would be better employed in buying Saginaw salt than in producing it on the spot.

The above estimated profits might be somewhat diminished by expense of superintendence, office rent, hauling the wood up to the blocks, and perhaps some other incidentals. The main result, however, astonishing as it is, cannot be materially affected by controversy. When it is remembered that the cost of a barrel of salt at Syracuse is at least 95 cents, and on the Kanawha 90 cents, the reader will begin to perceive the grounds of an opinion advanced near the commencement of this article.

The only question which remains, and one upon which the predicted growth of the manufacture must depend, is that which respects the quality of Saginaw salt. There is no corner on which our predictions rest with greater security. The appearance of a pile of Saginaw salt is that of driven snow glistening in the morning sun. The grain is coarse, clean, and angular; the taste purely saline and unexceptionable, and the weight is 58 pounds to the measured bushel. Letters and documents are in the hands of the manufacturers proving that the acceptance of Saginaw salt is such that the market is literally clamorous for an adequate supply. It would occupy too much space to make many citations. The "Mechanics' Institute, of Chicago," the New York State Agricultural Society, (at Elmira,) and the "Mechanics' Association, of Utica," have severally awarded the salt of the East Saginaw Company their highest testimonials. HARVEY WILLIAMS, Esq., one of the oldest and most extensive fish packers on the lakes, certifies: "My experience and observation lead me to the opinion that the salt manufactured by your company is purer, stronger, safer, and more economical for fishermen than the Syracuse fine salt." He also names several other parties who have used the salt for fish packing with the same results. In Detroit, this salt is ranked equal to any, and is very often called for in preference to Syracuse salt. The annual statement of the Trade and Commerce of Toledo, says: "We are led to the conclusion that eventually all the beef, pork, &c., packed west of Lake Erie, will be laid down in Saginaw salt." Dow, QUIRK & Co., of Chicago, think Saginaw salt "superior to any that comes to this market." Large quantities of this salt are now sold in London, C. W., whence it is distributed through the province. St. Louis and Cincinnati also take large supplies; and the demand, at all these points, is far more than can be furnished.

I close this article with the following table of such works as are either in operation or nearly ready to go into operation. The values of the various works (with a few exceptions) are ascertained by estimating a site at $1,000; a well at - 4,000, and one block at $4,000.

The well No. 7 is not tubed, and the works are not at present in progress. No. 11 has, in addition, one block on a modification of the present Kanawha method. No. 16 has one block on a modification of the old Kanawha method; and No. 12 has a block on the CHAPIN method. The East Saginaw Company has two wells, and has expended $8,500 for 520 covers. The Saginaw Valley Company has eight covers, and the Bay City Company a small number:

STATISTICS OF THE SALT MANUFACTURE IN THE SAGINAW VALLEY, MICHIGAN.

10th February, 1862, 25th February, 1862,

806 40

EXCISE TAX.

As

THE following is an official copy of the new Tax Bill with an index. this measure affects almost every mercantile transaction, we believe we cannot do our subscribers a better service than by giving it to them complete. August 1st is the date set in the bill for the act to take effect, but by a joint resolution, the Secretary is authorized to name any subsequent day not later than the first of October. Notice has been given that the date fixed is the first day of September:

AN ACT TO PROVIDE INTERNAL REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT AND TO PAY INTEREST ON THE PUBLIC DEBT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the purpose of superintending the collection of internal duties, stamp duties, licenses, or taxes imposed by this act, or which may be hereafter imposed, and of assessing the same, an office is hereby created in the Treasury Department to be called the office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the President of the United States is hereby authorized to nominate, and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint, a Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with an annual salary of four thousand dollars, who shall be charged, and hereby is charged, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, with preparing all the instructions, regulations, directions, forms, blanks, stamps, and licenses, and distributing the same, or any part thereof, and all other matters pertaining to the assessment and collection of the duties, stamp duties, licenses, and taxes which may be necessary to carry this act into ef fect, and with the general superintendence of his office, as aforesaid, and shall have authority, and hereby is authorized and required, to provide proper and sufficient stamps or dies for expressing and denoting the several stamp duties, or the amount thereof in the case of percentage duties, imposed by this act, and to alter and renew or replace such stamps from time to time, as occasion shall require; and the Secretary of the Treasury may assign to the office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue such number of clerks as he may deem necessary, or the exigencies of the public service may require, and the privilege of franking all letters and documents pertaining to the duties of his office, and of receiving free of postage all such letters and documents, is hereby extended to said commissioner.

