Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 8, 1874, Page 3

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER &, 1874 TWELVE PAGES. g s T BT e e e e eSS — —— — ——— —— ———————————————————_—_——————— ] \ 2 silvor unlnnso 20,037,806.80 § nnd In gold and ailvr bars, 816,810 Tho trade-dollar' hug boon sticcosafully intro- ducod Into the orlontal markols with advaniage to American conimerce, A -cont ellver coln belng requirod for tho purpude of conynpience In maklug eltange, tho onnctiment of a law authorizing the comugo of & ploeo of that denomination is rocommonded. T'ho ostimato of tho Diructor of tho Mint shows o gaiu in specio and bullion in tha lnst two flacal years of about $38,000,000, and tho atock of spocio In tho country to bo about 3106,000.000, The estimntad Iucronso of coln and bullon fa gratifying, Lolng ono of tho ovidencos of a grad- unl recuporation of thae country from the effects of & destructive of7il strifo, aud, in conneatlon with an annunl production of aboat §70,000,000 of tho prociows motnls, nifords oucoutageniont that » stock of ¢oln may, within reasonablo timo nod with favorablo logislation, rocumulate to au oxtent sufiiviont to enablo resumption of specio peymonta to bo undortalren and maintained. Thero would n;ypcnr to Lo no doubt that bulliou convertad fito coln will, as n goueral xulo, romaly longer in thoe country than if loft in aw uncoined conttition to seok foroign matlats, Our policy should, therofore, be to encourage the cotnnge of both gold and nilver, ‘With roupoct to tho chnrgo mado undor exist fng laws for tho colungo of gold, which, In this conntry, is tho standard metal, it no doubt tonda to creato an ndverso cxchungo, sud causes bullion to Lo oxported to London, where uo oharge for coinage of gold is made. ‘Puo expedioucy of coutinuing tho clarge in tho profent fiuaueiyl condition of tho conntry may well be doubted. Tha attontion of Congress is fnvited to tho oxplanations of tho Divcetor of tho Mint in con~ nection with tho course of silver bulliou. With & view to tho resumption of specio pay- monto, 1t s imporiant to manufactura a lnrge quantity of silver coln to take tho pisco of d;n tractional notes, and, ns ita proparation at tho mints will require considerablo time, it is recom- monded that unthority bo given tho Seeretary to commenco the manufacturo of coluage, bogin- ning with tho smallest donomination, nud to gradually withdraw tho fractional notes. The system of compuling sterling oxchango on tho flctitious or assumed par of 4 shillings ud pixponco to the dollar, and the oquivalout, 84,44 4-9 to the pound, which had boen in uso for a long period, censed on tho 81st of Decem- ber last, under the provisiona of theact of March 3, 1873, whioh _tixed the par of oxclango bween tho United States and Great Dritain ub 84.80,6%4 to the pound, that sum Deing the value in Unitod States monoy of » standard sov- oroigy, compared with the puro gold contained in tuo standard gold dotlar of the United Btaten. Tho_now syatem has many advantages over tho old ono, espectally in_simplicity, aud having ’n nhnulutn\y correet basis, REVENUG FRO QUSTONS, Tho past and present condition of the recolpts {from cuatomsa constitutos the goneral guide to cstimates and rocommendations’ rospecting that ‘branch of tho general rovenuo. . For tho yoar ending Juno 30, 1874, the decline in roceipts from the provious vesr was consid- erable—falling off from $188,089,622 to 8103,~ 0,88, » loss of nearly §25,000,000. Tho ro- colpts for tho firat quarter of tho curront fiscal year wore $2,500,000 lesg thau for the correspond- ing perlod of tha last year, The recoipts for th months of Qctober and Novembor, 1873, wera $21,248,833.25. For the samo months of thocur- rent your thoy ware 822,766,811, "Tho act of Juno 6, 1872, admitted larga classca of manufzctures to a reduction of 10 per cent of tho duties pregcribod by previous statutes, with- out designating specifically the articles to which the reduction should apply, leaving much room for construction in tho practical application of the act to articlos of now design or of particnlar combiuations of materials, 'Thia act was fol- Jowed by a systom of oxtremo prossuro for re- duotion; claimod through changos of classifivu- tion of artlcles, and advantage was souglit to bo taken of overy doubttul cousiruction of all parta af the act. During tho yeara 1873 and 1874 thore wass ood denl offected in the way of reduction of daties through chapges in form of component rantoriale of “merchandien, intended to auswor the aamo purpose iy consumption that articles charged with a higher rate of duty had provious- Jy asnswored. Very large eubatitutions of ma- tarials other thun wool havo been made for fab- o8 proviously payiug the duty charged on wool- cua, Bilis, linens, sud cottona have beon slmi- Tuly jmitated, while the truo rato of duty was 270ided in somo casss, and sought to be nvoided I otbers, by claiming’ them as subjoot to ratos of duty proscribed in tho ncts of 1861-'62 s e:anufactures of mixed matorinls, Somo portions of the roductions thus claimdd 210 admitted in the revision of the atatutes of 1574, whilo othera are rejected a8 mot proporly o tborized. It has been ascertained, as” tho re- wrlt of caretul calenlation, that a concession of 10 reduced clussifications claimed in tlo lngo wambor of nl)puuhl ‘mado to tho Secretary during tha year 1874 would bave reduced tho rovenucs o far a8 to moriously erubnrrass tho Troasury. his urgeney for reuutetion ia ot now eo great, 3::d thoro i8 moro general equicecencs o ress s0nablo aud proper constructicn of the ntatutos by those who would at any time be content ~1thou equal edministration ofsuch laws, Itisthe titpose of the Dopartment to rondor them oqual au.! uniform in their application, as far as prac- icablo and consistont with tho lotter of the law, 10 administer them with such encrgyas shall {eavo none in doubt as to their truo meaning, In tho application of the rovisod efatutos quoie ticns of construction often ariee, but tho Do- pastment has freoly sunounced tho principlos of zcratruction believed to be applicable, and in shiin it has had tho support of yecent declatons of ‘he courts. No doubt 18 entertniued that the po- titions assumed by tho Dopartmentin this respect will bear any tost of roview to which they may 5o subjected—n mattor hiore alluded to only in ihe hope of inducing scquiesconco in tho intont 5t laws, which, if equally euforced, cannot op- sreto projudleiully againstany clasd or section, Tho gonoral dopression of busimess resulting froza thopanic of September, 1873, Liss been fol- iovod by unusunl delav in forwarding tho crops. Prices in oll tho markots, foreign and domestic, anva uot been suiileiontly high toinduce shippoera :0 rieke tho usual investment in moving the 0; 3, &nd tho result is that tho demand for con- yur ption of forelgn merchandise nana] In the Wexz and intorior at this scason ig held in ro- 3c1v3, As a consequeunco of this nbacuce of de- maxd for formgn merchandiae, purchases for tho iztcrior end £ho Weey huvo beon grestly rostriet- od, and with rensoneblo caution nmporters have led nssuming tho burden or stocks of gooda aot Hiely to be readily takon off their hands for conrumption. - In what mannor or at what timo conatraint will be outitelz relloved, it {5 not 10 eay; but it would be wholly without cadeut to ind such abundant production ag gan murlked the prosont yoar, without remuners- Zive demand for conwuwption, for any consider- sUlc time, It is & reasonablo inferenco that this stato of things will yield as tho wants of Europo for our wsurplus crops oro developed im the owing year, and that geueral commerce, with sho revenues to be recelved from it, will revive ic:ovdingly, For the present, it ie of the high- 150 imporinnce to protect the rovenuoe provided 2¢ 1nw 1n the most faiihful manner. ‘Through o anivorm and thorough enforcomont of existing . much may not ouly be saved in diroet re- but many of tho complaints avising from wed inequality snd obsonrity may be ro- d, The actual recelpta from customs nre v afiootod by such vigilanco, and it in tho ent nlilo of the Goverument nnd the mer- iub that thure shall Do no uncertainty ag to roconing of the law, and that eettlomonty auorid bomade prompily and Justly, Thoso whio woat directly roprescnt the