I respectfully submit these suggestions to the consideration of the department. The necessity of my immediate departure will excuse the. haste in which they have been drawn up. I desire to discharge my whole duty, but it is evident that this cannot be done unless the necessary means are provided. Very respectfully, J. COLLIER, Collector of Customs for the district of Upper California. Hon. Wм. M. MEREDITH, SIR: I have just received the enclosed letter, containing propositions to erect buildings for the accommodation of the customs at San Francisco.. I have, of course, made no reply, but desire to submit it to your consideration, presuming, however, that nothing will be determined upon until you shall hear from me, on my arrival at San Francisco. I could do no less than submit it to you. Very respectfully, Hon. W. M. MEREDITH, J. COLLIER, WASHINGTON, April 4, 1849. SIR: Understanding that it is the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury that the government of the United States may not want as many stores at San Francisco as I offered to rent in my proposition to the department, and that the power to contract for such stores has been delegated by law to the collectors, I proceed to make such modifications in my original proposition as may meet the demands of government. Myself and associate are willing to build eight stores of the character we first proposed, following the plans as submitted by Geo. Law, esq., of New York, (for stores in that city,) which were left with the late Secretary of the Treasury, and approved by him. Of the stores I propose to build, five must be taken by the government the moment they are finished, at an annual rent of seven thousand dollars, payable quarterly-it being distinctly understood that, as soon as the increasing commerce of San Francisco shall require more store room, the collector shall rent the additional stores, upon the same terms. We stipulated for two years' time in which to complete the building of the stores; but our own interest is a sufficient guaranty that they will be built at the earliest practical moment. Yet it must be borne in mind that we will have to ship all our material from the Atlantic cities, (a six months' voyage,) and a single accident to a vessel bearing the material, which no insurance could prevent, might delay us six or eight months; but, should no unforeseen difficulty arise, we confidently believe that we will have the stores ready for use within twelve months. The plans of Mr. Law, by which we purpose to be governed, were made out with great care, and are on file in the Treasury Department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. JAS. COLLIER, Collector, San Francisco. DANL. SAFFARRANS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 7, 1849. SIR: The confirmation of "William Prentiss," under date the 1st instant, nominated by you to be an "inspector of the customs for the district of Upper California," is hereby revoked; and you are requested to withdraw said nomination. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. M. MEREDITH, Secretary of the Treasury. J. COLLIER, Esq., Collector district U. California, Now at Steubenville, Ohio. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 10, 1849. SIR: It is deemed proper to call your attention to the subject of the deputy collectors and inspectors of the customs recently appointed by you, with the approval of the department, and to state that before those officers. ean, in pursuance of law, enter upon the discharge of their respective duties or be allowed compensation, they must qualify by taking the oath or affirmation prescribed by law-such oath or affirmation to be taken before yourself, as collector of the district to which they respectively belong, and transmitted to the department. For your information, a form of the oath or affirmation, to be taken by the deputy collectors as well as by the inspectors of the customs, has been prepared, and will be found on the opposite page of this letter. Very respectfully, JAMES COLLIER, Esq., C. B. PENROSE, Acting Secretary of the Treasury. Collector of district of Upper California, now at Steubenville, O. STEUBENVILLE, April 12, 1849. SIR: Yours of the 7th instant, revoking the confirmation of William Prentiss, (nominated by myself as inspector of the customs for the district of Upper California,) was received on yesterday. In accordance with your request, I withdraw said nomination. I regret that I am unadvised as to his location in Illinois, and that I cannot, therefore, give him notice of what has transpired. As I shall have occasion, before leaving, of submitting several nominations for your consideration, I shall defer making any at this date to fill the vacancy which has thus occurred. I am making every exertion to leave at the earliest possible moment. My business affairs, of course, require some attention previous to my departure. I will advise you from Cincinnati or St. Louis of my move ments. Very respectfully, Hon. Wм. M. MEREDITH, J. COLLIER, Collector, &c. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 20, 1849. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters of the 4th instant and that of the 12th instant, from Steubenville, Ohio. Should you have arrived at any definite conclusion on the subject of procuring proper warehousing accommodations at San Francisco, Upper California, and for the custom-house, referred to in your letters, you will find the enclosed form an aid in enabling you to put any agreement you may make on the subject in proper form, for submission to this department for its sanction. