From the above statements furnished by the Fund Commissioners, and taken from the books of this office, it will be seen that the state liabilities amount to eleven millions seven hundred and eighty-eight thousand four hundred and fifty dollars seventy three cents three mills. From this must be deducted the amount paid by the Fund Commissioners to canal companies, not reported to this office; amounting probably, to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There then remains to be added, the amount of the sinking fund loaned to, and invested in the canal fund; which, (though it has not yet been computed under the act of last winter) will probably swell the indebtedness to nearly, if not quite, twelve millions five hundred thousand dollars. A late sale of scrip has been made by the commissioners of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars, which will also remain to be added to the amount of "permanent loans." It is estimated that the completion of our public works will require the expenditure of three millions eight hundred thousand dollars, in the following proportions: Amount. $9,050,873 00 0 $537,552 38 0 New York. 223,515 00 0 1,252,377 02 8 1,151,839 51 0 - 11,788,450 73 3 632,696 77 1 Total amount interest. Auditor of State. Commission on Cotton at Liverpool. To the editors of the New Orleans Bee : At a Special General meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce, held at the office of the Secretary, the 29th of November, 1839, called to consider a proposed change in the rate of commission on the sale of cotton. The following resolution was adopted, and ordered to be published in the Liverpool newspapers: "It appearing that many houses have been in the habit of charging bank commission, in addition to the commission on $1,500,000 sale, and the chamber considering such charge reasonable; 1,000,000 "It was resolved, That on and after the 1st day of January, 500,000 1840, a bank commission of per cent. be generally charged 300,000 in addition to the commission of 3 per cent. on the sale of 200,000 cotton." 300,000 $2,800,000 To provide this amount of funds, or even the portion requisite to complete those works for which the faith of the state is pledged to the General Government and a sister state, by the sale of scrip in the eastern market, is a matter of great uncertainty, if not impossibility. I suggest to you the propriety when the extent of our further progress shall have been determined, of authorizing the proper authorities to issue the scrip of the state in smaller amounts than they have heretofore done, in order to enable our own citizens of limited means to invest in them as a valuable security; the interest to be made payable to the state treasury. If by this means the funds should be secured for prosecuting those works which may not now be suddenly stopped without immense loss to the state-and, what would be infinitely worse, a prostration of her faith-the debt thereby contracted would assume a domestic form-the interest upon it would go to our own people and the heavy drain to the east for the purpose of paying interest, which is fast impoverishing the state, and adding to the pecuniary embarrassments of our own people, would be prevented from accumulating, and eventually be gradually diminished. A suggestion of this character, I beg leave to add, has not its paternity in a desire to increase the public debt, or stay Cotton Manufactures in Belgium.-The cotton manuthe wholesome effects of the spirit of retrenchment by hold- facturers of Flanders have recommended the passage of the ing out new inducements to extravagance. The experiment following measures, to encourage the cotton manufacturers. has to encounter all the hazards of success; and even if it 1. A bounty on exportation. 2. The prohibition of all cotwere otherwise, the prudence, judgment and discretion of ton manufactures. 3. The purchase, by the Government, your honourable body are sufficient to set bounds to it. The of a certain quantity of Belgian cotton manufactures, to be extent to which the public works shall be prosecuted is vest-exported at the risk of the Treasury, through the medium of ed entirely in yourselves, with that question I do not desire to one or more great mercantile houses. Duties payable at “Home.” Some time since a letter was addressed by the proprietors of this paper to Jas. N. Barker, Esq., the Comptroller of the Treasury, making inquiries whether goods imported into New York on account of Philadelphia merchants, when our navigation is impeded, could not be bonded in this city, thus saving trouble and expense to them. To this letter Mr. Barker has returned the following reply.