comtnercinl in- 18hiavo been vight in demnnding tlis courso, A no doubt is entorinined that woll-direotor e ts to thnt end will provo satiefaciory, ovon iy ey do uot at unco accomplish #it that may bo it autoly dono, ¥ xlerring to the nuv[;ml!lmm froguontly made i 7avor'of tho modifleation of tho laws impos- i dutles on imporie, and trenting tho snbjeot mivaly 03 ous uf vevonuo, it ja nog ssfe to way vt any 1eduction of tates on particular classes of oods ean he almilted yinle the domand of he Goverantent for gold {w s large o8 At prod- ont, without compessation by inerearod ratos on oiLar clnksét. Iixpurivuco oy shown that thero io vaually great loss und injury to individunly in rer-Jjuatment of duties to which the commercial an arests hove beoona aocastoinad, 1% s, howover, undenishla u..j thers_are Ine- g \hitlon and Incangrultios in oxlsting lnge 11ne £ ug duties ou iporto, nud flicr s nemand t..r thelr revislon, which, by many Tarpecta, neomi i bo worthy the considerstion of Congross. $¥:ould it bo the plensurn of Congress to outer rron this work of revision, it s recommendod, in order to avowd tho difionltiea stunding hasty 51d pratial saodifleations, that provialon boaado ¢ law for the npruiutmum of a conmlsslon to 1 reparo the details of nbill for this purpoyo, sud 13 report to tho next Conuross, 1t lo oertain that tho nggregato amount now received from thin Fourco iy necoasary for rovo e to meat demands, vhich cannot bo eaf = tated at less than $100,000,000 in gold, healdes the recolpts from internal reveuus aud othor souroes, The luipost stutemonts of 1872-'73 ehow how heavily tho revanues from ongtoms wore coblotod by the yeduetion of 1872, colfee alono huving ylolded 910,009,008.77 in 1871, and $7,100,074,0 In 1972 Ou the jmportution of cofice, i 1873, the rate of 8 conty por pound wonld bive yielded ueatlv 20,000,600, ond 4 oenin por ponud nhnost &6,000,000, The following table oxhibits tho annual Im- [ports of cotfes and toa from 1871 to 1874, juclue Eive, with: tlie cotal value thoroos, aud tho avere ago prico per production t STATEMENT OF IMPORTS OF OOFFELAND TEA DURING TUE FOUR TINCAL YEANS (RNDED U 40,) 1811 to 1874, INOLUMIVE, pound in the nnnntrlu' ot Lluh-] Coffees ™ | g vevage cost Allgrrflnl';‘ per pounil Tiscal years ended June 3 e 30, enit af lace shipment 347,09%.018 10,003, 860) 0; nu,m] 7,042,221 atpiaceof ahfpment, Pounds, 207,371) 44,100,071 5,171,612 53,048,907 Teat, [ decragecont Apmegate | per pornd Tounde, | €08 ut, atplace of | place ofl alipment, ahipment! 61,208, 019(617,254, 17111.60 cents, 6,811,001 22,048,6740,00 contn, n(,ulu.ml 24,460,170,37.54 conta, 55,811,003 21,119,24{37.52 cents, This_record of forclgn pricon for coffeo tonds n‘rnn?y to tho conclusion, making.duo atlow~ auco for tho olfoct of short croém on pricos, that tho duty ropsaled by the not of 1872 waa added to the astliug prico abroad. with no advantago to consumors haro, whilo the country, na a wlole, s pald moro than boforo for the entiro stooi, Tho ropoal of the duty on ton causoed little or no roduction of prica to consumers horo, but an In- ereaso of prices abroad, ‘Tho circumistancon under which dutles on fm- ports aro collected aro such en to bring into play the mout poworlul forcos of solf-intorast. Tho contest botwoon regular lmportors for procedonco in tho market, and, thorefore, for aticcees on tho one kand, na agatvat failure on tho other, ofton turns upon vory small distine- tions, nppnrnntlf' of littlo consoquenco nt tho momont. A stight dilferonce in tho rute of duty paid in ono caso, less. than another, often be- Fiscal years ended Jine U comes of tho groatost practical fuportanca to thos importor, It in sometimes sald that tho lntercit of tho morchant to evado the duty is not groat onough to induco tho attompt ; but exporieuco has shown that none otlor than the most rigoroun enforcomunt of law aud tho povwer to juilict kovere ponaitios suilico to protect tho intorost of tho Government, and 10 ineot tho efforts coustantly made for evasion of tho duties lovied by law. For this ronson the Taws of all couutrics whoro customs duties nro imposed_bLavo boen uniformly and necossarily sovere, doclaring forfoituro and penalty as the indisponsable condition of violation of rovenue laws, ‘I'bo history of legislation in {hia respect in Buropo {4 unbroken. A Beries of proventive and penal acty of the most decisive character may gu found evorywhere, whatever may be the reront reluxation of tho rates of duty or the in- creaso of the list of articles freo of duty. In the Unitod Btnton, the rates of duty for sonmio yoars past havo beon high, much higher thao aro mposed in most other couutrlos; but tho con- munption of foreign merchandido is Iargo and tho market eager and undiscriminating, tho quantity telion oven at high cost boing grontor in proportion to the population than in any foreign country importing from otber countrioa. At tho last session of Congress moasuren wero proposed, and in part onacted, lookiug to tho re- liof of merchants and otliors who complainod of what thoy clalmed to bo unnecessary severity of the revenuo laws, imposing [mnnlty and rocfoit- are for viclationa thevaof. “Whatover orrora may bavo osiated ih tho admintatration of thewn laws, or whatever cxtrema stops may linve oceasionod the legialution of tho last seesion, it i3 alill trao that tho peual provisious, to most importaat par~ ticulars, were no more stringent than thoso ox- inting ainco the early history of the country. Tho carlior acts rolating to duties on imports, porbnps, imposod the eovercst pensltics lnown t. our statutes, and these laws remaioed almost without materinl modifieation in this respect until tho last sossion of Congress, but their ad- muniscration was moditied, by the powor of re- mission conferred upon the Secrotary, 8o far as to rarely involvo forfoiture of veasols or tho im- position of the extremest penaltiea, It was tho conspicuous character of i ponaities recontly impoged that exeitod public attention, and in- ducod tho modifications emvodied in the act of Lho last session. In tho light of tha exporienco of this and other countries in the collection of dutios on imports, it must bo considered that any material chango in tho policy or mannor of protesting tho_rove- nues by the imposition of ponaltics and for- feitures is pecessarily tontative. It iu absolutely indisponsablo thas tho revenues shall bo col- lected, and in thoir collection the interests of the Government and tho bouest importer nore tho same. Both requiro that whatever tho law de- clares to bo tho rate or amount of _duty stall bo oqually and infloxibly onforced. Evaslons of nu apparently small proportion of those duties bo- como the moans of Borious injury, if not ruin, to tho honost merchant whose businesa io under- mined by such competition, and ofton result in groat loss of rovonue, Whilo it i not yeot demon- utrablo that tho presont dendoncy to decline in reveno from customs i6 ensibly_influonced by any other caugo than the decline of importations, thére are graye reasons for approbending sorlous 108ults from apy legisiation depriving tho Gov- oroment of the most efictent meaus for tho dotection of fraud and power to ipflict tho sovorest ponnltios in oxtrome cages, It cannot bo doubted that tho logislation of thelnst sorsion of Corgross has created a popular beliof that smuggling is less hazardous, aud violations and ovasions of tho law less dangerons, thon formor- ly, and it isnot difiicult to seo to what resulls duch & bolief is Likoly to lead. Tho sum pinced of the disposal of tho Secre- tary, by the not of tho Inat sesston of Congress, is inadequato for fuinishing compenssation for the dotection of frauds upon the reveane, Tho Inst gection of that act makes 1t tho duty of tho Socretary to make compousatiqn to porsons who would, voder former laws, have been entitled to Bhare in tho distribution of forfeiture, nnd, un- der thls provision, a laryo broportion of the sum placod ac the disposal of tho Sceretary by that 2t boenme uunvailable for use in casesof futuro violations of the law. The dechino of rocoipts from customs is sug- gestivo of the inportanco of reducing tho rggra- gate oxponsos of colloction, and tho attention of the Department has rocently beon given to this sbject in a way thnt has ltoady produced some fuvorablo rosults, and still furthor reductiou will Do nceomplished, 1t is, howover, Lmpracticable to mako such reduction exac:ly, or oven approxi- mately, proportionato to the talling off in recoipts, siuco the coat of meintalving the minimum or- ganization at any given port 18 tho prineipal part of the expenso, and this cannot be avoided, or diminished, without incurring dauger of loes of roveuuo ot such port. RECEIPTS FRO INTERNAX REVENDE. The roport of tho Commissionor of Internel Revonuo bresonts n sntlsfnctory exhivit of the rovenues in chargo of that buroau, Tho decreaso from oach source of Internal reveuuo for tho yenr ouding Junoe 80, 1874, o4 compared with tho fiacal year 1873, appear from {ho following statoment ; T, | Saurcer, | o — Bl Fo'mo Banks and hinnks 187, Decreare. ors, QLA 9,07, 000,80 023,009 Pon. e witainm| G4 Adlesivo’st T IS8 6,156,81884 1,005,680.81 i Hnck tasos undor upoulod luws,.