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES COLLIER, Esq., Secretary of the Treasury. Collector of Customs, district of Upper California, Articles of agreement made and concluded this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-nine, by and between Daniel Saffarrans of the first part, and the United States of America, by James Collier, collector of the district of San Francisco, California, acting by the direction and authority of William M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, of the second part. The said party of the first part, for the considerations hereinafter mentioned, doth for himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, hereby covenant with the said party of the second part, that he will well and substantially erect, build, and finish a store or building in said San Francisco, of the dimensions and description hereinafter mentioned, the whole subject to such modifications and alterations as the said collector of San Francisco shall require or approve, to wit: Said stores to be four stories high, twenty-five feet wide, and one hundred feet long, to be constructed of iron and brick, so far as may be necessary to make them strictly fireproof, and to be built in the strongest and most approved manner, the said collector reserving to himself the sole power and privilege of selecting the site or ground upon which said store or stores shall be erected. It is further understood that said collector is to lease said store or stores of said party of the first part for the term of fifteen years. The rent per annum to be determined upon and fixed by the collector, at the time said store or stores shall be erected and received by said collector. And the said party of the first part doth further covenant, that he will erect and finish said store in such manner as the said collector shall require or approve, so that the said store shall be ready for occupancy on or before the first day of September, eighteen hundred and fifty. And the said party of the first part doth further covenant, that whenever the said store shall be erected and finished and ready for occupancy to the acceptance of said collector, he will lease, and he doth hereby lease, the said store to the said party of the second part for a term commencing on the day when the said collector shall approve and accept of said store, and terminating on the expiration of the term aforesaid, to wit: fifteen years from the time they are received by said collector, upon the terms and conditions and for the rent hereinafter mentioned. And the said party of the first part doth further covenant, that the said store is free from all incumbrance, and that the United States shall not be liable for any lien upon said store during the term aforesaid, or any other claim of any nature whatsoever, except only the rent hereinafter stipulated, and that he will keep the said store in good order and sufficient repair-injuries arising from the misconduct of officers of the government only excepted. And the said party of the second part do hereby covenant with the said party of the first part, his heirs, executors, and administrators, that whenever the said store shall be ready for the occupancy to the acceptance of the said collector, they will hire and lease of the said party of the first part the said store, upon the terms and conditions and for the period herein mentioned; that they will pay rent for the said store, at the rate of dollars per annum, said rent to be paid quarter-yearly on the first of January, April, July, and October; and that the said rent on said store shall commence as soon as the same be ready for occupancy and accepted by the said collector as aforesaid. And it is further agreed by the said parties of the first and second parts, that should the said store be destroyed or injured by fire, or the action of any of the elements, so that the same shall become untenantable, the said party of the first part shall rebuild and repair the same as soon as practicable; and the rent of said store shall cease and remain discontinued during all the time the occupancy of said store shall be interrupted or prevented from the causes aforesaid, or any other cause not arising from the act or default of the Secretary of the Treasury or the collector aforesaid. In testimony whereof, the said parties to these presents, on the day and year first above written, have hereunto, and to two other copies of the same, interchangably set their hands and seals, the said party of the first part in person, and the United States by James Collier, collector, acting as aforesaid; and William M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, in evidence of the authority aforesaid and of his approval of the premises, has hereunto affixed his official signature. DANIEL SAFFARRANS. [L. S.] Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of SAML. T. WYLIE. N. HEADINGTON. STATE OF OHIO, Hamilton county, sct: Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a notary public in and for the county and State aforesaid, on this twenty-eighth day of April, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty-nine, Daniel Saffarrans and James Collier, the parties to the foregoing instrument, and severally acknowledged the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my SAML. T. WYLIE, Notary Public. The foregoing articles of agreement are approved on the following express reservations and conditions only, to wit: First. That wherever the name of James Collier, collector of the dis trict of San Francisco, California, is mentioned, or where the words collector or said collector are used, they shall be deemed and understood to mean and apply to the collector of the district aforesaid in his official capacity for the time being. Second. That this agreement is understood and intended to apply to the construction and renting of one "store or building" only, and to no more, unless hereafter deemed necessary, and then rented with the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury. Third. The rate of rent to be paid for the building to be agreed upon by the collector, subject expressly to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Fourth. The rent stipulated for to depend upon and to be paid out of appropriations expressly made by Congress for the purpose, and from no other source, or according to the existing laws at the time of payment. In witness whereof, I, William M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the Treasury Department, this eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine. [L. S.] W. M. MEREDITH, Secretary of the Treasury. I, William M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, do hereby certify the within to be a correct and true copy of the original, one file in this department. In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, and affixed the seal of the Treasury Department, this fourteenth day [L. S.] of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine. W. M. MEREDITH, CINCINNATI, April 26, 1849. SIR: Having reached this city several days since, and, after some delay, completed my arrangements, I shall leave this afternoon for St. Louis. |