In
spectlOn OF vessels OF tfty tons and under: and
also for licensing oillcers--tO which recommended
tlons your attention is respectfully invited.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
AlIcNIlOn lS respectfully invited 10 llnL pOrTtOn
Of the Supervising ArchltGCtB report In which re-
concentration Is made for tho construction OF
buildings for the accommodation OF the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing, and for such Of the
archives and dies OF the Department RS uro not re-
CURED for current use.
Wnile ! have 10 that appropriations
bo made for the continuation " work upon the pub
lie buildings now In progress under tho supervision
Of tins Department, In accordance with the eSti-
mates gubmltthd therefor, the condition OF tho
revenues Is such as to mako II un " In my judy.
mcnt, 10 authorize the construction OF new build
ings, except IN those cases where tho demands OF
the public service seem 10 make them an absolute
necessity,
REPORTS OF OFFICERS
The reports OF the heHds Of bureaus and diyiB-
tons, ana tho various tables referred to. arc hero-
with transmitted Os n part Of this report.
The Secretary iakea pleasure IN commanding TO
Congress the Industry and ability Of tho heads Of
bureaus ana other officers OF TINS Department.,
many OF whom by long experience IN tho discharge
of difficult duties have made their services of tho
greatest value 70 the Government. The manner
in which their complicated duties have been per-
formed, the faithful observance OF the. trust re-
posed In them IN the receipt and disbursement OF
large sums Of money, and tho accuracy and skill
with which It's accounted for, entitle them 10 his
grateful ackuoN leJgmeutH
John SHERMAN, Secretary.