| 6,820,7800) 701,59, 14] 5,603,001.86 V025, 150,05 103,03 “Tha docraase in tho receipts from spirita is duo to tho #mall production of brandy in 1874, iu conaequenco of the partial failuro of the fruit crop an_1878; {ho earllor cullection of special taxos in 1674 thou in 1873; tho raduction 1o the value of warchoure, rocliflers’, and doealem’ stampa Dby act of June 6, 1672, which roduction operated durlng tho wholo of the fiscal yoar 1874, but during unl;’ olovon monthy of 18735 and tho smulley eollections froni ropealod taxes reluting to mpirita in 1874 than in 1673, "o falling off in thu receipts from tobacco ln owing cliclly to the abofitlon of tho syatem of bouded warehouses, nnder ack of Juna 6, 1872, by which lur{:« quantities of maunnfactured tobaceo were placed upon the market during the flacal yoar 1873, uud to the jucrensod sctivity given durivg tho oarly purt of (ho snmo year to the movement of plug tobaceo by the reduction in the rato of tax from 82 to 20 conts per vound, ‘I'ho uct of Juue G, 1872, xo far na it rolates to a rofduction of tuxation on banks and doou- montary stampa, did uot go into full operstion prior to the last fiscal year, Tho numboy of brewers ongaged in tho pro. duetion of fermanted liquos nxing tho flucal yaurs 1973 vud 1874 was as follows : 1,000 Duving tho fiacal yea over 5,000,000 wora colleoted from jucome s back waxes, sud 8500,000 from gas, itams no longer taxablo, aud colloctions of pust-duo taxes, under ropealed statutes, aro, of course, aonstantly decroasing, The recefpts from iutoranl rovenus for tho flrut quarterd of the fiscal.yenrs onding June 90, 1874, and 1676, woro sy follows s Turat giturter of 1874 Tirat quurter of 1675,.., INCTCUR0 1 rarins 3 0741804 Tho agprogato recoipts for tho monthu of Qctoter wnd * Novembor, 1874, wora @18,863.- 029,97, nnd for tho wamo monthn in 1874 they were 917,470,202,99, WVithout kowo unexpeoted intoreuption of the induatrlos upon thioh those taxes oro lmposed, the full amount of tho ostimate horelubsforo orosonted will bo roalizod, ‘Tho suggeation of the Commlssionor that tho taxon now collested on bunk-checks, matclos, porfumery, conmotlen, ete,, may ba nbolishod, and eomponsation made thorofor by fnotessmg tho tax on spirits 10 conts per gallon, 18 woilhy tho conridoration of Congress. By makiug thio chuu{z« tho lioni of futernal taxatlon: would ho considorably reduced, and il system simpliflod without losn of revenune, Tho means now fu neo for ths collection of tax on spirits will, it i3 be-~ lioved, teouro tho collection of tho lucrensod amout, EXPONTA AND IMPORTS, Tho comparative coin valuo of the oxports and Imports of tho Unitod Btates for tho Inat flecul yoar, ag appoars from tha ofticial returny to the DBuronu of Statintics; may Lo oxbibited us fol- Txports of domestlo merohandiso, Exporta of forelgu morchuudi 680,29.010.00 “Total exports, 867,406,312.00 Tmports....s Excons of oxports over lmports, Exports of specfe and bullion, Imports of spocio und bulliun! 38,175,490.00 "Tolal excesd of cxporis of morchan. diso, npecie, aud bulllon, over fm- 1oris ofaams, % 57,063 197,00 ‘Whilo thesa roturns rra belleved to bo resgon- ably accurate as rogards tho oxports by sea, it lins beon found tmpracticablo to obain complote statoments of our oxports to Caunda,owing tothe fact that manifests, containing tho quantitionand valuos of merchandise oxported in rallwny cars, aro not legally roquirablo, Detailod sintemonts have boon recoivad, howevoer, from tho Commin- sionor of Customs of tho Dominion of Cnundn, from which it appears that tho coin value of our exparty to Canada duripg tho last flecal yoar was £10,200,050 fu oxcoss of that yeturned by tho United Btatos cuntoms oMcers, which would ju- creaso tho oxports for tho last dlscal yoor ag abovo stated, by that amount, N It i6 proper to romark in this connection that morchandiae of tha valuo of 817,678,225 wag withdrawn from bond for consumption, i axecess of that ontured for warehonse, during the venr. The oxport of coin and bulifon was 21,052,198 loss then for tho proceding year, whilo the oxe ports of domostic merchandiso havo iucrensed 863,803,118, ' ‘Thoro appoars to have baen a decroaso in fm- portations for the last year of $71,720,803 ne compared with the provious flseul year, and of 85,183,785 ns comparod with the flecal year ondod June 80, 1672, The following imports ehow an increaso in value, respectively : Coffes, $10,941,670; 1molrssos, 41,046,738 enlt, 3G60,127; flax seod, B147,220; lwass nu other metals, ©175.439; medicinal barks, 8118,d 4303 conl, $410,70% ; kalr, $403,820: raw letap- 328,094 indigo and _cochinenl, £353,474: nu~ mauufactured wood, $381,810; articles oxported ond rolumied, $1,287,032; ‘opium, f601,720 3 spicos, $096,042; 'buvloy, $2,808,672; droau goods, §1,714,30! ‘Thoro exhibiting o decrease fn importation ars priucipally nnmavufactured wool, *12,133,632; manufactures of wool, £4,149,298; raw eilk, 29,606,613 ; manufacturds of uilk, £5,503,253 ; flue Yinon, 'Inces, and othor manufncturos of Hax, 82,955,636 ; cotton goods, $7,007,465; kid gloves, Yaathot, and manufactarcs of leathor, §1,107,625 : furs, 9479497; Lidos and skius, £1,281,505 ; julo and jute butts, $1,471,727; paper stock, B1.068,~ 907; papor and_paper bLnngimgs, $734,873 hiorso-hnir, 8702,675; old and scrap iron, &5, 148, 8705 coppor ingots, 7,026 ; mantfactures of coppor, £887,436; pig and bar lead, $1,004,240 ; tin plates, 82,000.727; watches, £000.531; jowol* ryand procious stones, 9870,097; faucy goods wud perfomory, &468,036; tobucco, snufl, wnd cigars, £1,504,003; winen and liquors, 8522,000 ; fruit and nuts, $1,392.044 ; sugay, £820,400; toa, $8,353,860 ; dutiublo chomicals, $979,701; chemis cala, drugs, nnd dyes, £1,434,919; dye woods, winddor, argols, blesching powdor, and nitrate of soda, §713,083 : =odn nub, $928,416; onxtheun, atons, and chinn waro, 81,138,670; common win- Excesa of oxports over imports,. a dow glass, &nd glaegware, ©1,900,941; lumber, *"'z,g"i;}"" } crudo Indix rubbet and gutfa porehs, $703,821. “Thore was o falling off in tho lwportation of 1o and stoel aud their products of 20,306,336 in valuo, upon the following articles’: Rails, £3,988,967 ; stcol aud manufacturcs of stoel, $3,321.018 ; pig-trou, 93,915,747 ; bar-iron, $2,- 208,170 ; short, hiope, aud baud iron, 1,169,308 ; machinery, $400,192; auchors, chaius, cablos, castings, und hardware, 308,330, "Thore was aluo & docteaso in the importation of livo nnimals of 702,331, and of provistous of 919,881 in value. : Of domestic products exported, the following articles show kn iverenso in valuo, u curroucy : Whont, $49,000,205; wheat flour, 9,876,430 ; ryo and ryo flour, £1,410,000; cora nnd corn- menl, $1.029,820} ehieeso, 1,400,985 buttor, $180402 ; pork, S8DL077 ; boof nud tatlow, 1, 576,044 : fisl, $003,712; loaf tobacco, E7,710.