Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 8, 1875, Page 11

__a little moro than ane-fourth of the antira ;m: kanau banks, and n little mota than ono- Tth of their net deposit ho amonnt of singla-name yapor, without or accnrity, waa 216,256,100, Tho amount of iness papor, Lime notes sccured by collateral, | accommodsiion papor, combined, was $130,- .575. The amount of accommodation papor iesun of which liws beou cnn of tho leading es of the disastora that hinva occurrad dur- tho 1aat twa yaara) is much less thau heroto- o1 and the sharp discrimination now heing ised by tho baoka, suporinduced by sevorn o through the prirchasn of this kind of e, ia rapidly brinzing about a more honest { healthy uso of credit by tho commercial ason. omont of tho ratas of intarast in Nesw :‘:‘““"‘ caratully proparod fromdaily reporls, ows the following results : ‘ho average ralo of intorest for tho yoar and- » Juno 80, 1875, wan § por cent on call loans, 1.6 por cont on commerelal paper, And for six montha ending Oct. 1, 1875, the avorago « was 2.0 per_cont oo call loana, and 5.1 por st on commoroial paper. Tho averago rato for s preceding year was 3.8 por centon call loans, .4 percrnt on commercial papor, and for . gixuaonths ending Oct. 81, 187, it was 2.7 : cout onloans, and 50 por cent on com- xcial paper ; from which 1% will bo aeon that 5 rates during the pertods given above, for 5, woro somewhat leas than for tho corro- ond{ng poriods for 1874, o act of Juno 20, 1874, providen for the re- emeont of the circulstion of Nutional lanks athe sutronder of bonds hold as mecurity arofor, by tho dopoait of legal-tonder notes in » Treasury for tho amount of circulation thus irod ; aud tho nct of Jan, 14, 1875, providos ¢ the unlimited issuc of circulating notes to tional Banks, subject to tho provisions of law, d tho reduction of tho legal-tender notes at arateof B0 por cont upon tho amount thus ued to Natlonal Banks, antil tho logal-tender tes sball bo roduced to $300,000.000, Under o oporation of theso twu acts 815,721,175 {loual-Iank notcs liavo beon iasued ; £4,734.- 3 from Juno 20, 1673, to_Jan, 14, 1875, and 0,086,675 from Jan. 14 to Nov, 1, 1875, upon jich Iattor amonnt $4,763,760" of logal-touder tos have been rotired, anking haviog been made froo by tho act of o lant Congress, without rostriction as to tho ponat of circalating notos tnat may bo issned any part of tho conntry, it isbelioved thnt ¢h ourronoy will distribute iteolt according to a domanids and necessities of buslnoss. ‘Tho iriloges which attact to National Hanks belng en to indiviauals in all parts of tho country, pital will not bo slow to establish additionsl nks, or to Incroaae the circulation of those al- ady in exlstence, whenevor and whorover tha igencios of business shall render it apparont a5 an increass of circulalon in desirablo, Hat doos not seom probable that such demand will a0 to any conaidorabla oxtent wkilo the vol- ne of legal-tonder notes continuesan great as caugn Inrgo euma fio lio idlsin commorcial ntros for want of sa o and profiteble invest- ent. The wholo amount of legal-tondor notes de- sited to retire Nationsl Bauk circulation since mo 20, 1A74, in £87,676,170 (including #3,813,- 5 dopoited by banks fn liquidation provious the passage of that act), of which §17,337,617 s been paid for tho redomption of National aok potee, leaving §20,238,G12 thereof on de- it in the Treasury ou tho first day of Novom- .1 lagt, The oporation of thoacts of Juno 20, 1874, «d Jan, 14, 1476, may be briofly stated in tabu- 7 form as follow! stiopal Pank notes ontstanding Juna 20, 1 stioual Ban] & Juno W0, 1874, to Jan, 14, 1675..94,734,500 stiona! Bank uotes retired from June 0, 1874, to Jan. 14, 1876, 3,767,202 349,804,180 1,967,208 Amount ontatanding Jan, 14, 1875..... .$361,851,460 stions] Dank notea retired’ from Jan, 14, 1875, to Nov. 1, 1560, 0 e .., $17,201,223 sllonsl Bisnk notes rom dsn, 14, 1875, to Kov, 1, 1875, 10,980,675 6,274,548 Amount outstanding Nov, 1, 1875, « $345,830,902 egal-tender notes retired, being r esnt of circulation fssued from Jan, 14, $ 8,763,758 e Troanry under act of June 20, 1814, together with fi.flla,flfi dspodited by banks ligutdation previous o the paasago of that Actu.vs.s.. ... $37,870,179 moant pald out for redamp- 1008, 4 rpuesssnes naserornnass 103837 mount remaining on deposit for redemp- tian of Natls Nov, 1, sl Bapk not 1975, o +$ 20,238,642 The Comptroller recommonds that no present 1nnge be mado in thedo twoacts, ko fa1 as thoy lite to tho Nattonal Banks. The amount of cash resorve hold by the Na- onal Bauks, ncludiog their rodomption fund ndoposit with the Q'reasurer on Oct. 1, 187! 1wdato of thelr laat report, was ©149,460, bich is §25,305,879 moro thin they would have, ¢en required to hold upon circulation nod do- okits prior to tho passags of tho act of June 20, 374, repealing tho provisiou requiring reservoe pon citculation ; and the cash resorve held by w York City banks At the Inat-nsmed dato was (0,467,759, which also oxceads by £5,324,667 the mount that would have been required upon i.culation and deposita pravious to the passage fthat act ; from which it is acon that, on ao- ot of the redundanocy of money, tha stagoa- jon of business, and tho consequent low rate of storent during tho past year, ths effect of (ho ¢t repealing tho reserve u}mn circulation can- ot yet bo dofinitoly ascortained. . —_— COINAGE, YA REFORT OF TUE DIRECTON OF THE IINT resents in detall the operationsof the minis od asesy offices. Tho amount of bulllon recclvsd and oporated pon duting the last flacal year was: ald, $47,189,501,50 18,504,400,07 $01,480,000.57 Deducting redeposits, bara made and iseucd by me inatitution and depowited at asother, the oposits wore; -fil&!. +0854,69,920,84 was as fol- Falue, 31,330,408 10,070,304 K R 89,191,778 $43,854,708 Ro conslsted of— v, of picces, Value, redoliarg, .o e Lok Sy bt ATR T R T ] From the close of tha flscal year to Oct, 81, 815, tho anbaldiary silver coinago has amounted o 3,895,010, whick, added to the ooinage of the ‘oar, makes a total aubsldiary milvor coiuage of 8,207,878, Tho bars manufatured were— oy $10,019,870.93 v T029,43,04 $23,019,310,47 Ban Franotsco & large rotlnory 28been equippod and put in successful oper- tion, and that Institation s now In & condition omeet tho large aud Incrossing domand for re~ 2ing and coluage st that point. The rooms formerly occupied by bankers inthe 38y oflice at Naw York have boon altered and epalred, aod will horeattar bo devoted to the berations of that office, The additions! capacity Lus given is necossary ta meet theincreased de- Bunda for refining bullion in that city. Additionalannealing turnaces havo boon erect- A the mint In Thilsdelphis, and the colnago :‘ul:'al.u‘; h“ tgl filmn’Cii{h wlnthl;‘n besu d‘u- soated, thereby Incrossiug the coining capacit £ both nstitat{ons, 2 B i ® changa in the relative valuea of gold snd uver 1a cousiderod at nome lougth by tho Di- m-:fi{' 80d the varjous causes produciug the : ra clearly sat forth in bis roport, sud aro 'oriby of careful atteution, ,“‘ha dimintslied use of silver coln in various ionfll)’eln countries, and tho incrossing produce o Of our silver mines, would appear to rendsr i Dfimut & very favorable timo for procuring ml!pu:l of bullion for the manufscture of silver 3 tobe used in the redemption of tho frac- onal ourrency, .