GENERAL PROVISIONS.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of assessing, levying, and collecting the duties or taxes hereinafter prescribed by this act, the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to divide, respectively, the States and Territories of the United States and the District of Columbia into convenient collection districts, and to nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint an as

sessor and a collector for each such district, who shall be residents within the same: Provided, That any of said States and Territories and the District of Columbia may, if the President shall deem it proper, be erected into and included in one district: Provided, That the number of districts in any State shall not exceed the number of representatives to which such State shall be entitled in the present Congress, except in such States as are entitled to an increased representation in the Thirty-Eighth Congress, in which States the number of districts shall not exceed the number of representatives to which any such State may be so entitled: And provided, further, That in the State of California the President may establish a number of districts not exceeding the number of senators and representatives to which said State is entitled in the present Congress.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That each of the assessors shall divide his district into a convenient number of assessment districts, subject to such regulations and limitations as may be imposed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, within each of which he shall appoint one assistant assessor, who shall be resident therein; and each assessor and assistant assessor so appointed, and accepting the appointment, shall, before he enters. on the duties of his appointment, take and subscribe, before some competent magistrate, or some collector, to be appointed by virtue of this act, (who is hereby empowered to administer the same,) the following oath or affirmation, to wit: "I, A B, do swear, or affirm, (as the case may be,) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and will support the Constitution thereof, and that I will, to the best of my knowledge, skill, and judgment, diligently and faithfully execute the office and duties of assessor for, (naming the assessment district,) without favor or partiality, and that I will do equal right and justice in every case in which I shall act as assessor." And a certificate of such oath or affirmation shall be delivered to the collector of the district for which such assessor or assistant assessor shall be appointed. And every assessor or assistant assessor acting in the said office without having taken the said oath or affirmation shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars, one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other moiety thereof to him who shall first sue for the same, with costs of suit.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That before any such collector shall enter upon the duties of his office, he shall execute a bond for such amount as shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, with not less than five sureties to be approved as sufficient by the Solicitor of the Treasury, containing the condition that said collector shall faithfully perform the duties of his office according to law, and shall justly and faithfully account for and pay over to the United States, in compliance with the order or regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, all public moneys which may come into his hands or possession; which bond shall be filed in the office of the First Controller of the Treasury. And such collectors shall, from time to time, renew, strengthen, and increase their official bond, as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That each collector shall be authorized to appoint, by an instrument of writing under his hand, as many deputies as he may think proper, to be by him compensated for their services, and also to revoke any such appointment, giving such notice thereof as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall prescribe; and may require bonds or

VOL. XLVII.—NO. III.

15

other securities and accept the same from such deputy; and each such deputy shall have the like authority, in every respect, to collect the duties and taxes levied or assessed within the portion of the district assigned to him which is by this act vested in the collector himself; but each collector shall, in every respect, be responsible both to the United States and to individuals, as the case may be, for all moneys collected, and for every act done as deputy collector by any of his deputies whilst acting as such, and for every omission of duty: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent any collector from collecting himself the whole or any part of the duties and taxes so assessed and payable in his district.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of any person or persons, partnerships, firms, associations, or corporations, made liable to any duty, license, stamp, or tax imposed by this act, when not otherwise and differently provided for, on or before the first day of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and on or before the first Monday of May in each year thereafter, and in all other cases before the day of levy, to make a list or return to the assistant assessor of the district where located, of the amount of annual income, the articles or objects charged with a special duty or tax, the quantity of goods, wares, and merchandise made or sold, and charged with a specific or ad valorem duty or tax, the several rates and aggregate amount according to the respective provisions of this act, and according to the forms and regulations to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, for which such person or persons, partnerships, firms, associations or corporations are liable to be assessed under and by virtue of the provisions of this

act.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the instructions, regulations, and directions, as herein before mentioned, shall be binding on each assessor and his assistants, and on each collector and his deputies, in the performance of the duties enjoined by or under this act; pursuant to which instructions the said assessors shall, on the first day of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and on the first Monday of May in each succeeding year, and from time to time thereafter, in accordance with this act, direct and cause the several assistant assessors to proceed through every part of their respective districts, and inquire after and concerning all persons being within the assessment districts where they respectively reside, owning, possessing, or having the care or management of any property, goods, wares, and merchandise, articles or objects liable to pay any duty, stamp or tax, including all persons liable to pay a license duty, under the provisions of this act, (by reference as well to any lists of assessment or collection taken under the laws of the respective States, as to any other records or documents, and by all other lawful ways and means, especially to the written list, schedule, or return required to be made out and delivered to the assistant assessor by all persons owning, possessing, or having the care or management of any property, as aforesaid, liable to duty or taxation,) and to value and enumerate the said objects of taxation, respectively, in the manner prescribed by this act, and in conformity with the regulations and instructions before mentioned.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if any person owning, possessing, or having the care or management of property, goods, wares, and merchandise, articles or objects liable to pay any duty, tax, or license, shall fail to make and exhibit a written list when required, as aforesaid, and shall