- 046 ; ofl eake, $487,798; hoined cattio, $454,- 900 3 hogs, S838,435 3 ngricultural implemonts, $503,880'; timber, wood, sud manufactures of wood, 52,203,010} coal, §909.675 ; maunfactures of hiem*, 041,021 ; iron and manufactures of iron, 810,198 ; firearms, $1,158,209; sailing veurels Sold to forcignors, $871,407. The deetoaso in tho cxportation of domaatio products apponrs principally 1 tho Tollowing orticles : Itaw cotton, $16,019,489; bacon, bams, and lard, $8,676,026 : hidos, 31,044,641 furs and fur-ekivs, §591,185 ; leathor ‘aud monnfae- turcs of leather, §518,976; sewing-machinos, $550.424 ; crudo mincenl ofl, $910.35%; crudo turpentine aud rosin, §0635,665; and mlver ore, SY69,303. ! COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. TLittle imuroveweut Is observablo in the for- eign cerrying trade. Ovor 72 por cent of our imports and exports, during the last iiscal year, was cmiried in foreign vessols. This rotio is, howaver, o gomowhat hotter oxuibit than for the figeal yoar 1878, whon 76 por cont of this trade was transported in vessols of other natlovs, It is ostimuated that, prior to 18C0, from 75 to 80 per conc was dono in vessely of the United States, From tho report of the Registor of the Trens- ury, tho total tounago of vessels of the Uniced Btates appours to bo 4,800,052 tous, being an ju- crongo over that of tho ildeal year ouded Juno 80, 1873, of 104,626 _tons, nofwithstanding tho omission from the ofileizl returns, under tho act of April 18, 1874, of canal-boas tonnago amount- ing to 188,003 tons. Tho tonnayo of vessels built during the last fiacal yoar, as given in tho roport of tho Reguitar, 19482,725 tons ; which amount exceads that of the preceding voar by 79,470 tons, and is great- ar thon that ‘of suy yoar aincs 1865, From July 1 to Nov. 10, 1574, olticial numbers have hoen awarded by Bareau of Statistice o U54-vensoly, whose carrging capacity smounuts to 169,054 tons. OI theso, 213 woro now sea- going ‘veasols, varging from 100 to 5000 tons, with an aggrogalo tonvegoof 120,072 tons, Of this number, twenty-nine vessols weasured oyor 1,000 tons, three over 2,000 tonn, while two were 1won steanishipa of 5,004 tous oavt. REVENUE MARINE During the paat year the threo stonm vossols In process of construction for the revenno ma- rino ot the dato of tho last anuual roport of the Beeretary have becn completed and put in com- wission, They oro woodon vessels, of oxcellont madel, thoroughly built of tho best material, strong and faat, and admirably suited to the worl: roquired of thom, In tho desigu of their steam machinery speeisl pems wero taken o introdueo tho latost well-establisbiod improvements to sio- ouro snoad and economy of fuel Thora beiug grent differences of opinion among enginects to tho rolativo value of different types of enginea, and it eppearing that all operated suceessfully, it was docidod to uso difforent engincs i these steamers, tho boilers, scrows, aud hulls boing tho samo. Upon. their cumr\atlou, at the requost, and with the co-operation ot the Nuvy Dopnrt- mont, trinls on & scientifio basis wers mudo of thoit stosin-meohinery 3 the report of which Las Deon published, and with, it s buloved, b found of groat value. ‘Liieso $hroo vessols are about 250 tons eauh, and have displaced four old oncs having an aj- grogato tounaga of 1,320 tons, Thoir comple- tion practically necomplishes the rearganization of this branch of the service, which bas been in progress during the last throo years upon the plan recommended by tho Conimigaion sppointed Deo, 16, 1809, whose report was submitted to Congreas Muy 20, 1870, (Ex. Doo, No. 4, 418t Cong., 2 Hension.) Ior nearly ull the old slow snd unwisldy sailing oraft, aud the largo stouri« wirof heevydraught and complicated machinery, which woro ill-ndupted to the requirements of tho sorvive aud osponsive to maintaln, moall steomorn of Yght draft and good spead Tave boen substituted, effecting a roduction in tho tonunge of the fleot of neurly 2,000 tons; roduciug correspundingly tho numbor of mon empioyed and olherwiso lessoning the exponsey of mainteining tho wervioe, while greatly incrans. log e eflclency, Tiqually lmportant changon havo been made in tho charactar of (he official corpy, through tho romoval of incompetent ofil- cors aud tho institution of a rigid professional exumination of oundidates for admission, Con- stunt improveuteut hias attouded the dirugrnuu ot tho reorgnnizatton, aud the benofits already dorlved lndicato oven bettor results than were antlcipatod, ‘I'he following consparativo statomonts ‘of the anuual cost of muintalnlug the servico, aud of tha services rendered by It beforo and Bince tho oomyaencoment of the reorganizatton, il iluse trate the advaucoment that hay been mades Txpenses of the Rovenuo Marine for tho fiseal yoars onding— June 20, 1805..81,320,434.04|Tno 30, 1870.,$1,139,670.15 0,2 1,175,20 a7 uno 0, 1808, 110/ Tuno 30, 1 121,000,407 June 10, 1807, 1,107,125.41(June 1o, 1 040,249, Juno 10, 1808, 1,203,001,87] Jane 10, 187, DI,H09.88 Tuue 0, 1860°. 1,183,702,20]dumo 30, 1078, 03,001.63 Provioud to tho year flrst named the expenron of the Roveaue-Marino Sorvico woro kopt wmith the accounts of tha ganoral exponnos of colloot- ing tho revenuo Irom customs, and canoob be ensily ascortained. FORMED 1Y REVENUE VE4SKLS DUNING T 18001870, e gora] | ~x2 puD pepizoy| 105,003 1,029,600 'T«—,u‘ Averageperyear] 119| 12| 147,000 | 1s,008] 17 [This atatepient fa mado by ealendar years, for tlio :tolll;flnllll;l\;u! tho reporta from which it 1s compiled were STATEMRNT OF STAVICTE YERFORMED DY MEVENUE, YES LS DURING THE JISCAL YEARS 18721874, o i 1 q " i | 25 23 bt) 102 = [ 5 R IR $8) N Flecal years ending— a3 280 B =2 AR =28 + Ll 3§ & 1R Juns 90, 1 .| at0} 1,not'100.008j24,0008 87 Juno 40, 187 . 0] 1,603 18%,008[30,543 100 Tune 30, 1874, 3] 1,81011u9,884127,748 & 55 6,000 621,040 Totnl . Aversgo per year...} 193] 1,600(173,882]27,741) 60 (Of tho 6,000 ehowin in this statcment natbe total number of vewsbls eoized or roportad for violation of Taw, 3,119 woro returned by tho two New York harbar- boats, which previous to 1871 mado no roturns. Leaving {bio number out of tho account, tho averago duriug the last threo yoarn Is 020, ‘Plie number of vosaols now in commisslon are thirty-four, of which thirty aro steamors and four sailing veascls, Lhoy aro vo distributed as to embrace in their cruising-grounds tho entivo consit of tho United Statos, with tho esception of u portion of tho Pacifi const, and afford a roa- sonablo protection agaiust the smiuggling of goods into the country by the cargo, For tho vortion of the Pacific coast alladed to, & vossol was authorized to bo built ab tho Inst sepsion of Congress, and plans and specifications for hor construction aro now in proparation, ‘Thera havo boen orected during tho past yenr twenty-two now life-saving stations, as follows : Tive on the corst of Malue, one on tho coast of New Hampohire, five on tho cosst ol Megsachue solts, one on the const of Ithade Island, threo on the coast of Virginia, aud rovon ou tho const of North Caraliva.” Thoy aro completely equipped, and woro manned for the wintey’s soervice on the tirst of tho prescut montl, Continct hng becs ontered juto for tho construction of mis stalions on tho coast of Marylaud and Virginia, bottveen Capa Henlopen and Capo Charles, under auchori- 1y of the nct of June 20, 1874, and aringomenty will bo mado for the ovection or two other sta- “tious betwoen theze cuapes, on tho const of Do'n- WATe, OB £OON AB POsRousion of the sites selected for them, which ura tho pioporty of the Stats, can be obtained. Whon theso siations aro comoletod and in op- oration, the Atlantic cosst, from Quoddy Head 1o Capo Hattoras, with tho oxception, porhaps, of the vicinity of Point Judith, will bo well pro- tected. South of Capo Hatteras nothing is needad, except tho honses of refugo prosided Tor by tho sct abovo referred to. Early steps will bo taken for the building of theso. Sitey have beon necurod for tho thirty stations author- ized for tho graut lakes, and piand nnd spacifica- tions for the bufidings ave boing propared, Itis expocted that theso atations will be comploted in seuson for uso during tho anturun of nost year. Moagures will 2lso bo taken to have the stations authorized for tho Pasifle coast in roadiness for cecupanes roxt wintor, 'I'iere Davo been in operation during tho past ranr eighty-two etations, Lhoy aro all locsted it the threo districtu dorignated au tho Cape Cod District, Thodo Island and Long island Distriot, and the Now Jersey Distiice, which embraco tho most dangerous portions of tho Atlantie const. Tho xeports of the Suporiutendenty show that during tho seagon of 1873-"74, forty-sight ves- tcls, valued, with tholr _cargoos, at $3,831,60G, ud having on board 1,106 peraons, wero dtiven upon theso shores, In tvanty-nine iustances the life-nving apparatus was eallod into roquisi- tion, and 803 persons wero rescued by it. In the other cuecs its uso wus not yequired, bub ns- wlstanco of some wort, in sdiiulutering to tho comfort of tho shipwrecked or in saving propor- ¥, ways rondered in vearly all by the force of tho service, Of the “mmount of {zrnparty jeoparded, only 457,232 was loat, and the num- bor of lives loat was but two, Doth of thees wore caused by the Ialliugof tho mast of a ves- el whou elie struck,—a case In which, of coursa, lite-vaving apphinucos wero not availaolo. Tho numbor of dnys’ sheltor afforded slipwreckod porsons at tho stations was 494, T'he lifo-saving service bas uow been in opera- tion under tho presont ysiem threo yoars on the cousts of Long 1sland and New Jersey, and two yoais on the const of Capa Cod. ‘Tho statistics of dignstols upon these cousts during this time aro reported as foliows. 