‘s‘omnch of the ack of Jan. 1, 187 ‘d. to the purchsse and coinago’ of miscr for m"‘l;l&tlnn of fractlonal curreucy ks been e pastisl operation, aud is now belug exe- in .d:[npldlyu tho exigenclos of the caso 1 t." Bince the passsge of the act, 8,913~ uu‘ln“. of eilver bullion have been pur- e Ak a1 avorage price of 111 4+10 couta por m'du\\. ounce, The miuts havo been put {oto e Dfanllon. and the sggrogato amount of hl’(m 2 now [n the Tressury is $10,000,000. m.'olflomt a8 beon urged to begin the e Fedemption by issulug silvor ooiu iu ro- hll‘ ou of outataudiug curroucy, sod it has o ‘:nlmd that, uunder the first soation of ctuah o, Bas’ o, discratian, Lub _iast ‘ colt a3 fast wa it can Lo Wued ut fram the wmints, While tho st 8 ro- raquiren the eninago ta procecd as rapidly s rarticablo, it does not. in tecms, requiro tho Eoetetare i tonun 1t at once 3 nor duek It 1ix the petiod of tinia when tha 1-un must begin, - For ohvious rea,ons, it has been, and sot is, fm- practicablo to put or kean wilver coin in clrsuine tion, The preasat deprecintion of eurrancy te- law gold precludes tha probabilty that ailver would romain {n_eireulntion, awd, theraforn, it lins boon deetaad impractican [8auo it fortho prosent, or until, by the nenrer approach of, or Rreater proparation for, genoral resumption, thera aball bo such au pppreciation of the cireit- Iating eutroncy of tho country s would give as- suratico thas the eilver coin o bo tesund would not bo hoardwd for shipment abroad, or con- vorted into plate sod }ewar:y. ot roducod to bLuilion, . ‘Fho ropord of tho Ditector givon valuablo in- formation in relation to ths procious-niotal minns of the United Htatas, and of the oxtensiva davelopmants rocontiy inade in thol'acifio States, The mining industries uf tho precions met; poars to bain & very prospervus comlition, and fords ovory roason to baliove that the yiald for the noxt four or fire years will shuw & marked ineroavo over the prodnction of recent yoars, P REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS. THE RECEIPTS FROX GUATOMS for the yoar ending June 80, 1474, wors $163,- 103,833.19, and at tho corroeponding dato of 1875 thoy wero §107,167,72285, a decline of §5,036, 11134, Tho recolptn for the firat quartor of thn onea ront fiscal year waro 214,24, 6,25, while for tho corresponding poriod of lasl year they wero £46,601,200,10, whowing o decrewse of £2,147,- 573,83, For tho montha of October and November, 1875, tho receipts srore $:13,936,950.23, cud for tho snmo months of last year thoy viere $22,765,~ 811, Tho offect upon {he oustoma receipts of tho act of Feb. 8, 1875, lmporing dutica on cortam articles therein enumerated, and naking addi- ditious to the freo list, cannot yot bu statod with cortaluty. Nor i it possible, atprosent, to de- tormino with accuracy tho offact of tho actof March 8, 1875, restorlug the 10 per centum of dutles ropealed by the sct of Juns €, 1872, Tho following statement of importations of tho classes of morchandiao chiefly concorned is dorived frota tho Huroau of flatiatics, and, lo samo exfont, scrves to sliow tha offact of tho act of March 3, 1875, on tho dutios recelved : Valoeof importationa of cotlon, glast and glusaware, [ndia tubber ahd guilss percha, iron und ateel, leatlier, tuetals not uthorwise provided for, paper, #traw, wool (including hair of alyura, ete.), ‘snd manufacturos tieras, for the nine months ending Sepl. ¢0, 1874, $74,917,416.00 Valuoaf impurtations of the saine - clua for corresponding period (including tio kcven muntha no: cueding the act of March 3, 1575). pnd s Decrease. Tho docreaso was oceasioned principaily by tho falling of in two classcs of imporeations, viz.: eof §3,260,666,00 4,044,208.00 Irou and ateel aud manufactures th ‘Wools aud wanufuciures thoreof, TReturns for the four moutha sndivg June 39, 1675, show tuat of importations for that period amounting to 830,547,005, dutics havo been pmd on &2J,09,606 withdrawn for consumption, yiolding 10,054,719 of revoune. In this amount is of conrse included the 1U por contoin restored by the nct of March 3, 1875, showing an apparant increase for four mouthe of §1,005,471.90, But in this connoction there is to vo considered tho fact that, for the corresponding poriod of tha year 1874, the importations of tho sama classen of morchendiso amountod to £6,022,467, show- ing o decrenso in importations for the four months ending Juue 30, 1875, of 45,475,462, of which £4,800,378 Is duo to the falling oif of ime pottations of iron and stecl manufactures theros of. It s, therefore, dificult 1o dotormine, in the light of roturns now st hiand, to what extent tho apparent inoroaso of revenuo resultiug from itho repeal of tho 10 percont roduction i ofect by thio decrease in importations, and, cansequently, in thoamount of eutries for cousumption on payment of dutics. In ralation ta tho 35 per ceut increass of duty on sugar nod miolasees, undor the set of March 4, 1870, 1t s atill wore difiicult to delermine tho offoct on the revenuo. Owing to the change ot classification and of drawback on rofinod sugar oxportod, together with the fact that hardly sutticiont time bas olapscd to onablo & cowmpara- tive statemont of much valuo to Lo prepared, the increaso of revonus dorived from tho addi- tionat duty lovied cannot bo given. 'I'ne actual incronso of duty collectod frow tho time the act took offcot, March 3, 1875, to Juno 80, 1875, way $2,445,017, but how far this increase 1a afectod by the clausifloation and draxback canuot be detormined with nccuracy. Lursuant to the act of Juno 18, 1874, admit- ting freo of duty articlos iuteudea for the Inter- natioual Exposition of 1876, nt Philadolplia, under suels vogulations as the Secretary of tho Troasury shall prescribe, Collectors of Custotna at tho various ports Lavo boen furnishod with regulativog designed to cover the subjoect in the spirit and nteni of thoact, lt-is hioped that, while these regulations will afford all reasonable facilities for tho importation of suab articlos 28 may bo consigned for oxhibition from tho vari- ous nationaitios of the world, thoy aro s guard- od a8 to provent frauds upun the ravenua by per- Buns who, under pretouso of belng exhibitors, tnI:ny attompt abuscs of the privilogos accurded om. - - ‘The goneral viowa lield and suggestions mado in the roport submitted to Congress in Decems bor, 1874, in tho discussion of tho tarifft laws, regarded wolely na reveuue noasures, aro still entortained, and aro roforred to wow with the addod msuggestion that exporience has shown that when dutiea aro imaposcd upon sny articlos ot raten so Ligh as Lo bo almost prohibitory, iu- Jury is douo the rovenue bo Jeassniog the amount of the importation of stuch articles, besides in- ducing » tendency to augmout the ovil of their clundestine {ntroduction, In the colloction of dutles upon importations, two ovils are chiofly operatlvo to provent the Governmont from roalizing the full measure of rovenue~—iirat, smuggling; saud, sccondly, un- dervaluation, ‘I'ho first of theso ovils {s mora gonerally prev- alont, especially on the Northeru frontier, than is commonly supposad, the dillicultica attending a Fmpo_r surveilianco of that froutier, under ex- isting cirounstancos, belug vory great, if not in somae respscts [nsurmouutable. Without going {nto fuil detaily, It may bo sald, by way of illus- tration, that in the four collection districts of Yermont, Cbamplalo, Oswogatohis, and Capo Vincont, having a frontier line of moroe than §00 tnlles, with oight principal ports or stations, sud forty-ono minor atations, sfter deducting tho number permanently employed at auch principal pelots and four forsorvice iu Cannda fn connoc- tion with the seallng of cars, thero aro but fifty- nine ofticors rowaiuing for sorvico at tho minor stations and os & cosst-guard to provent smug- giing. Doductiog from this number one ofllcor for permanont servico at each winor statlon, thera romain but fourteon &3 a praventive forco, or less than ons man for every L miles of troutior, These