-N. American. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, First Comptroller's Office, January 27, 1840. Gentlemen :-I duly received your letter of the 3d instant, in which you refer to the uncertainty of access during the winter months to the port of Philadelphia, and the consequent necessity imposed upon the merchants there of using the packets from Europe to New York at that season for the importation of such articles of merchandise as are urgently needed. In view of these circumstances, it would seem that such importations are at present greatly embarrassed by the refusal of the collector at New York to receive the bonds of the importer at Philadelphia, although secured in a way entirely acceptable to the collector at that port, in consequence of which it becomes necessary to employ and pay a commission house in New York for the completion of the entry-and you submit the questions. I. Is this required by law, or is it a practice adopted capriciously by the collectors at New York? II. If the former, would there be any objections to a modification so as to enable the merchants of Philadelphia to secure the duties at that port, and allow the merchandise to be entered on a certificate from the collector there to that ef tors of Philadelphia and New York, would no doubt be equally disposed to promote the general interest of commerce, and to give all lawful and proper facilities to so highly respectable a portion of the commercial community, as those who desire this accommodation, I presumed that an arrangement might be made between you and the collector at New York, by which that difficulty would be removed, and the object ellected without serious inconvenience to any. The bonds might be deposited for collection in the Bank of the United States at Philadelphia on behalf of the collector at New York. "I would recommend to you and the collector at N. York, to enter into such a rangement; and see ng no insecurity to the revenue nor any other public disadvantage that can result from it, I address this communication to you for that purpose. I will write by this mail to the collector at New York, and will thank you to correspond with him on the subject. "The simplest mode that occurs to me for effecting the desired object is this; after the merchant at Philadelphia has estimated the account of the duties accruing on his importation into New York, he will exccute the usual bond with sufficient sureties to the collector at New York, and present it to you, who on being satisfied with the sufficiency, will so certify upon it to the collector of New York. You would of course adopt the same rules, and exercise the same discretion as in regard to bonds taken in the business of your own district. It might also be well that you should keep a note of the bonds which you may thus certify, and give advice of them to the collector of New York. Signed, 66 "S. D. INGHAM, Secretary of the Treasury." On pages 141-142 will be found the case of the ship Tennessee, which was cast away in May, 1839, upon the Florida Reefs, and carried into Key West. In this case, the collector refused to deliver up the goods unless the duties were fect, upon which the permit will be issued for the delivery in New York-the examinations to be made and the duties ascertained at New York, monthly or quarterly returns of the respective amounts being made to the collector at Philadel-paid or secured at that port. The attorney of the U. States, phia? Chas. Walker, Esq. gave his opinion that under the act of May 23, 1828, the duties could be secured in New Orleans, where the owner resided, and that the collector was bound to deliver the goods upon the production of a certificate that III. If, on the other hand, the present practice is not necessarily enjoined by the existing laws, would there be any inconvenience in a change properly guarded, which will not be more than compensated by the facilities it would yield to Philadelphia and other ports for a fair participation in trade! as convenience may prompt, especially as it would enable the duties were secured. The collector still differed in opinthe merchants at Philadelphia to pay their duties at home-ion with the attorney and the case was submitted to the soand these being payable in a fixed currency, will be received licitor of the Treasury whose decision we have not seen.