183,221 120 Number of srecks, ... 1M Number of fwperiiud., 1,007 Number of livea gaved, 1001 Nuwmber of fivea loat, 3 Rumber of shipwreeko and succored it statlons, Number of days’ sheltor u Taial valuo of property ftnperiled. “Wotal value of property fayed. Total vaiuo of projerty loat Almost all {he diensters which occur upon theeo corats arc from atranding of vosvols, and it ia against death und loss of praperty result- ing from this clags of disastors l}mt tho lire- saving sorvico, as theroon established, is de- sigvod to nllord protection. Tho succoss of tho syateiq, which tte foregoing statistics imply, is certaiuly all that could bo hcped for. It is Lardly to bo expocted that an equal moasure of ucees will bo attained upon tho lakes, whoro the canres nud character of & large proportion of tho disnsters nio of u dulerent vatire, ‘Lhnt tha bonotits to ho derived trom the oxteusion of tho servico thero, howover, will umply justify tho oxponse involved cennot bo (Ioubm& In the prosecution of inquiries essontial to colllrlhln(‘u Wwith tho roguirenouts of tho Recond sootiou of tho act of March 8, 1873, directing tlio Becrotary of tho Treasury to rapor: to tho Tvuso_of Reprasantativea ** tho points on tho sen and leko cousts of the United Stutes at which the establishmont of lite-savivg stations would Dbent subserve tho intorents of commorco and hu- monity,” valuablo staistics of disssters to r.lgl‘xpiug, which have occurred upon ou¢ coaets within “the last ton yoars, woro gath- ored, with much troubls, from uudor~ writors, wreek commigstoners oflicora of tho cuatoms, light-houso keepers, and all other cymlable sources, and all praclicable menns wera taken to veriy tlhom. -~ Allbough important statlstics of some disasters avo lack- ing, it 1 belioved thus tho information oblained is vory nearly correet, A the¢o stativtics uf- ford information of considerublo interest toalip- owners, underwiters, and persons engaged in commetce gonorally, {t hao bean thought propor to hava them arranged fu tsbles with respoct Lo yenrd uticl months, to clasgos of veasoly, to kind aod causo of duuster, to tounage, to localily of disustoy, oto. 5 Iteports of the statistics of diansters to ship- plng, important as thoy sre, wore nover ai- thoritutively vequired by the Covernment uutil tho ot of June 20, 1874, dirested tho owners and wnsters of yessols to supply them. At the com- mencenont of tho last lscal year, howover, the customs ofilcers of tho varions ports of tho conntry woro directod to oblaw snd forward to the Dopartmont the partionlars of all dlsasters oceurning to vessola within thelr collection dis- trict#, or to vessols owned thoroln, whero It wes possiblo to obtan_them, Tho returns recoived wero very fall. They have beon tsbulated, as nbove deseribed, und wreeking charts, upon whioh 1a shown tho oxact locnlity of each disastor, have boen proparad, LIQUT-UOUBE BERVICE. Tho light-houss oxtablisnmont, which excoeds inmagnitudo thut of uny ochier natiou, providing g it doea for the necossitios of o coast ling, in- cluding tho great Northorn Lakes, over 10,000 iofles In distance, bogidos wn extont of 4,700 1olled on Inlend rivers—umaking o total of ovar 14,000 miles—koops pace with fim domands for ingronsed nids to conumoreo und navigstion, Within the.past yoar Lwenty-flye light-houeos, Lwo light-nbips, sevon fog.oigunls, eight boacous, and twonty-seyon buoys have boon wvstablished. ‘The tatal number of such uida to navigation now in wno 1u tho Unitod Btates, i 546 light-housox, 24 llght-slipy, 43 fog-signaly, 382 beacous, and 2,806 Luoys. 1t appoara from the roport of the Light-longo adop! ot only introduciog the improve- smeuts whish Lave boan made in forelgn couns trlos, but also, by original Invostigationn, to add 10 tho ofilcloncy of tho uystem. 1In the latter tho Board has rocontly heon “wnccosaful n tho intro~ duction of now matorinls for iflumination, and of_prently-lmproved tog-nignals. Weckly maotingn of the Iloard, instond of quarterly, as formorly, hnve baon hold during tho past yonr, affording Increaked opportumtion for tho dlnenssion of now mothoda and dolibora~ tian upon proposod hmprovements, as sugzestod by rocent selontitle disoovories and the priotices of foralun countricn; and a sories of epecial in~ vostigations huve beon commonced, with a view to dotornuno how far the changern, suggentod as posaible by the Iata enginoer seorotary aa tho ro- Bult of his racont oxamination into tho systoms in uno abrond—nlluded to In the Insl annial ro. port of the Beerotary of the 'Troasury—may bo with advantage introduced into our own systom, COABT SURVEY, "The oporations of tho Coent Survey within the present yoar ngntn illustrato tho spocial utibity of that work, Nonr soveral of tho swillny courseu ou the Atlantic conat and on tho Pacitlo, dangers that would elude ordinary caro in hydrography sasonrch Jinvo beon dovalopad aud mada kuown to navigators. The data, sciontific and practical, gathored in all branches of this important sor- vice, and on record for futuro uses, and tho ox- porianco of tho_ofilcers employell, sro mow vouglit by tha Covornmont und othor commin- slous for” dotormining questions copunitted to thom, whother in rognid to boundnries, mona- ures for the prosoivation of harbors, specinl structures, subject to the action of lides aud cnr- ronts, or for iucrensing local facllities in navign- tion. ' Hovoral routes rmgented for au intor- ocennic ship-canal have bees traversed by ofticer of tho survoy, and onc of them now netsnya wember of tho Commission for llo\'l&lnf menus to improve the outlet of tho Misstsaippi Ltiver. 1In tho prompt 1suo of charts with exact de- lineation of tho shores, and of tobles predicting the tidow for onch day of tho yoar; the large snd rteadily increasing number of points preoisoely determinodin Intitudo aud longitude ; the dovei- opwment of tho law of maguetic varlation for the entire area of (ho Unitad States, the survey well desorves tho wide reputo which its organization las hitherto mafutained for public usefnlness, T'hat not oue, even of thoe oldest Btatas in the Union, han at this dey o map of its surfacoe aul- ficiently aceurato for any otber than purposes of travel, I8 now au inconvenienco soverely felt, but i not matter of reproach 2a regards tho Btates or the Goneral Govarnmont. IKingdoms, resirieted 1n shoro lioe, and reareely equal to oithier of our States in avea, but, with resorrces comparativoly vast, oulistod thoir ablest soientitlo mon years ogo in such worls, and now bave mays ndequate for geologle cal survovs, or for any other economical reguira. ment, Our own Govornment., in happy fore- sight of tho presout nceds, provided for an ox- acs and continuous survoy of thoe Atlantie, Gulf, and Pacific consts of tho Unitod States, aud that worlk, umvivaled in precision by any othor geo- Qetic’ wutvey, 18 mow far edvanced. Whilo iv its progress all requirements for commerco and navigation have boen met, mueh hes been incidentally done for fho future inter- ity of tho intortor, By counecting tho surveys of harbors and tidal yivers, ond proving thoir geogrnphical relation proeisaly, the States of the Usnion are farniahed, for their ullimate surveys, with a basis of accuracy not attainable 1n any ather foasible way, It is ovident that for such maps a8 to othor nations have proved indiu- ponsablo in their industrial progress, our States must found their fiunl survova on poiuty well do- termined 1n their rolatisn to the const. All available