statistics apply to portiona of the bor. Qor which offer spocdy and direct mesus of truvel botwoon Canada aud tho United Htatoes, and which, duriog aeveral months of tho year, aro thronged by travolors of svery coudliion and with evory variety of objoct In viow, from those meroly bont on ploasure or logiti- mate businees, to thoso whose chiof occupation 1u to dofraud tho revonuo. Information obtainod by the Department, from trastworthy mources, ronders it quito cor- tain that systematlo frauds havo beea perpe- trated by emuggling over the bordor wines, brandy, and otlier articlos of merchandiso. Bimi- lar observations might bo mado as to othor parts of our froutier. Tho socoud genoral causs which operates to prevent the Government from receiviug its full woasure of duos s undervaluation, a sourco of porhiaps groater loss than the diroct offouss of -muggllnu' ‘Chis ovil is astributable, in part, to tho duvicas of dishonest importers, in part to tbe finotuations fu market valuos, but moro, probably, to the defects of tho sppralssment system itself. Wilhout disparagement of sho class of ofiicers kuown aa local appraisors, many of .them of long experiencs and the moat un- ucstioued intogrity, ¥ cannot ba denied that thero 18 often vory great divoraity at tha differe ent ports regarding (ho olassification and valua- tion of merchiandise, While this diversity somo- times atises fram an honest difference of oplu- ion, it may not untrequently happen thas thors is collusivo action between sasiatauts or othor subordinates of the apuralsers and the import- ery, which, when once begun, ia a source of con- atant losa to the revenue as well as of injury to bouest merchants, T'o correct thesoevils the offoo of General Appraiser waa created ; and to those offlcers, five in nomber, supervision over ajpraiders and their asuistauts is committed by law. Butcan satlefactory results Lo suticipated frow their 1abors wheu the extont of their fleld of opera. tiony {s considered in connsction with thelr lim. ited number? To tho General Appraiser at Boston sre ssslgned ports and distriots, thirty- fivo iu number. T'o the (icneral Appralser at Now York, the district of New York Oity. To the General Appraisar ub Philadolplus, twenty-two ports and districts, To the (lenoral Appraiser at Daltinous, fitey-govea distrivia and peris, Ao tho (ieneral Appratcar at Now Oileans, cighteon | loctlons msds to the Commirsioner of Internal dintriote and purts, The inborn and duties of these officars bave bonn greatly increased by the privilogn of imin- diata transportation granted to importers fo tho dutorior by the aot of 1 whotaby the nuimbor of porta requiring the attentlon of the General Anprairors in cularged, and unifurmuty of valua- tion rendeored much m: Dicult, ‘T'he first genoral suggostion which presonts ituolf by way of romedy for some of Ll dafects of the preaont syatomh of arpmmomrum inanin- cresse Ju the number of CGeneial Appraisors, to bo drawn from the rauks of subordir.ate officers of requiaite nbility and exporiencs; nud, ascond- Iy, & conaolidation of cuntoms ~ districts, by which minor districts would bn merged in Jargor ones, thas reducing tho apliore of action of this clney of oflicers, aud enabling them to coucou~ trate their efforta to hetter advantage. In connection with the pencral rubject of » conrolidation of customs districts, it may bg ro- marked that an examination of statirtieal ro- turng from all tho districts in tho United Statos will show that i sumo of shem the amount of busineas transaclod in not suflicient to justify keeping up the coryn of ofticors whose aggregate compenration oxceeds the smount of revenue colleeled by them, and who can render adequate return only by acting As a proventive or dotopt ivo forco. That !'punlea of service requires a r,mn!ur number of ofticers to guard exposed incs of coant and frontier than existing cirenm- atances will pormit. Consolidation of a num- Lor of districts would facilitate the parformance of auch dution, besides sscuring n roduction of tho spprogato expsures. And. a4 suxiliary to this, it in recommended that fixad walaries ho mado applicable to all ports and dintricts, and that all ofiicors bo required to payinto tho Treasury ali fees, perquisites, and enolumenta, alr whatever nalure or character, received by them. Anothor romedy, and the most_offective which could be adapted tor correcting the evila of the mppraiecinont systemn, s tho substitution, 8o far a8 chllcnhlc, of specific for ad-valorom dutics, ‘This chango would work a great reduction i the amouut of labor requiring the knowledgo of ex- ports, Tho entiro procors of ascortaining dutios would bo mors vimple, certain, and rafs, OE- portunity for collusive nudervalnation would be K’l;finlly lessened, nud if oriors were comnmitted they coutd uot, 18 to apccifio rates and smounts, ba accounted for excopt upion tha snpporition of culpablo nogligenco or actunl frand: wheroas, in _rospect to ad-valorem dutios, an error of Judgment may readily bo aesigned as o sufliciont oxplsnation, uch change, elther with or without a decroase in tho numbor of dutiablo nrticles, would insuro 8 very considerable roduction of tha force at tho chief ports, with a consoquent dinnnution of ox- ponsos, ‘The revised tariff contalng thiirtcen schiedules, embracing npwarda of 1,500 dutiablo srticles which are oither distiuctly specified or included in gencral or spocia! claseifications, To theso taust bo added noarly 1,000 articles not enumer- atod, but which, undor the genoral provisions of Bees, 2,499 and 2616 of the Newiaod Siatutow, would bo assigned s place mu datiablo oither by virtuo of ririlitudo to sotns enumorated article, or aa miticles, manufactured or unmanufactured, not olhorwise provided for, making over 2.500 1n all. The froo list containa an enumeration of over G0 articlos, thas constitutiug a total aggre gato of more than 1,000 articles embraced by the tariff eitlior aa dutisblo or free. Of articlos anbject to duty, and either named in, or nubjoct Lo, wpecifle claesification by sehed- ule, 823 pay ed-valorem rates varying from 10 to 76 por cont ; 54l pay speciflo dution according to quantity or weight; and 160 pry compouud or both specific and ad-valorsm rates, ‘tho articlea to bo dealt with under Sees. 2,499 and 2,516, whicl, as beforo stated, nnmbor noarly 1,000, must nocessarily be munjoct to aither specifle, ad-valorem. or compound duties, but in what proportion {t 18 wnpracticablo to state, From this goneral recaritulation of the fea- tures of the tanfl wilh raferonca to the number of articles emuraced in it, and the variety of rates applicablo thoreto, Lo say vothing of ?m-n- tious arising under tho free list, it 18 evidont that every stop taken towards perfecting o moro uomflc\ and eiwple system of duttes on imports wmust contrivuto not only to the uitimate safety of tho customs revenuo but to its more prompt and cconomieal collection, Dut the oculy surc remedy for the ovlls of emuggling, and collusive or othor undervalua- tionk, lics at lsst in tho selection and roteution of falthful nud compelont ufcors. Nelther laws nor rogulations, Lowever iringent or ininnte, will accumplish tho desired results without faith- Iul oflicors Lo exccute them. oforring to the ertimates of receipta and ox- pouditures for the next fiscal year, and to the ne- cessity now _oxisting for tho accumulation of gold iv tho Trensury, tho Socrelary sgain oally tho attention of Congross to the effect of (ho sct of 1872 repealing tho duly on coffes and toa, In bis Jast anoual roport tho Socretary oxpressed tho opinion that the act ndmi.ling theso articles to free entry had beon without advantage to con- sumera in “this