→ in Philadelphia without depreciation or loss to the govern- The attorney's opinion will be found on page 142. ment? To these questions, which appear to embrace the subject matter of your letter, I have given an attentive consideration, and would beg, as the most satisfactory response I can offer, to inclose a copy of a letter addressed to me when Collector at Philadelphia, by Mr. Secretary Inghan, bearing date the 29th of January, 1830, merely suggesting that taking the plan recommended, with the alterations which the existing relations of the Treasury render expedient, as the basis of any arrangement of the sort contemplated, the details under which the facilities might be extended must be matters of mutual and reciprocal agreement between the collectors of the respective ports of Philadelphia and New York, or such others as may be enabled to assist in the promotion of your objects. I am, yours, &c. J. N. BARKER, Comptroller. The following is the extract from the letter of Mr. Ingham alluded to by Mr. Barker. "The law requires that the entry be made with the collector of the district into which the merchandise is imported, and that bonds be given for the payment of the duties to such collector; but that as the bond is to be given to the satisfaction of such collector, he is entirely at liberty to take the bonds of merchants of another district, provided the principals be residents and the sureties citizens of the United States. "I have also stated to the chairman, that there appeared to be no difficulty in such cases, except in ascertaining the sufficiency of the parties to the bonds; but that as the collecVol. II.-14 Galena Lead Mines.-Galena, though 500 miles farther up, has an advantage over Potosi, the chief one of the Missouri mining stations, it being on navigable water, while Potosi is 40 miles from the Mississippi. Galena is a flourishing town, and contained in 1833 (1835) between 12 and 14 hundred inhabitants. The richest mines are distant about 4 or 5 miles from the village. The mineral, galena, is found at various widths-mostly of the depth of 60 or 70 feet. It is raised in lumps of all sizes, from half a pound weight to that of 150 lbs. There is little foreign matter mixed with the ore, except some particles of blende, and a portion of the ochrey oxide of iron. The quantity of lead made in this region must be very great, if an estimate may be formed from the number of steamboats which are constantly receiving cargoes of it, and from the piles of the metals on the wharves. Chicago Am. OFFICIAL. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Authentic intelligence has been received at this Department that cloths of double width, forming two pieces, divided by a stripe woven with the cloth, were, for the space of six months from the 12th of October last, to be a Imitted into the ports of the Mexican Republic, at the same rate of duty with like cloths of a single width; and that all such cloths then in that country, upon which dutics had not been paid, were to enjoy the same privilege. Items from Government Documents. From various documents presented to Congress at the present Session, which we have just received the following miscellaneous items are derived, upon a cursory view-some of these documents will hereafter be printed in extenso: IRON, IMPORTED FOR RAILROADS, STEAMBOATS, &c., "free of duty, or on which the duty has been remitted since the 1st day of January, 1832 to June 30, 1839, together with amount of duties, which would have accrued to the Government, had the duties been regularly charged thereon." N. B. This document also furnishes the names of individuals or companies, by whom imported. QUANTITY AND DESCRIPTION. Paying 25 per cent.... $86,144,19 1836, 376,959 39 209,675 1837, 174,600 00 322,465 1838, 264,225 00 540,123 Pay of the Army and 5,973,825 subsistence of offi $3,597,446,10 $7,930 70 1836, 1,229,086 94 325,095 47 1837, 1,050,916 08 1839, 1,702,002 78 Boston. constructors....... 1835, 1,431,974 34 1836, 1,850,376 26 1837, 2,284,045 93 1838, 2,166,240 96 EXPENDITURE FROM 1789 TO 1837, AND LOSSES BY DEFALCATIONS. This document contains various tables in detail, of which we can now only give the following summaries: 1. In relation to disbursements of the revenue of the United States, exclusive of payments on account of public debt and trust funds. Number of defaulters from 1789 to 1837, 2760 Viz: in Civil list, Military and Naval, 244 2,516 Amount of defalcation Civil, 898,023 59 Military and Naval, 4,058,549 97 Total of defalcation, 4,956,573 56 Aggregate amount of expenditure,..... $520,062,676 36 Ratio of loss for $100 to aggregate expenditure..... Loss per head employed in civil department.... Military and Naval.. .95 $3,680 1,613 $1,795 2. In relation to the Revenue of the United States derived from customs, internal revenue, direct tax and sales of public lands, from 4th March, 1789 to 4th March, 1837. Loss by collectors of customs ....... Internal revenue, and direct tax. Receivers of pub lic lands.... 