The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-17

performing the same duties and no more,
Approved February q, 1880"
Like everything new and untried In
any locality, the beginning here was very
small, faint as the frat glimmering Of the
dawning day; and as the fees and com-
missions which attached to his slender
duties, would not recOmpense the incum.
bent Tor any extensive outlays for books
and stationery necessary in the perform
ancs Of the work, according to modern
ideas, only copies OF blank forms were
filed, and even they are devoid Of that
precision which the supervision Of the
present day would have Induced.
It is said that every effort 10 produce
pleasure should also aim at profit, and
that to benefit each other, In one way or
another, should be the aim Of mankind
from the cradle 10 the grave, and that In
our most rambling moods, fact worth
remembering should be introduced so
that even In the enjoyment Of the former
We would be acquiring the latter. Hence,
applying this idea here, the Statute II,
Act Of August 20, 1912, is referred 10, and
attention Ia called to the fact that on and
after July /, lS4S, the fiscal year should
commence with July lbt in each calendar
year, instead Of the Let Of January, as had
been previously provided for by law.
Although scarcely remembered by our
Oldest citizens, ANDREW Elliott, Esq, ap.
pears to have been recognized as the first
Surveyor and Inspector at this port, and
was instructed on the Goth Of March, 1881,
concerning the execution and filing Of his
official bond. Buried as it were in the
past, mingled with that infinite azure,
permit this friendly notice Of him, and
let us trust that beneath the silVery locks
Of some one in our midst happy recol.
lection and pleasant memory shall be
awakened, and oblivion, for time, set at
naught.
Thomas P. Norton, Esq, appears to
have been the incumbent Of the Office
after, and probably Immediately succeed.
Ing Mr.. Elliott, as on the 18th Of Sep
TENDER, 1889, new era appears to have
dawned, and he then received instructions
concerning the enrolment and license Of
vessels belonging to his port, under the
Law Of February IS, 1898, and regnla-
tions made in pursuance thereof.
The Jurisdiction Of his port in regard
to vessels which were to be permanently
enrolled, ia quite carefully defined, as the
district in itself, and the permanently en-.
rolled vessel was to be, vessel whose
owner, or, II more than one owner, whose
husband, or managing owner resided at u
place, more contiguous TO this office, than
10 that Of any OF the other Surveyors at
the other ports, enumerated in the act Of
March I'd, 1881. Instructions were also
given concerning the collection Of the
Marine Hospital tax, the rendering Of an
abstract thereof TO the First Auditor Of
the Treasury, and by an account, in which
he was to credit said monies, and debit the
United States, with his salary, with the
commissions to which he was entitled,
and also TO such contingent expenses "a
constituted proper charge upon the
revenue.
In these instructions is seen com.
mingling Of accounts, very much at vari-
ance with modern regulations, as one
could hardly find a precedent for any de.
luction from the receipts on account Of
the Marine Hospital fund Of this date, be
the expense what it may. Nor indeed ia
such action permitted in any like &C.
count except 1t lie especially provided for
in the law, as are the fees and mileage. Of
witnesses summoned and required 10 ap.
pear before the Local Boards Of InspeC.
tors established by the steamboat inspec.
ton laws.
The late George Forbes, Esq, appears
10 have succeeded Mr.. Norton about No.
vember, 1910, and his successor, in July,
lS4l, was Samuel Atkinson, Esq. Our
aldermanic townsman, Michael Edwards,
Esq, next retained the office for six years,
and was succeeded by one of the first pro.
prietors Of the lETELLlGENcER, viz: Z. B.
Swearingen, ESQ.,, who appears to have
begun the keeping OF copies Of enroll
ments and licenses in book form with No.
|, Steamboat Cabinet, May, 8, $780, land to
have issued 81 enrollments and the same
number Of licenses during the remainder
Of that calendar year; So were issued in
1851; 81 in 1852, and IS up to May, 1858,
when Mr.. Swearingen appears 10 have
been succeeded by the late Hon. A. ].
Pannell.
At this juncture fresh impetus was
Igiven 10 the business OF the port by the
completion OF the Baltimore 4 Ohio Rail-
road to this city, and as new channel
for business was thus opened, the laws
governing the transportation Of bonded
goods by rail, as we'll as by vessel, were
here applied. Although impOrtations
were doubtless. made previous 10 1850,
and from that to 1855, and over seven
thousand dollars were received for duties
thereon, the year 1856 appears 10 have
outstripped modern expectations and pro.
duCed an income Of over $4,000. This
sudden excess was caused by imporLations
OF railroad iron, as the succeeding year
the duties fell to little over $1,000 and
suddenly again to Sll7, and then with a
fresh start advancing but to fall into the
oblivion Of 1858, 1864, 1865, 1866 and
1867.
Increasing facilities and accommoda.
tions, through the agency OF the B. & O.
Railroad Company and their lines oil
steamers, have induced the collection OF
over Eve thousand (S5,0O0) dollars for
import duties during the last and present
calendar years, and as familiarity with
the necessary routine increases, the &C.
cancellations provided for importers by
the laws and regulations will doubtless be
made available by those interested. The
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, as we'll as
others, being now bonded lines and re-
sponsible for the duties upon merchan.
disc transported by them, also act as
Custom House brokers or agents, and
give attention to forwarding over their
lines goods, merchandise or any importa.
tion whatever, when shipped OF entered
in their care for owners or Cousignees at
interior ports Of entry or delivery, super.
ceding by their own bond any bond here.
tOfore required by the importer, and only
requiring the oath Of the owner or con-
signee con corning the truthfulness Of the
invoice presented and the Identification
Of the shipment.
The heavy importation era dawning
upon us in 1854 doubtless suggested the
propriety Of erecting Custom House at
this port, and while providing for various
other Localities, and in almost every sec.
ton Of the Union, Petersburg and Wheel.
ing, in the State Of Virginia, were made
the recipients Of governmental iavors
and provision made therefor in chapter
| l42 Acts of Conprass annrnve5 Augus, 4