country, but that the duty ro. poaled bad beon added to the cost sbroad. The rayienl of duty bae beon followed by iucreaso of oxport duty in tho couutries of production, and this incrosss {8 paid by consumers. Bubsequent conalderation of tho subjoct bas confirmed tho viows lLerctofuro expressed, and tho Socretary rucommends reatoration of tho duty on tho arti- cles iu question, Ileing imvorted in tsrgo bulk the duty is eanily gollectud, and tho opportuni- tios for fraudulent jutroduction are comparative- ly elight. During the fiscal yoar 1875 tha cost of colloct- ing the rovenuo from customs waa reduced more tban half a million of dollars per snnum, by diopping from tho rolls in tho various customs districts a congidorallo number of ofticors and employes, and byredacing tho salarios of othera, wluch are not fixed by law, but aro undor the cottrol of tha Hecrotary. Thero has boen a falifug off {n tho aggregate smaunt of fines, ponaltics, and forfoitures con- nocted with tho oustoms, which coustitute a part of the appropriation for tho expenses of collect- {ng the revenus from customs, Tho amount ro- cotved from that source for the first quartor of tho curront flscal year fs only 28,521.75, nnd it is estimated that for the entira yoar the amount will fall about $900,000 below tho sum rocoived from the wame sourco for tho fiscal year 1878, In viow of thls decliue, further reduction of oxpenacd has recently boon made at the rato of a littlo more than £1,000,000 per avuum, which woonres a decrossa of noarly #600,000 for the ro~ maindar of this fiscal yoar. Whethor the reduc- tion can be malntalued without danger to the revenue remalus to b dotormined, 'The power of tha Becretary, howevor, does not exteud be- rond tho appropristions made py Congross, and t is his purpoas, as well as his duty, to keop the oxpontos within the smount authorized by law, detailed statement of tho various sums of money refunded under the provislons of tho aot of Barch 8, 1875, and other acta of Congress telating to the revenue, togethior with copies of tho rulings under which repsymenta have boen roade, Lins beon prepared, and may bs found in the tables nocompanying this report. i ol INTERNAL REVENUE, TAR NEFORT OF TUE COMMISSIONER OF INTEENAL REVENUE, ' Lorewith trausmlitted to Congrons, presonts fully tho condition of this branch of the revenuo, with estimatod recoipta for the remainder of this fiscal yoar. snd explalos, as fully na can now be douo, tho offoct of the ack of tho last Con- gross upon roceipts from tho tax on distiiled Bpirits and tobacco, The following tabnlar statement shows thae comparativo receipte, from the various sources of luterual reveuno, for the flscal years euding Jupo 30, 1874 and 1877, respectively 1 ‘ #2340y ] 3| o soep 3 2¥ad P E0 FS1SHS 0LLE | et o | 2043 TT166°TH0'TT § wcs‘r¥s ‘o) § Lrn‘"n: RRYE i i This tablo i wady up Lrom the :.»rr;m o w: Lisvenna, which fnclixde commissions on saloy of stamps paid In Jund, and therofora do not enter Into tho actual cash receipte of tho Troas- ury, They include, alan, sums reported as col- lectad Lut not actualiy paid iulo tue ] aury at that time, 1fcoco thoro {8 an apparech discrop- ancy botwoen tha totals hore shiosn and tho ag- gregato amount depositod on azconnt of Intornal reveuue as shown by warrauts covaring the ssmo into tho Treasury for the fincal year. Tho rocoipte from internal revonue for iho firet quarters of the flacal years ending, respect- Ivaly, Juno 39, 1876 and 1970, were s follow.: First quarter of 1s7: Flrst quarter of 187 TIncresrs, ... veves Lerreisaes The aggragata rocsipts for tho months of Oce tobor aud November, of the current year, wera $10,035,807,19, whtlo for tho samo montba of Inat year they were ®17,476,402.99, showivg an {ucrearo of %2,162,704.20, Hinco the laat aunual raport to Congress fifty- #ix avllection districts bave boon abulished by condolidation with other districts, with an esti- mated aunual savingto the Govornment of about 2170,000. During the past flacal yoar frands of unuaual chsractor and magnitudo were discovered in thiy hranch of tho servico, which appear to have boen carried un with more or less injury to the rove- nue for roveral yoars past. Tho roport of the Commisgioner soia forth in detail the manner in which snch frauds Layo bLecn perpetrated, aud given tho estimato of that oftice of the amount of probablo loea to the revenue, with suggestions of modifications of the 1aw docuied essontial to 1ota cortain colloction of the tax on distilied spirits, Tho attontion of Congres ts inviled eapccially to that feature of the raport, ‘Tha resommonda- tions taada therein for modification of the law with & view to the pravention of like frauds in future, sro concurrod in by the Hecretary, and commendod to the consideration of Congross, Ho long aa it is noceseary to waintain & tax on distillcd apirits amountiug per gallon Lo threo or four times the cost of production, it may bo ex- pacted thut the great temptation to avord pay- mont of the tax, on st loast & part of tho pro- duction, will oxcite tho cupldity of produrcers, and that overy puskible devico fur ovasion will be uscd. Each gallon of spirits that escapes payment of tax iucreanes by eo much the proit to the producer. It cannot be dentod that » tax imposed for revenuo purposes 18 regarded by many porsons ag & harsh exactiou from the citi- zon, 10 be thwarted it possil or that viol tions of tho punitive provisions of rovenus wtatutos aro looked _upon by mauny a8 venial offonsed, Dut {ho ~necesei- tios of Government, including the mainteuanco of national faih, imperatively domand tho closest collection of all tho revenucs lovied by law; and, besides, due rogard for tha Interest of thoso who mecet houestly and promptiy.the do- mands of Coverumout “upon them, in tui rospect, roquired that all others shialt be mado to bear thelr propor sharo of such tazation. Every evasion of tax by dishonest persons must eventually incressa tho burdons of honeat tux- payors. 'Theso considerations should induce overy citizen to render proper aid to the Gov- ornmiont in its efforta to collect thoe reveous, by iving informstion of violations of law and of ?rnu-ln on tho revenus, which may come ta bis kuowlodge; but experienco shows that few aro willing to givo such inforination unleas they cau recerve direct pecuniary cotspeneation. ‘When rocontly it becamo kuown that the Gov- ernment was losing a Jargo j:ert of tho revonno duo from distilied Bpinity, it was found extrenioly diftieult to obtaiu exact or sutisfuctory imforin- tion a8 to tho mottiod of porpotrating tho fiauds, or to nscertain, with reasonable cegtainty, who were the gmity partics, It was obvious that frauds on tho rovenue wero being extensively practiced, and it was oqually clear that this could uot be succesafolly done, under ovisting pro- visions of law, without guilty cotnivanco or par- ticipation by inferior ofticers, and at least culpa- ble nogligence on the part uf others of higher grado, in tho opinfon of the Eeccetary, the circum- stances soemod not only to justify but requite aresort 1o moaus other than those in ordinaty uso for doetectioc by tho Buroau of Internal Revenue, Accordingly, tho appropriation for dotecting snd bringlog to trial aud punishment persona engnged fu_ counlorfeiting, aud for de- tecling other frauds upon tha Government, wos drawn upon for this purpose. The Solicitor of tho Treasury, who is chargod with tho proper o and disburscmont of that fuud, was directed 0 inquire into tho alloged frauds on the revesue in tho matter of distillod spirits, aod was in- structed to spare no proper effart to detoct tho guilty partios, and furnish their namey, with the ovidonco against them, to