woany, therafure, are duo for main- tnining tho prosent seale and system of work in the survoy of the coast, both iuregard toits main purpeso, aud io order that the States may hava collaternl ndvantage in commaucing thelr ultimaco Burvoys, Mauy years must elapsa bo- foro tho Stutes aro nblo to complate their flnrl maps, bat the present ueed for them bas been repontodly brought to the votico of this Dopart- out. MARINE-HOSPITAT SERVICE, Althonugh the rats of huspital dues was donbled by the Murina Huspital uet of 1870, the averago yoarly collection uf such ducs has not yet boon correspondivgiy incresved, as compnred with the averago of tho throo years precediny tho passuge of that act, Aud this, notwithutanding thero hos boon, sinco thou, an fucreaso of about 144§ per cent in Ameriean tonnage, oxclusive of vensels engaged 1n the fisherios, nud of 36 per cent in the nmount of hoapital rolief raquired. According to the most reliablo duta obtainzble for tho ascortainment of tho proportion af crew to tonnaga, there aro upwasdy of 167,600 seamen employed on American veesels wubjoct to los- nital duos. As cho sctual period of service in thio mezchant marino avoragos about vine months per anauwm, thore should bave been, inslead of 846,676, tho amonnt recoived last year, an ag- gregate of about $567,000, a sum amply suti- c¢lout to mako tha servico self-suataining. An oxamination Into tho causos of this do- fleiency lon 1 to tho beliol that it 18 largely duo to detocts in tho modo of collacting the dues. ©Tho statuto ruthorizes tho master or owuver of every veasol, subject to hogpital duos, to rotuin out of tho wagea of oach of lus crew the sum of 40 conts por month for each mouthof ser~ vice, which sums ko is required to pay to the Collector of Customs nt costain goecilied tunes, accompanied by o tiue statoment of the number of mon and tha length of servica of each man elnce last pavment of hoepital duca; cud the Secrotary of the I'roasnry is nuthorized to direct the praparation of **all needful rogulations for tho nodo of collecting tho same. It s clntwed that thevo rogulntions, altbough moditied in 1873. utill entail, in the character of tho hospital duca return, an onerous amouut of clorical labor on mastera and ownors, mon nat nacenstomad to such work ; that much of tho ine formatlion i8 uscless, s fur exariple, the ravk and pame of each seamen employed, the sea- man's name belug seldom eatisfactory ovidenco of his identity, whilo upon tho Weetern nivers tho return of the names i3 impracticable, tho mombers of & crow often changing more than onco on a singlo trip ; and, finally, thet ag there in nomodo provided for Verifsing the account, there ia ovory inducement to make looso and in- accurate roturus, ‘Theso dofeets ave thought to bo sulliciont to account for the disparity botweon tho sum actunlly recoived aud that nuthorized to be retained from thie seamow’s wagos,aud, in congequonca of which disparity, either tho reliof fucilitics mugt fall short of tho roquiromonts or the @overnment malke good tho deliciency. A moro duect and cflicient modo of collection would be, it 18 concaived, by ascasing duas ne- cording to » schiedulo of tho average aumbor of mon roquired to sefelv navicato vousels of various wizes, rigs, aud kiods of traflle. This as- seremont could ~bo readily voritied by the shup's papers, now requirad for other purposes, It Congressehnll gae it to so madify the act, it is be- lioved tho returns may by much sunpiiled and to receipts correspondingly incrensod, Thio chief points of interest in tho adwinistra- tlou of this sorvice, dwring tho pass yenr, aro tho continnedjreduction of tho mortality rato rnd of thoaversgo atay in Lospital, both fairly uttributa. bla to inerensed efftviency lu tho wodes of super- vislon, resulting trom greater experience, To these causes is due, also, tho important aconomic Tesult that ® lnvgor numbor of pevsous, admitted under wore 1igid inspection, huva beon furnished nll nocewgnry relief at o less cost vor man, aud, in tho agrregate, to tho Govornmont, than iu any provious year, A statemient of tho oper- atioun of tho ervico during tho yoar, tozothor with o comparative economio exhibit for & num- bor of yoars, will ho fonad_in tha nccompnying roport of the Suporvising Surgeon. At San Fraucusco tho now pavilion hospital is rapidly approaching complotion; wnd, although the ehanga from the site flrst selected niuy molio necessery soma uddiliona) outlay to socure propor drafnage, Bowerago, ote., it {8 gratityiug to kuow Lhat the buildings will ba comploted for tho sum originally appropriated, —a sum ot ox- ceading one-poventl the aveiaga cost of tho ochor honpitals of I:A]I“Il capecily now owned by tho Clovernment. Ewly in Soptembor last, tho bospital nt Pittsburg was vacated und turnod over to the Bupervising Avchitect for malo, in gecordanco with the nct of June 22, 1874, Tho #nlo, however, liny not yot baen efectod, tho highent prico offorad belug considerod by tho Departiment fnadequate, “lio noods and condi~ tion of tho othor hospitals wlll bo found sot forth in dotnil in the report of the Suporvising Architoot ; but the sitoution of Cougreas is re- spoetfully asked, in this counactionto tha follow- g covsiderations concorning the malntonanco of Lospitats exclusivoly for eonmon: Txcept atgome Lilt-gozen ports, thero mo at no timo mavine patients enough to warrant maintaining s hoapi- tal stefl and ostablishmont, As 2 yesult, tho -o08t of rolief in hospitaly, maintained by tho sexvica at such ports, Is about 20 par eont higher than tho goueal avoruge cost. It would bo wanlifest ccouomy to ¢lose all such hospitals and furnigh rellet through munwipal or private sgeneles under the superyvision of the wervica. ‘Ilin alternativo, however, is not nocorsary, Tho hospitals ownaed by tho Government. aro genur- ally of such o charactor, and 1o eligibly located for genoral hospltulu, that thoy muy bo sdvon- tagoously loased for sueh purposss, It fa recoms mendod, after mature cousiderition of tho nubs 2ML, and &n 2 meatitre in tho bost Interasts of he servico, thue aunthoriy bo givon, by statate, to loaso nny United Staten warios hospital, pro- vidad the leases shall furnish andliclont guarcaty Tor the propor vere of the mktiue patieuts of tho port whore such Lospital fs looated, under_tho suporyision of the Dopariment, snd at & dmly per oapita cost not to oxcood 60 por cout of tha ayoinge daily por capitu cost of tho ontire sy~ vioo for tho yoar noxt proceding, BTDAMBOAIINMVECTION BERVIOE, The roport of tho Bupervining Inspootor Gans oral ot Steamaboate shows that tho aversge mue o| cordance with the constitutional nual loss of lifo by acoldont to am-m-vungulu during tho fotir yoars pracoding 1873, wus 8560, whilo far thn year 1873 tho loss was 212, bofng o dooranse of over U7 per cout, nnd the losa of ton Tives only in 1873 reaulted from explosions ; tho vecalpey “from foos for inapection and licsuse, during Ure lagt fincal year, oxceoded those of the years provivus by $16,808.95, while the expendl- turon swero only $102,25 in oxcoss of thosoe of the vrovious year; tho cxeess of rocelpty over ox- ponditurcs for the fiacal year was 862,381,160, THE TENRITONY ON ALABKA—THE BEAL ISLANDE, Undor the provinionn of tho act of Awril 22, 1874, nuthorizing the Sccrotary of the Troasury to appoint a porvon quatifiod by ox\mmnco and education to vinit the trading-stations and In- dlan villogos in the Torritory of Alsrka, soal Istands, and (ko Inrgo Islands in Dobring Boa, fo colleet sutbontic informntion relating to the varled intorouts of tho Qovernmont in that Ter- ritory and tho adjacent ragions, Mr. Honry W. Elliott wan dosignated ouw wpecial ngont for thnt purpose, The report prescntod by him to tho Dopartmont ns tho reanlt of Lis labors con- tainy n comprehionsivo statoment af the charne- ter of tho country; the condition of tho nativen ; tho presont stato of tho senl and other flshetios ; and the trado or the 'Perritory ; with mloute do- geriptions of tho hauuts and’ babits of tho sonl and other fur-bearing animals, a8 also mauy vals uablo suggestions in regard to the managemont of the nutives, tho progorvation of the sonl fish- erlos, and tho oconomical collaction of tho rove cuue. Na more satisfactory oxhibit of the condition of tho Torritory and of its probablo resources g hitherto beon