is nearly completed. This vessel has been built with great care, and fitted with every appliance to render her safe and efficient. She will have, for fog-signal purposes, a caloric siren, from which excellent results are expected, and will be a valuable addition to the aids needed upon our coast for the safety of mariners. In its estimates the Light-house Board has again asked an appropri ation for building a light-house at or in the vicinity of American Shoal, Florida reef, to light the dark space between Sombrero and Sand Key lights. Owing to the strong and variable currents along the Florida reef, navigation is difficult and dangerous, many wrecks involving heavy loss occurring every year. The light upon American Shoal is one of the system proposed by the Light-house Board for permanently and efficiently lighting this dangerous coast, and should be built without unnecessary delay. The Board has also estimated for money to place a light-ship and fog-signal upon Trinity Shoal, a troublesome and dangerous locality off the south coast of Louisiana, and for a new steam-tender for the Pacific coast. Both these items are of especial importance, and should receive attention. COAST SURVEY. The important work committed to this branch of the public service has been advanced during the year by numerous reconnaissances, triangulations, tidal observations, and extensions of coast topography at nearly one hundred localities upon the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. There have also been certain determinations of latitude and longitude in some of the interior States of the Union, several of which have recently instituted systematic surveys of their area. Tide-tables for the principal sea-ports of the United States have been published, a number of new charts of the coast finished, and others have received additions by engraving. The second volume of the Atlantic Coast Pilot has also been under preparation, and is nearly completed. In the interests of commerce and navigation, each of the dangers that beset the coast is developed and marked in its true relation to the shore-line. Fortunately the processes used for such purposes avail also for other objects, the importance of which is rapidly increasing; along the seaboard for surveys needful in the improvement of channel entrances, and for port-warden lines in harbor, involving studies of the effect of tides and currents when conjoined with riparian encroachment. The usual intimate relations of this establishment with the Lighthouse Board have been maintained, and its archives have materially assisted the engineering operations of the latter on the sea-coast. MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE. The Supervising Surgeon General reports that a larger number of seamen have availed themselves of the benefits of the Marine-Hospital Service during the fiscal year 1876 than in any previous year of the existence of that service. Increased facilities are afforded for obtaining relief, and many of the seafaring who are injured or taken sick at places where it is impracticable to provide proper care are sent to the nearest relief port at the expense of the service. Relief is now furnished at ninety-one ports, and 16,801 seamen received care and treatment during the year just closed. The expenditures from the fund contributed by the seamen amounted to $439,151 13. The necessary repairs to the hospital buildings, and the furniture, fuel, lights, and water for the same, were in 1876 for the first time paid out of this fund. The marine hospitals at Mobile, Alabama, and Louisville, Kentucky, which were leased at the close of the war, were refitted and again opened for the exclusive use of seamen on September 1, 1875, and January 1, 1876, respectively. The Cleveland hospital, on the other hand, has been leased under the act of March 3, 1875. The magnitude of the service at New York would seem to warrant the establishment of a hospital at that port for the exclusive use of seamen. All proceeds of the sale of furniture, supplies, and other property, no longer ser viceable or required for use, are, under the present law, covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. As such property belonging to the Marine-Hospital Service is paid for out of the seamen's fund when purchased, it is suggested that Congress should provide that the proceeds from their sale should be credited to the marine-hospital fund as repayments. It is further suggested that the unclaimed money and effects of seamen who die while under the care of the MarineHospital Service might also properly be appropriated for the benefit of sick and disabled seamen. At present this Department has no authority to determine the disposition of such moneys. The Supervising Surgeon General represents that great embarrassment arises from the frequent attempts to break down the provision of the Marine-Hospital Service regulations, requiring a practical preliminary examination into professional qualifications of candidates for appointment to the corps of surgeons. The seamen whose earnings are taxed for the especial purpose of creating a fund for their relief when sick or disabled are certainly entitled to the best medical and surgical skill, and manifestly none other should be employed. It is therefore suggested that legislative provision be made for the examination of medical officers of that service similar to that now existing for medical officers of the Army and Navy. Of the hospital dues collected from seamen, $344,670 78 were covered into the Treasury during the year. For twenty successive years, up to June 30, 1874, the annual deficiency appropriations made by Congress, and expended, averaged $182.452, but no deficiency appropriation has been asked for this service since 1873, and none will be required for the year 1878. STEAMBOAT-INSPECTION SERVICE. The Supervising Inspector General of Steam-vessels reports the following matters connected with this branch of service for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876: Total receipts from the inspection of steam-vessels and licensing of officers... Total disbursements in payment of salaries, travelling and other contingent expenses Number of masters of steamers licensed....... Total number of officers licensed Number of inspectors and clerks employed.. $265, 583 65 222,154 82 To avoid the expense incurred by the annual meeting of the Board, as required by section 4505, Revised Statutes, it is recommended that provision be made for the meeting of the Board at such times and places as the Secretary of the Treasury shall designate. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The work on public buildings during the past year has progressed satisfactorily where sufficient appropriations for its continuance have been made. While renewing the suggestion contained in the last annual report of this Department, that in the present state of the finances it is not advisable to make large appropriations for commencing new buildings, it is recommended that, for the ensuing year, sufficient appropriations be made to insure a rapid prosecution of work already begun. The suggestion contained in the report of the Supervising Architect relative to the preparation of plans for public buildings, under competition, is worthy of consideration, and the attention of Congress is respectfully invited thereto. In this connection, the attention of Congress is invited to the necessity for erecting a proper building for the Light-house Board, for which the latter has submitted an estimate of $100,000. The Board now occupies different parts of a private building, neither convenient nor fire-proof. An appropriation is therefore recommended for the erection of a building for the establishment, suitable to secure the requisite dispatch of current business by its officers and clerks, the accessibility and safety of its records, and the prosecution of its constant experiments in illuminants, and in sound and light, which are now conducted, at considerable disadvantage, in New York. CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. The failure to make the small appropriation asked for by the Secretary to enable him to continue the examination of the records of captured property and confederate archives in his custody, for information for use in the defence of the Government against improper claims, has greatly impeded that service. The slight examination that it has been possible to make of those records and archives in connection with the private relief bills presented to Congress at its last session, involving about five millions of dollars, leads to the conclusion that they contain much valuable information which should be sought for and furnished to the several committees to which such bills have been referred. It is respectfully submitted that an adequate appropriation should be made for this purpose. REPORTS OF OFFICERS. Reports of heads of bureaus and divisions are herewith transmitted and referred to for detailed statements of the business of this Department. The Secretary desires to express his acknowledgments for the efficient aid and support he has at all times received in the discharge of his duties from those having supervision of distinct divisions of the service. LOT M. MORRILL, The Honorable THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. |