the _proper oflicers of tho Dopartwent of Justica, This duty was en- tered upon with enorgy, and, after tho oxistence of couapiracies and combinations to defraud the Government was doveloped, tha investigation was continaed, in co-operation with oflicers of Inter- nal Revonue, andresulted in tho certain detection of frauds on the revenuo of moro than ordivary significanco. Under the direction of the Comi misgioner of Interual Rovenue, tho investipa- tion bas boou pursued with comuondable cn« ergy aud zoal. A cousiderablo number of ofi- cers of intarnal revenuo have beon found to be in guilty collusion with distillers and rectiflors in Traudulent practices, wheroby Iarge sume wora losk to tho revenue. Tho ‘evidenco thus acquirod having boen reported to the provor dlu- trict attorneys, has resulted in a large nuinbor of prosocutions for conspiracy, duplicato use of mps, aod oshor offenkes.” Bo far a8 thoso osocuticns bave beou cumpleted, thoy have, with few and comparatively uuimportant excop- tious, resulted in counvictious, A large vutmber of distiilers, rectifiers, and subordinate oflicors of iuternal revenue, have {»h-ulcd guilly to in- dictments against thom, thus confesting their offensas, and thrown themaelives upoa the mercy of tlo court. Bosidea tho institution of criminal proceed. {ogs, civil suits bave bsen brougli upen t ho bouds of ofliciais and of distillora; diatillerios and spirits bave beon seizod ns forfaited to tho United Btates for violations of 1aw ; and, whero- ovor the ovidence warranted, msscssments havo beou mada agsinst distillers for delinquont taxe and placod iu tho hands of Collectors, with in- structions to collect by process of Iaw. Urgent spplications have boen presanted for the com- promise of many of tho cases, but it Las Leen deomod balter for the intorcst of the Govers- wous to allow all of thom to tako tho usual course in the courts; houco all such applica- tiuns have beon deniod. The Nocretary coneiders it Important to the futuro colleotion of the rovenus, that all parties ongaged in porsistent and systomatic frauds shall be visitod with the ssvercat poualties of tho law, To this oud inutructiona have beon repest- adly givon to oficers of internal revonuo and others iu tuo service of this Dopartmont, to render all proper assistanco to tho officors of the Dopastment of Justico in the prosscu- tion of tho cases now pending, sand in the do- toction and punishment of such guilty parties 13 have not yot boon indictod. It is doomod of espocial importance that ofticers of tho Govern- ment who Lsvo botrayed thair trust, and engagod iu fraudes on tho revenus, shall Lo brought to spoedy and coudign puuisnment. Thore who ora {ntrustod with ofticial dutica aud reaponaibili- tles should bo glvon to know that the Govorn- wmont will uot deal lightly with them when thay prove to be guilty of corruption in office. Taz- payers caunot be sxpectod to deal Lonestly with 0 Goverumont whon its own trosted oflicers ara pormiitted Lo participato in fraudson therovenun, without lncurriug swift and certain punishmont. The highowt guarsnty for the faithful collsction of revenuo is lu the vigilance and intoegrity of officials. This guaranty can be securod only by careful soloction iu the firet inatauce, by retain- fug I oftico such as have proved thoir efiicionoy aud honasty, and by prompt dismissal and vigs orous prosecution of such as have beon fouud althleas, ———s EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. TUE COMPABATIVE VALUE of the exporls and {mporta of tho Uuited Biates for the last flacal yoar, in coln, appears from of- ficial returns to the Bureau of Btatistics to bo as follows : Exports of domestlo goods, Eaparte of forelgn goods, Total exports. Imports of gooda, Excess uf {mporis over exports. $499,234,100.00 P TN ERPRE) 518,442,711.00 19,802,725.00 For the fiscal year ended Juae 80, 1874, the 1~ cees of exports over imports waa §18,676,098. Exporia of spocie and bullion, ..., 182,142,00 lm‘,’:m of -‘;’m‘m and bullion,.,s.ers, n.m.-u'l.w Excess of exports over Imports.....$ 71,131,425.00 Tolal excess of exporls of goods, specio, 30d bullion, over fmports of = erracssrnieeaees.§ 51,668,700.00 Whilo tho returna of the valuos of oxports by doa aro substantially acourato, it bad not been practicable to obtain complete statements of tho exports to Cansda in railmay cary, owlng to the fact that there is no Iaw requiriug persons ex- porting merchandise by land convozanco to fila full manifests of the oxported guods with Col- lectors of Custows. 'Ihe Cummissioner of Custowe of the Domin- lon of Canada Law, howover, furuwskcd dotalled TIIE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER & 1875.—TWELVE PAGE ataternonts from which it appeara that tho valus of exporta to Canada during the tast fiacal vaar waa 156,660,218 in excens of that rotured by the curtomy officers of the Uniterd Kiatew, whinh would increasa tha tatal exnorts of thoe year by that amount (I, e., from €51, 412,711 to &2, 102,929), aud roduco tho oxcows of imnporis of mercliaudiso over exporta to £3,%02,507, Thera was withdeawn from boud for consump- tion, in excers uf that ontored for warelouso Auriug tho past fiscal year, merchandisa of tha valuo of §2,%2,001. Tiie total exportation of specle and bnllion was grroator than that for thn procoding yoar by $23,501,747; wbilo tho exports of dumostic goods nave deciened in valun £7..119,321, Imporlations have decrensed to the smonnt of 234,400,906 an compared with those of the pre- coling fiscal year, and of 2108024103 as compared with tha fiscal year ended Juuo 70, 173, Thern was an increaso in tho vslua of the Im- poriation of the following articlen: Ten, $1,561,- 469 3 far-skins, undreancd, £664,907; fur-rkine, dreesed, and furs, 8396,559; argols, 2374198 ; drags, cbomicals, dyes, otc., §1,303,901; d. woods In sticks, §405,841; pums, 520,154 hidos and skine, $2,002,025; silk, 1aw, €G! sitl, masnufactures of, $334,141: fsney gools, £1,104,962; fruita, €4,255,002; Jute, granses, aod manulactures o 63,943 ; procions stonrs, $1,124,803; seeds, $2,033,566; wool aud mauu- factures of, $517.46, Thers was adocrease in valueof importations of articlen brougnt back to the United states, 2J,- 267,296 ; coflee, 24,45 : India-rubber, $1,521, 2395 breodutufls, 2| ); pig-iron, F1,K2U,- 537, 4585 bar-iron, $1,204174; iron raily, #M7.9775 ateel rails, $6.1H3,14%; band, hoop, and seroal iro! cables, and chaiug, £07.976: old aud scrap-iron, £703,006 : fire-arme, £418,226; atosi bate, jngots, cotw, and wire, €120,1495 catlers and toals, 45,017 ; otber manufactures of iron, €1,770,- 35 barks, £532,645: cochinen), £333,1:04: in- digo, $131,162¢ madder, €397,160; niirato of sode, 2369,520 ; koda wnd enlty of, 506,157 ; tn, s bary, blocks, or pign, €953,567; wood and manutactires of, £2,770.236; wood, unmanntace tured, $36G,936 ; live anunals, #513815; cotton mannfactures, ©455,69; oarthon, Htous chinaware, #617,115; flox and toanufact i &6YY,146; klose d glusswaro, 3252810 hair aud manufacty: of, &343,936; betyp, raw, $560.664 ; lend, £714,412; opium and extract of, £502,435; provisions, £517,490: salt, 531,721 ; Augar and molaeses, £7.K1G.0%; tohrceo and mapufactures of, $1,844,021; wince, pints, and cordials, $366,942. ‘Thero was an jucroaco in certain articles ex- ported, a8 follows, the velues bLeing stated in currencey ¢ Cotton manufscturas, $476, Inrd, $3,602,600 : clinese. #1,760,609: fron tmanu tures, %1.424.1¢3; Isowiog-machines, @ 33 Jrigns and chenicals, $150,504 ¢ hides and ekins $2469/43; furs and fur- 8, §1,002,030 leathier aud_leather goods, $2,639.2787; Drass, £497,048 ; clocks and parta of, £215,407 ; copper ure, £61 4 copper. in pigs, bars, eheets, and old, €£919,079 ; fruits, 863,311 ginseng, £210 81,238,548 flné-l\rmu machinerv, 546,711 ; 2176,612; anchors, 6,162,182 5 ; manures, 2,500 ; oil cake, £1,037,010; quickalver, 373; soeds, clover, timothy, aud garden, 3,241, "Thio oxports of dom! 1d and silver in ex- coeu of thoe importy way \$12, o8 sgaiuet %31,244,760 for tho nrevious veur. Thero was a decresssin tho value of tho ex- portations of tho following articlea: Agrienl- tural implements, 461,481 ; hovs, $55 bacon aud Latos, $L,77L.295; lndian corn, 014 ; Indiau corn-me: 44,860 ; rv0 (1, bushiols), £1,363,772; wheat (17 burhele) §41,813,506; railroad cavs, €041,057 ; bitumin. ous coul (153,301 l()nvlga £754,720 ; anthracite coal (85,756 Lone), 844 1.453; cotton, raw (98,163, 400 pounds), £20,684,955 ; hemp and manufac- tures of, $141.848 : illuminating oils (25,664,571 gatlony), $10,580,504 ; epirits, duwtilled (1,8 patlons), $819,262 1 splrits of wurpentitie, 5 849 ¢ tallow, 2,443,117; tobacco, lenf (U4,195.