prosoutod to tho Departniont, ‘Tho Goverament has derivod an income from tho tax on seal-aking and from the reut of tho fur-genl islands, siuco thojuequisition of tho Ter- ritory, ns follows Tax on eeal-skiua, , $1,150,210,75 Ttent of furesca) isf It 6 Balo of ‘eeal-skiny tuken by Government agents, undor Soc, 6, act July 1, 1870..., 20,520,17 Making 8 lotnl ncome ofuu.vse ..o $1,860,220,67 THE LOVISVILLE & TORTLAND OANAL. In pursuancs of tho dircetion contained in Seo, 2 of thouctof ayil, 1874, entitled **Ap nct roviding for tho paymont of thae bonds of the Louisvillo & Portland Cannl Company,” Mr. I, . Taylor, First Comptrollor of tho ronsury, wes instructed to proceed;to Louisville, Xv., to mako tho examination authorlzad by that sec- tion. Hia report, hersto appended, shows in what mauner s 1natructions wero carried oub and tho rosult of his oxamination, It was ascortained that tho Company sas in- debted to its Troasurer In the sum of 3307,81, which has sluoce beon paid, ‘There are out- standing bonds of tha Compnny amounting to ©1,173,000, bearing U por cont Interest, poy- able senti-apnnally,~Jou. 1 and July 1 in cuch yonr, Thewo bouas will mature July, 1976, " July, 1881, ond July, 183, No other dobls woro found to exiat agsinst the Com- pauy, nor in thoir favor from the Directors, the Trustecs nudor Lo mortgago, or other porsoun. Tho five sbares of stock lield by tho Dhectora heve beon transforred to the United States, and the valua thoroof, includmyy interast, nmounting to $813.50, bas boea pmid at tho Troasury. Pub. lio notico wns glven to the holders of the bonds Lo prosent the coupona duo July 1, 1874, at tho oflico of thio Aesintant Treasuror in Now York for payment, and, of tho ©35,160 duo on that day, ¥04,920 have beon pnid. Coupous to the amount of 4990, pasc duo uk that time, but not proyi- ouuly presonted, heve sinco boeu paid at the Treasury, DENAYD FOR PAYMENT OF Tur 5 yEn oeNT EARNINGS OF PACIFIC BAILROAD COMPANIES, By tha sixth section of thenct approved July 1, 1862, to aid in the construction of tho Pacifle Tiailrond, aud subsoquent logigiation, tho Con- fral, Union, Central Brauch of the Union, Stoux City & Pacitie, Kansn, and Western Paciic Raflroad Compsuies aro raquirad, from the dato of the completion of their neveral ronds, to pav tho Unitad States 5 por centum of their annual carnoga. Congrese, b its last eosion, by an act nppoved Juno 24, 1974, directod th Hecrotn~ ry of tho Trensury to demand of tha Tressuror of onch of suid Compauies all sums due to tho Umted Statey, and in default of payment for slxty daya thoreaftor, to cortily that fact to tho Attornoy-General, who is vaquired theroupon to ingtituo such logal proceedings as mav be found pocessary to enforce paymont theroof, I'ho law, in the opinion of tho Becretary, con- tempiates that demands sholl bo made for spe- cufle sums based upon tho net oarninga of eacl rond from its complation, and, for this purpose, Lo Lina anaumed that the complotion in each case, in tho absence of mora dotinita information, dates from the ssuo of tho last fustallment of bonds by tho United States, under tho act of July 1, 1862, Tlio tiwoutloth section of this act required the companics to makoe anuual reports to the Soero- tery of tho Treasury, which, it made, would show thoir annual not earningy, but by subsequont legislation they wora dirocted to meko thin re- Eort to tho becretary of the Intorior., They ave not, howevel, as it appears, fully complicd with tine roquirement. Upon correspondouce with the Secretary of the Interior, it is asceitaived thnt their recorts wore 80 1wperfece ss not to disclose the mnet oarminus of the sovoral companios. A domupd waa thereupon mado by tho lusorior Dopartment upon each of tha conipanics for an immediste statement of its net carnings from a dato speci- tied to and including the prosent yoar, bub such repor:s hiavo not yot boau furmshed. . IMaving dolayed & rensonablo timo to give tho companies au opportunity to furnish tho desired information, and failing to recelva it. rosor: wns had to such other menus of inforation as wero within rezoh, namely, to the suuual roports of tho Presidents of snid companies to stockhold- crg, and gucti further statemonta relating to tho fncal affaug of the soyeral companica as_have Tiom timo to timo boer¥given to tho ganeral pub- lie. Upou information derivedfro thoso soure- es, estimates have boon made approximating a8 vearly ay practicable tho not oarnings of said companies rospectivoly, and domands have basn mado for the paymout of the amounts thus cortained. Demaud in writing bas beeu sorved personzlly upon the Treasurer of eaci contpnuy. Tho aggregato amuttnt now dite from all (he companies unon the hest data at hand, elosely approxinmates 8,000,010 Sbould puy=neat not bo made within sixty daya the matter will bo roportad to tho Attornoy-Gou- exal m conformity to the roquiroment of tho act of Juno 22, 1874, NEDEMPTION AGENCY FOR NATIONAL DANKS. If Congress shafl deem it expadiant to cou- tinue tho presont system of redemption of National Rauk notos, {7 is recommended that the uwmbor snd compensation of the employes in the division organized under tha act of Juno 20, 1874, bo fixed by lnw, and_tneir appointment vestod in the head of tho Departmont, in ao- provision, BUNEAU OF ENQRAVISG AND PHINTING, Carotul cousulorations of the mannor of pre- pRring tie bonds, notes, and stamps lssued by the United Btates, buy led 10 the conctusion that the work can bo moro gatiafuctorily and safely douo in tho Trondary Dopurtmont thun clvowhora, ‘Eho Buresn of Engraving and rinting is wow supplied with tho best machinery, which hos ceon nequirad ar grant cost, and (ho most ekiil. ful artists nre employed by tho Government without diliculty. ‘I'ho systom of checks now i usa fu that Dureau, towother with tho speoint paper heictofore adopled by the Department, farpish wit proper aud reasonnble protection agalnat duplicatiou and ocher frauds. Lt 1y, theroforo, recommondod thnt provigion bo made by law for proparing all securities, atamps, chocks, deafty, elo., issuod by the United States, in tho Burean of Engraving and Print- ing now attuehod to tlin Departmont, aud that tlmuw“‘ thoreof be 1egulutod by law from limo o thino. TURILG BUIEDINGE, Tho report of thy Bupervising Avchiteet shows the present condition of the public bullumgs undor the churge of this Departmneut, Tho de- toands upon Lho time of the Secrelury aro kuch that ha can glvo litdlo atteution to tho progress of such buitdinga ; 80 that, practically, tho re- sponaibility and duty of devising plans, making coutractq, and superivtendiug tho coustruation aud repaits of such buildings devolvo upou tho tuporvising Arobitect. Careful revision of tha aota horetofora pasnod authorizing tho con- ateuetion of publio buildings 1 recomuended, with & view "to ourtailing tho cost of some and snspending others, which, is s believod, may bo doso without detrimont to, tho public servico, By thinincans thore canbo offoet- ad aeaving of conaldarable sutna ot manay,which undor exigting sppropiintions, will bo cxpeuaoJ during tho ourrout oud onsuing fiecal years, Lablie buildiugs, plain aud sinplo in dasigy, conntrnoted of eubstantind and durahle materinl, s nearly fire-proof us may bo, und adapted to tho conveniout and propor transnction of tho public business, shonld bo provided at all placas Whero they aro roquisite, fiuin time to timo, rs tho condition of tho revonues may peraut, but tho present is not n favorablo timd for making largo appropristions for this purpose, and mach thut I8 wow eontompluted may bo postponed without sorious fuconvenionea, . OLAIMH FOU PROCEEDR OF COTTON, ‘Chia’ tlfeh Aeation of tho e of Aay 18, 1872, directs tho Bacrainry of tha Troauury o pay to tho Jawful ownols or their lagal te;wosentatives tho net proceads, actually puid into the Treas- wry, of all cotton soizud nfter the §0tu duy of Juno, 1863, by tho ngents of tho (overnment unlanfully and in violation of thow instructions, ‘The mimber of boles of cottau weizod aftor that dato, tho preoeods of which reachod thd ‘Lreuyury, was atout 60,000, and tho paz pro- ceods thereof, overaglug the same at $100 por balo, was 8,000,000, Tl uumber of olaling filod nnder this act was 1,938 ; thie wholo numbor of balo# elnimod 18 186,877, the not proceeds of whiciy, ot $100 por balo,would ba 13,637,700, It 19 woll known that o large number of nersons from whom ocotton wan uelzad have wade na claim whoover. Uuder thoso eircumatancea tha magnitudo of the sggreguts of claims presonied i \vnrkh( of attantion. In collecting tho cotton 10 which it was sup- gannd tho (Govarntment wos entitlad, after Juia 80, 1805, varlous mstraotions wore glven from tima to tima by tha Hooretary of tho Trewaury to the ngonts of tho Dopartment, and in difforont forma aa the oceasion for them aroso. Sume of those wora imsied as genoral rogulations ap- proved by the Presldont, somo as oirculara to wencral awd suporvising special agonts to bo by them vommunicated to thoir subordinates, aad, in a fow cases of emorgency, explanatory Tottors wero Hent by the Hecletary to {udividual sgonty, 'Theso, liwwaver, wero gonorally in liar- mony, and were usually commuuionted fu writ- Iug, or_orally, to ail agents, so ¢ hat their action mvfihb Lo uniform. 