1,198,969 91 442,265 76 397,304 14 $2,038,549 81 Number of defaulters.. 87 Loss per head.. $13,781 Report do.. do..... 1,820 14,715 $5,737 SALES OF DAMAGED OR USELESS PAPER. 143 Cases containing 4,058 reams of damaged or useless, which cost $26,083 25 were agreeably to the resolution of the House of Representatives, shipped to New York with directions to the consignee, to dispose of them at the next Trade Sale, in August, 1839. Finding that the paper was selling at a great sacrifice, 1,893 reams were bought in, and remain unsold. The nett proceeds of the 2,165 reams sold, after deducting charges, amounted to $4,200,76, INDIA COTTON,-A Bombay paper of October 16th, received at this office, says—" We understand that the Court of Directors have engaged twelve Americans to proceed to this country for the purpose of improving the cultivation and cleaning of Cotton, and that they may be shortly expected to arrive in Bombay.-Jour. of Com. OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE OHIO PENITEN- From the tables embodied in the report, we glean the following particulars: Whole number of convicts in the Penitentiary, 485; of these there are natives of Pennsylvania, 90; New York, 78; Ohio, 73; Virginia, 56; Maryland, 20; Foreign countries, 78; Connecticut, 12; Kentucky, 22; New Jersey, 10; and the balance is divided among the different States of the Union. The number of convicts received into the prison this year is 172, being an increase of 17, over the previous year. The terms of service of 85 will expire before the end of the ensuing year. There is but one white female convict, and she is not a native of the State. But two white females have been confined in the institution since its establishment-a fact that speaks volumes for our women. The whole number of convicts from Hamilton county, now in prison, is 154; of which four are for life, and three for twenty years. The unexpired time of all the convicts now in prison, added up, is about two thousand years, making an average of about four years for each prisoner. The occupations of the convicts before conviction were as follows:-Shoemakers, 45; laborers, 40; carpenters, 36; blacksmiths, 27; boatmen, 24; sailors, 18; no occupation, 15; cooks, 15; tailors, 14: masons, 12; cabinet-makers, carpenters and teamsters, 8 each; stone-cutters, saddlers, painters and barbers, six each; bakers, 7; pilots, clothiers, tanners and tobacconists, 5 each; butchers and wagonmakers, 4 each; merchants, clerks and weavers, 3 each; gardeners, chair-makers, stocking weavers, plasterers, ship caulkers, stage drivers, millers, distillers, grocers, pedlars, physicians, waiters and chamber-maids, 2 each; 1 printer! 1 lawyer; 1 school-master; and 86 farmers. Each of the balance has been engaged in different branches of the mechanic arts. It will be seen that the number of farmers almost doubles that of any other trade, which is rather singular. The convicts are employed as follows:-Under contract-in making saddle trees, 79; making bridle bits, stirrups, irons, &c., 39; making coach lace, 10; coopering, 47; bucket and tub factory, 19; making shoes, 28; tailoring, 26; making brooms, 15; carpenter work, 12. In employment of the state-blacksmiths, 6; carpenters, 4; tailors, 9; shoemakers, 4; coopers, 2; stone-cutters and masons, 68; stone-breakers, 14; wood choppers, 29; lumpers, 19; teamsters, 5; cooks, bakers and washers, 13; waiters and sweepers, 8; seamstresses, 4; in the hospital, 25. The total cash receipts for the year, have been $52,210 224, while the total cash payments have been only $34,857 044; leaving the earnings of the past year over the expensee, $20,037 06. 66 One fourth of the whole number of convicts are young men not exceeding 21 years, some are under 15 years of age; and two-thirds do not exceed 30 years. It is also noticed, that since the institution became a profitable investment," the terms of sentences have generally increased in length. The State has paid to the several counties, for the transportation of convicts, the sum of $14,529 22; being an average of $84 47 for each convict. This Warden thinks that they can be transported at a cheaper rate, under his direction, and suggests an alteration of the laws in this particular. The health of the convicts have been generally good. But The report re14 have died-a third less than last year. commends that the young be separated from the old and hardened criminals.-Daily News. |