- 861 pounds), $5,157,32 ; eailinz-vosvela s)id to foreigners “(14,745 tony. ¥617,524 1 ehonkas, stavew, and headingn, 21,217,062 ; timbor, sawed and howed, €2,064.518; wood and other manu- factures of, $382,250. —— COMMERCE AND NAVICATION. THLLE 19 LITTLE CHANGE in the proportion of tho foreign carrying {rado transacted in foreign vossols, about 74 per cont of importa and exports, during tho last figeal year, haviog beon carried in foreign veesels as againyt about 72 por cent for the preceding year, and 76 por cent for tho fiscal vear 1872, The Tegiator of the Trearury reports the total tonooga of vessels of tho United States to be 4,833,783 tous, an increaea of 23,030 tons over that of the fiscal yosr ended Juna B, 1574, ex- clusive of the canal-boat tonnago, amonnting to shont 48,000 tonv, exempt from enroliment and licenso undor tho net of Cougress apjuoved April 1%, 1874, ‘The actusl increnso is bolloved to bo about 141,878 tous, this amount being the excess of gatna over losses during tho year; but this ag- gregato has been reduced to 53,080 tors (the in- crosae first above mentioned) by omitting tho tonnapo of the exompted canal-boats, and by correctlons of tonnage returns, about 40,000 tons, 'The following tablo exhibita the total tonnaga for the last two yoars: 3 1450, 1935, ) Tona, ' Vessels,j Tons, Testintered ... ...t 2,7241, 2,08111,553, 423 3,2 Eurolled & hcelueul Tolal.,... 'Tho tonpage of vossels built, as givon by the Reginter, is 207,630, being & docreago from that of tho precading yoar of 135, tous, or aver 31 cr contum, ‘Tho uumber of vessels bullt was 35,050,600, 93010 &1 n e S O G S the rulative mvaucem:nt of Lha wervice in ofil- coger, FTATEMFHT OF BITHICTS DENTOTMED BY BEYENUR “EL BUIING G405 CERD bt 1451 10 1870, 18- W5 r2 puv LD Tatal during 10 searn, 1,18 m];,m«mm; Avnragecesiyannd 1220 19l 10 LSy Thero isve Loon sidad to tho fieet during the year une small propeler of abont thiny-twe tonm, commiseionad for duty in the harbur anl bay of San Francikco, aui two slongs which do duty nd rovenuo caaisers on tlis Atlatic cosst, nud. at the samo timy, aro sprcially uzed In con- nectlon nith the life-saving worsice. I'lanmand xpecilications Linve alvo been prepared, and pro- porale invited, £or e constraction of a emall stoamer for hathor duiy at Puiladelphin, The ricamer anthorized o Le Luilt for tha Poutla const i well advanced, and it 13 oxpected wiil bs 3 to 40 10L0 COMM.E319D 1ol sea-un, ——— LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. TUE HTATIONS IN OPERATION duriog the past year are located in Districts Noe, 1, 2.3, 4, and 6, embracing tho line of coast from tha csetorn extremity of Maina to Capa Iiatteras, with tho escoption of that portion em- braced botween Cape Heulopen aud Cope Cliaries. Tlie cont of maintaining the sarvico daring the fast fiseal year. oxclnsiva of tho oxyonditurs for tho cstablishoient of now stations, was §163,- 20452, . 1t anpearn from tha reportsof the Ruperin- tondents that duving tho eeawsn of 1374-'75 (from Nov. 1, 1874, to Nov, L, 1575) 2 yeesels hava beon driven ashora sithin the Limits of the operation of thess statinny, having on hosrd 975 souls, and valued, with thelr cargoes, at §2,607,~ 722, Tho life-savivg apparatus waw ased as 44 wrocks, and 468 persond were actunily bronght ashore by it, while tnore or leasassistance was rondered in most of ths other cases, Of the proporty {mveriled 2L735,475 In value was saved. “Stxteen liver aud £331,217 of property were fcet, Beven huudred aud twenty-aix days of shelter were afforde] at the _etalious to 219 ehipwrecked perecns. Tourteen of tho jernous who perishea wero Jemt from tho Italisu bark aubl" wreeked at Teaked il bar, Care Cod, iu tho eeverest zaln known tu that const for mauy years, ‘This divis- ter ia tho firat resulting in’ great loss of hfa wehich b occarred since the presont system of conductiuy the service was establinied, ™ A thor- ough invesdgation was directed Lo be made into 1o cireumstances of the catuntiophe, which proved thist no fault attached to the acrvice, but tuat tho loss of hfe was wholly due to the fact that the pernons upon the wreck wero bevoud tho rexch of auy known means of assjztance from shore. Toextend the ranzo of the meany of establirhing offective commuuication between the shore and strauded veswels in cases whero life-Loats are not available, 80 as to prosect to e’ points upon cur cousts whola ex- tois oo liable fo siraud boyond tle reach of the meaus now in uro, has been mfd Gl s wn objeck of special endeavor. Sons of the most cxpericueed ofilcers connected with tho service, aided by eliliful olticern do- tailed fiom the ordnaguee corps of the oroy, and the best manut ren of otdan nre engaged upon ke j1oblem, sud it a8 jratidying to stato that thoir uaperimcnts gve prowide of suCco-s, The folowing Is & etatement of disastors to vesuels which have ocourred wistiu tho firld of tho operations of the servico sinco tho adoution of tho pieseut syetem in In7l, aod the results of the:o disasterd. It should Lo obsorved thst duriug the seazon of 1471-'12, tho servico was limited Lo tho coaets of Tong Island and New Jetsey, and during tho seasons of IR72-'74 to Capo Cod, Loug Isiaud, and Sow Jureey : Total number of wrucka.. ,, . 135 “Total nuraber of lives $nyjeril . 284 Totul unmber of live P Total uumber of Hives loat, . 1 ‘Total uumber of shipwreckad pe: tered at the Eiationn. 3 2 Bix of tho stations authorized to Lo catah- lishod batween Capo Honlopon and Capb Cherles Lave bLeon erected duning tho past sesr, aud ure now occupted by ceews, Llie remaining two are nearly completed. Tho bousea of refupo authorized for the Fior- ids coast und the stations for the groat lakes, excopt Lake Superior, are being built undar cone tract, an sre alsu thoso for Point Julith and Eaton's Keek, Loug Island Souud, Biten for tho siations vrovided for the Pacific coast and Lake Sunerior bave bosu selectad, aad proposals for their construction will bo uvited at an early day. Upon the complotion of theno stations 1t is believed that our coasts will be a3 well protected in this mauner as the interests of commerco and humanity require, nud duo regard for ezonomy will usti —_— LICHT-HOUSE SERVICE. TUE LIGNT-UOURE PSTABLISUMENT, which i3 the largest in the world, aud whoso cliarge smbracea ocesu, lake, and river lines of unequaled extont, steadily increases in useful- uess to comimeroial and maratimo intercsts. Dur- ing the past year it lins established seventeen lighthouses and 230 beacon-lights on the West- cru rivers, togother withi tiwenty-ons buoys, The present number of aida to navigation {n the United Btatea is 622 light-honses, 23 light-ahips, 45 tog-signsle, 353 dsy-baacons, 280 