1 (he elnims proeented to tho Dopartmen 650 Liavo been submitted for declsiop, aud note an a1 followa: Rafected..., Continued fo aminatlon , Allowed ,..,. Of tho ngpgregata number of olalma presanted . there remain, not yet tully saparated or submit- ted for finat declsion, t36.~ Tha clatwa allowed a8 aforesaid wers for tho procaeds of 1,816 balos, and tiio amonni poaid out on such claims i8 183,018.07, ‘'ho following table contnins a summary stato- manc of tho procaods of captured aud abandoned proporty coverad into the Troasury, and olaims that hiave beou presented thorafor under the sova o1al neta of Cougress relating thareto, viz.t Proccedn of capturad snd abandoned yroperty covered futo Ulhfl Treasury . .,,$20,010,088.44 y Avarded” to clafmunts uet of Sfarch 12, 1801.... .8 0,006,050,.35 Talil to dulmants'by o Bore retary of Treawury under tlse act of May 13, 1872,... 109,018, Paid on_judgments nguitint 2 ‘I'rensury agenta under the act of July 27, 1608,vv..0., 80,1887 Pafid nnder various reliot < c0l8 of Congress,.everur, 195,605.81 Dishuraed for exprises une der foint yesolution of Murch 30, 1868 16,000.90 Total,.. $10,414.820,7¢ Which, dedneted from the total amonnt roceived an above, loaves a balauco of ., $10.495,832.74 B A Aggalot which the following claims Tuvo boon presouted Amount. clniicd. 1o sulte beought in the Court. of Gliauia pror to Aug. 0, ruos Siivsiin 1$10,617,703,8 At e e eSO tho Courl of Cialms RugiSe; ahpgquent to g, 20, ., . . 1 Aottt clutmsd i eagen TAE ‘Treasury presentad to the Dopartmont under the act of May 18, 1872 {spprox. 11mal0)es e saseenressens 18,850,000,00 Total amaunt claimed, Deducting from this sum malnlug us abova, 0 Fo ~eess 10,405,833.76 Leavos tho aggregate nmount of clatma Dresontad I excass of 1o (otsl smount covered {uto tha Troasury.,.. 100 £20,338, 24479 22 2203847 1In exerciaing tho autbority given by the aot of May 18, 1572, the Dopartinent Las felt bound by tho plain lotter of that actto rojece all olaima whero tho seizure was not in violation of both the luw and tho instructions. Doubtless lnrdship hag renulted in some casos from this rule of de- eision; but tho Becrotary hos not folt at Uberty 1o dopart from the letter of the statuto in order to avoid bardships in particuiar cases. Tu the considoration of these cliims, compli« catod nnd dilicalt questions of law and fact are frequently onconntered, 'Lhe instructions of the Dapariment to its agents roqaired tho acizuse of all eotton found ou tho Confoderato cotton lists 13 proporty of tho Rebol Goversment. Theso lista aneludo coneidorable smounts of cotton which, it is cleimod, tho ownets did ot sall to the no-called Confedorate Stales, as woll aa somo wl-ch it fs averred waa sold under duress; somo by [:anmml claiming to bo ageuts for tho owners, but whoso agoncyis denird ; snd, in 8titl othor cases, 1t i clrined that the selos ara void becanso mude by fiduciarios without requi- fito authority, nud in violation of Stato statutes, In dispoaing of tncsn questions tho Department nocenenrily acts in most instances on ex porta vroofs, which nro ofton most unsatisfactory, evon whoro mado with no purpose to dufraud, Ic i3 submitted for the connideration of Con- gress that tho Treasury Department is not o suitablo tribunal for tho ultimato dec:sion of such questions, They belong wove proparly ta the couyts, which aro armed with powes t3 ne- cortmn the trath, and aro hotter organized for thils purposo thau an Exzcutive Department of tho Government. Horewith aro tranamitted tho réports of the difforent burenu oflicess, viz,: Firat nud tecond Comptrotiers, the Commwsionor of ternal Rovenuo, the Compirolter of tho Curronc,, the Commigsioner of Custoras, the Licst, :decond, Third, Fourth. and FPireh Auditors, sud tho Aue ditor of tho Trensury for the Post-Ofiico De. partment, the Trensuror, the Register, * the Diractor of the Mint, tho Chicf of the Burcan of Statistics, tho Solicitor of tho Treasury, tha Superintendont of the Coust Survay, tho Light- House Board, nud tho Suparvising Aichiceet, whicls ava rororred to ag jurnishing informatiox In detail of tho busness of the Departuront. £, 1, Duiazow, s:nraur}- of the Trewury, The fTon, Jades G, BLaing, Syeulier of tho Huusa of Topresentatives, THE INVERIOR, SECRETARY DELANO'S REPORT, INERLSTING EXTRACTS, We bave elready published lengthy oxtraota Irom the roport of the Bocrotary of the Intenor, rolntivo to tho Indians, sud to the Puacifio Rail ronds, Wo snbjom the ronaining portions tha aro of goneral interast ¢ TUBLIO LANDS, + Doring tho fiseat year ending Juno 80, 1874, public lands were dispoaod of as fotlows : Acrrs. (11,543, 133,160 0 & Cash anles... grlcultnral-colleso ac: Anproved to Sl Cortified to_raliran Cortitied for wagon-roada Gavtitied for agrivultural eolicges, ©-rt flod for conamon xeliools, .., Cortati:d for uul Adproyed to 8 nients Sloux bid iy Chippowa half-brocd serip locy Tohikicosvsenssavssnsssustrissrsenis o BRRATE0N aquanticy Josy by $,490,700.0¢ seres than that disposed of the preceding year. The caeh ro- coipts were $2,469.935.60, n eum lesn by £938,679 thau that received the preceding yeer, During tho year 20,492,110,43 acros woro survoyed, malke ing, with the quantity previoualy surveyad, A19,= 303,052 acrea, aud loaving yot to ba survoyed 1,185,603, 948 nores, It is wort by of notice that the diminution 1 the aggropnio quantity of lande disposed of the layl fiscel year, as compnred with the yoar be- foro, is found chiefly in the amount certified ta raifrondt ; 3,264,814,42 neves in the yoar ondin June 80, 1674, ayainat 6,083,530,67 aeroy In thal onding June 80, 1878, Nearly a million acrca wara sntaced under the timber net, wiicls pugurs woll tor tho now troclesy prairios of the West. ‘Thws outries nndor this und tho homestend act axceed by avor hall a million neres ltka antiiea durimg the preceding yoar, Such entrion, bong made for actual use, avo the surest eriterion of tho progresu of the country, 3 1 tnyita apecial attention to tha: well-conaiders od nud judicioys obeoivations of tho Comuniss sionor of the Geperal Lund-ONico tonchiug the reacut uystom of disposing of timbared lauda, or, i ho tocme them, ** pino lands,” Clio yapid destraction af timber in this conn- try, und eapecislly that which ls fonnd on the public lands, is a source of great solicivda 1o r}l poruous who hava glven tho subject uny contld~ oration, If thia dostetiotion progresses in the tuturo us rapidly a8 in the past, the timlored Innda of the Govoroment will soon bo denmteed of overything that do valuzble., Encetne loglslation protecting theso landw im abgolutely mecessary, and caunot lorger be noplected withour sorious injury to tho public Intoress, ‘Tho proper lmits of thig voport forbid tho introduoiion of such slu= tistics an nught eamly bo furnished establivhing h""tu“ contioversy the oorreciucss of this state- mant, ‘whe recommendations of the Commiesioner are, that pino and fir lunda ehall not be subjcet to eutry undar tho pro-omption snd homosterd Inwd : that i sysrem of surveys bo devised |- which the quantity of pine nnd fir timber on eacl wmalicat subdiviion of a section saay bo at loas olusoly approximated ; thut an {mmediate ex ploration by experts of tho unsurveyod portior of thoka Beatos and Territorios kuown to coatalt ?lro #nd fir timbor ba mude, with s view of ascen alulog the geographioal sltuation of auch dly