river-lighte, and 2,880 buoya, Sinco the date of Ltho Iast report the Light- House Uoard, in view of tho fact that mineral 1301, Oficial numbers Liavo boen awarded by the Bureau of Htatistics sinco July 1 to Nov. 10, 1875, to 891 voswols, whoss carrying capacity amounts to 146,115 tons, Of this number sixty- thres wera now koa-going vessols of 100 tons and over; forty-five of 1,0/0 tons and ovor; threo of 2,000, and two of 8,000 tons, each, with su aggregato tounage of 100,226 tons. Caduies REVENUE MARINE. THE PAST YZAR 18 TUE ¥IRST of the administration of this branch of tho pub- lic vorvios with the advantage of tho completion of tho reorganization beguu four years ago. The improvement resulting from this reorgani. ration more than equals all that was anticipatod. The report of the Commisaion which proposed the plan doea not indicato that any other benofit was expectod than a reduction of the expensos of the servico, ‘T'his result shows, however, not only s considerably larger* reduction thau was snticipated, but the attainment of » much bigh- er degroo of officloncy than charactorized tho wervico in former yeats, The Comminaion esti- mated tho anooal cost of maintaining the sor- vico, whon the reorganization should be accow- plished, at 803,635, Tho expenditure of tho 184t tiseal yoar was $397,890.50, an smount con- tilerably lower than that of any previous yoar sinco separate accounta of expenditure for tho maiuntouanco of this service have bheen kept, and about $300,000 less than the averago annual ex- penditnro previons to tha boginning of tho reor- ganization. Ono of the chie? moans by which this reduce tion has boeu accomplished is the substitution of small and ewift light-draught steamers and emall sloops for tho larger stesmers and un- serviceablo schoonors formarly in use, a change which, shrough tho greator mpesd of the now vossoly, thoir ability to navigato bays, inlets, bayous, and other waters fnaccessible to the old ooy, and thotr especial sdaptation fér render- iug asuistance to distressed vesasls, Ly greatly enhanced the usofulness of the service. I'ie revonue vossola dosignated by tho Presl- dent for wintor crulsiug, under tho sct of Deo. 42, 1837, woro especislly wervicoable in tho lhu- mane work of assiating vessols in distress during the last winter. 'Thiroughout tho month of Feb. ruary the marins columus of the principal cots wereial newupapers contained daily accounts of such rallef sdwninlstered to lulluiug vousels, Tho goneral services porforweil by roveaus vossels duriug tho last tiacal yoer way by wum- marizod 83 follows: 185 Number of veascls Ju distress nesisted. Numaber of livs e, Nuzuber of v tlou of law. Nuwber of v Number of miles salled... Dealdes the above, varfous sarvices of & spovial nature have been rendored, such as couveyiug oatfits and supplicd to life-saving stations, sud pusluging the opurations of the Nevy. A comparison of tho forogoiug exhibit, with the following etatement of sorvices perfarmod by the roveuuia vesssls during tho ten years pre- cod:ug tha seorgauication,. sindiogly wustraeq | st 245 oil [scoming into ues in Frauco and England for light-houso illumicntion, has made, througl ite sciontific membors, oxtonsive experiments in the mioeral oils of this countryin order to ascortain whother a snitablo matorial of home production can bo Lisd for this purposs, Tho exporiments, £o for me prosccutod, induce tho beliof that n propor mineral off can probally bs obtaiued from our own manufscturers, and porkians at considerably roduced expense. [y introduction anvolrn auentiro chango iu the lamps now used, and, it this can bo effocted al a reasonable cost, it Iy proposod to put the ofl on trial in a unwber of hight-housed of the least importance, which ia the course purued intha Kuropoan light- houso estublishnionts, whon, if found satisfuc| ry, it will bo triod in the larger sud wors i- portant oues, An olaborate and extenslyo sories of oxporl- monts has also baun wade in regand to sounl. 08 appliod 1o fog-siguale, with resalty valuebla to science aud tha promise of wuch puacticst utility to navigators, Tho most signal work of ths cutablishmont during the past year hae buen tho commonce- 1ent of tha lighting and buoyago of tho Misais- sl”-l, Missouri, nmf‘ Onio Rivers, in conformity with the act of Congress approved June X, 1874, The rivers hava beun dividod into two light- housa districts, with proper_oflicers aasigned to oach. The moana ompluyed far lightiug have bocu substsntial lons-lanterus, which sro placed with rogard to thv tortuous chinracter of the Btream, at intervaly of rarely more than 2 miles atauce, Miunoraloil is used, and & bright light own fu tho storunnst werthor, The hightg ure aiteuded by men, procured at » small compeusa- tion from amony the residents on tho rivory, who nave genorally proved trustworthy, At special- Iy dangorous powts buoys have heen placed as ay-marky. The uarrow aud crooked obanueluof theye rivers, and the preseuce of hiddeu ob- atructiovs, mako their uavigation at many points extremoly porilous, and the best pituts cannot slways avort disaster. The work of light- 1og them i8 ruporiod 1o give satiefaction to the extousivo shipplug interests of the iutetior, pas. wago now boing practicable at all times whore it wad beforo attended with diificuity and davger. "I'o complete tho work an additioval numbor of Hghts aud buoys will be neaded, and tho appro- nation for maintalntug them must nocessaly 0 increased. A llght-sbip for Winter Tlarhor Shoal, and ono for gonoral service, appropriated for by act of March 8, 1873, aro nearly complpted. ‘They ara noticoabls a8 belug the strodgest and largest vossals ovor built for the establislinent, sud aa baving steam fog-signals, which will be of great gorvico to mariners. atinntes are prescuted by the oard for two new steam buoy-tenders for the Atlantio cosst, to roplace vesnels which dre woru out, oo small and of too litilo power for tho sorvice required of thew, aud which are constantly in noed of oxpouive repairs, An cstiniato {8 aluo vrasent- od for an sdditional vteam-tender for the Pacltia coast, tho single ous in use bving Insulcient for the snrvice of that seaboard, aud the frequont chartering, st Lizh rotes, ot private vossels being consequontly necaesitated. Inits esuwato for lighthouse supplles the Tioard includes & provisfou for tho purchnge of a swall number of books for light-atations, espe- gially thoss 1RO reavse, #covrding (0 Lo usage of the Frouch and English lighthouss eatabligh- mouts, A wmall quantity of reading matior at tho light-stations, (o b kopt and accountod for s public prorerty, might, it is suggosted, fotm the naeleus for connidorabls donations fror pri- vate sources ; and the libraries no formad wonld ronducs, #a fn other countries, toward making the fight-kerpers more oontented with thair inolated positions, and leas disposed th absent thrmeelvas from the place of thelr duties, bo- riden oxerting u gencral good influence. Piseiie iy COAST-SURVEY, TUE RETONT OF THE SUPERINISXDENT OF Tia COART-HURVEY slows that during the past year apecial activity wanmaintaitiod 1n thst work, Ia each of the realoard Biatoa of the Atlantio and Paclfio satis- Tactory wrogresn is reported In short-lina sur« veyu and extensions of coast topography; in ade ditlonal determinations of latituds and longie tnde ; aud in renearchea relativo to tides, cure rents, and the magnatio elemonta. The hydrogs raphy of the coast approsches has beon ad- vanced by means of the provision made by Con- Rress for soveral etenm-vemsels, Among special records of tho year aro thoss brought by expe- rienced antronomers in tho arvico from stationa 0 which thoy had Leen sesiguod, by Govern- ment authority, to otserve the lata traumit of YVeuus, Tho incoption ¢f a systematio survey of tho Atlantic, Gulf, and P’acific coastn of tho United States, at a timo when reqiurements for com- merco and navigation were not a3 thoy now are, bLut largely prokpoctive, Las bean fuily justified by results which present .strikine proof of she forothought of thoss who projectod the system. Within o siogle generation tho results of thd work aro such thpt ropresentative foreighers may compars, with their own, chazts of all our chief and mecondary barbors, unanrpassed in eitber precision or ‘style. Thoso local charty, howevar, rep.resent oniy tha most important aress in & geodetic nurves, which hak been prosecaled {from the outset with tho utmont care, and by tha best methods, That tise aystem for dafining tho approaches of our oxtensives coasts, wisoly adopt ed eriginally, and nostained by Congress at the resent time, I8 now recognized os yielding alsa a nure baia for the futurc action of the Htates of tho Union in regand to their final survess and s, afforda additional avidoncs of the ‘sound- newe of the policy that hss marked successive adminirtrations in our first contury as & nation. At certain localition slong the seabosard, par- ticulaily sbout the ports, hight-house wites, and cnast defeumes, maps of great precision aro requirita in publie works. Yor ground of less iwpartance, dotails aro generalizoed in tha repre- sentanion. Tut tha invisibio gea-bottom of “tha conet hold= danpers mo widely gistributed, and #0 gront, thet no generalization 18 admiasible, Tho iutorests of comnicrce and the safety of wavigation aliko require the exact davalopment of all the unscen ground over which vessels may pars, and preci«o kuowlodgo of each sepa~ rato - danger. DLaugor-matke, as of hidden rocks for oxample, insignificant though thoy mnay be in picturinl eflect ou maritime charts, aro ofsen found to ba anythivg but ioeignificant, in tha relation whick they bear to other develop: ments, na monua for tho tafety of lifoand the preservation of properly. Information of much importance fs obtained by tho survey concorving featorea on Isnd whoro of neceseity piations aro occupled. For the groat undertaking now in progiess, to e croass tho dopth of water on one of tha bars of the Jieminaippl, mmany details of the work rest on the accuracy of wmaps, charts, and computa. tions reaulting from a enrvey orderod by the lant Congreas, Takles computed in tho Cosst. gurvey oflice, 810 now regularly ireued in print, 10 show for o yaar in advance tho hours of higb and low water snd the beight of tide it each of our seaports, The variation of the compass af places iu the interior—which variation for ev- tended periods of timo is known only by refer. encs to oLservations recordod at po'nts near tug costit—i8now & subject of frequant fuquiry. Witlin the presect sear information bas been supphed from the archivesof tho survey boanng on unsettled boundaries between somo of thie older Elates, on tho sction of Legislative Com. mittees in regard to uatural aud wriificial ro- sources in navigation, on decleions concerning questions in admiralty, on projects for defense, om slies for the cousiruction of light-houses. and on plans for the presorvation of Larbor chanuele aud auchorages. 3 All of swhich pafficiently manifests aliko tha national eharactar of tho work aud the interost and fmyortancs attaching to ite progrossive and its ultiniate rosults, — MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE, : Afl PHOVIDED BT THEK ACT OF MARCH 3, 1875, “to promote rconomy and efliciency in the marine-hospital service,” a seamen's timo-book bLas been igsued, but it ls yot too early to state dofinitely the e¢ffoat of its introduction on the collection of Lospital dacs. Houpital relief is now extended to certain sos- men who, previous to the passago of said act, were excluded from the boucfits of tha service. This service now furnishes care and treatmont to foreign seamen, aick and destitute American woamen roturned to tho United Siates from foreign ports by United States Consular officors, vick and disabled senmen belonglng to vessela of the Engincer Corps of the army, and to ves- #els of tho mavy where noother provision has been minde for them, snd to vesmon of tho ves- #els of the Conet Survey and Ligbt-house 8er- vice, while inwanse pationts of thoe AMarino-Hospi- tsl Fervice aro adwitted to the Government Hoayital for the lusanc. Nuv coneideribls repairs bave heen mads to the Marine-1fopital buildings for soveral yoars, sud annone of the obl Low; ltals can be ro moailled as to nuswer the requirements of the presond rtale of knuwledyo concerning hospital con- struction, any large outlsy ou them {s dosmod nundvisable. " Fxpericnco would seom to Indi~ cate that extenatvo and coatly sltorations and res pairs require to be froquently renewed, aud, therufore, the ercction of comparativaly inex- peneivo pavilion wards, jn accordance with tho oet approved plans of recognized muthorities o this subject, 13 deemed dosirable. The old mariuo-hoepital bullding and grounds at Dittsburg, 1'a., were sold during the vear, un- der tho act of Juna 22, 1874, for $37.167.70, and 8 uew wite purchazsod for $30,000, Tho ercction of tho new hoxpitsl at that place Lay not been commenced, howovor, owing to the fact that the amount ($30,6%0.96) realized from tho sale of » portion of the grounds in 1870 {a not availabla for this purposs without the action of Congr T'ho unususl amount of sufferivg and disvare among seowou and gallors wha wero exposed to {ho eovero cold of tho last wintor caused a marked increane in tho domand for rolief from the marine-hospital fund, and a largsr number of persons enjoyed the bsuefits of tho sorvica than in any previous yoar, Fifteen tbousand and nine sick aud disablod seamen were trested during the year, aud tho agrregato number of days' rellof furnished In 405,653, The total ex- pendlture for the yoar was £401,390.6), and the swount of hospital dues collected §333,80.78. sl hiel STEAMBOAT-INSPECTION SERVIOE, TAE BULELYISING INSPECTOR-GENENAL OF 81BAM- VESHELS roports the followlvg matters of (ntorest con. nocted with this servico for tho flscal year onding June 30, 1875 Nurabar of ofticers employed in tho sere €8, v0uvrseesasasonsncssiias, . Number of stcam-veawls inspected during the year..ee Aggrevate tonusge of utoam- 103 nsed, The nambor of Livos lost by varioua sccidoots 10 steam-veasola is ay follows: iy sxplosion or sccidental sscape of steam., 1y stesmers burned Dy collisious, .. Dy snsgglug, wreck, snd founder, Total number of Urea 10%,..41eress 0! thia numbor 01 were Chinesé ppasengers, lost by tho burniog of the American steawmship Japan on the coast of Chins, Deo, 17, 1874, leav- ing the total of other losues during the year but 20d, which is an unusqally small number. The groas receipls from the inspection of D Uomeits i gayans of aaaioe pave ellng aud mds:muwnu- or 4 212,302.02 This servics is genorally (n a highly eflicieut aud sutisfsctory condition, aud it is believed tlat, under the oporation of tho laws for this purpose, & degrev of wafely to life on steame vesuols hias beou securod oqual to all reasonable auticipation. % 1t is recommendad ihat provision be made for the anoual mueting of tho Loard uf Supervising Inspectory iu Beptomber of each year, st such nlace ss tho Bocretary of the Tremsury shall daulguate, instead of on the third Wodueaday of Jauuary st the City of Washivgton, asuow pro- vidod by Sec. 4,403, Ravised Blatutes, ———— THE REDEMPTION-AGENCY FOR NA. TIONAL BANKS. THELE HAVE BEEN BEDEENED, under the act of June 20, 1874, circulsting notes of Natioual Bauke amouniing to 8130,022,91,