The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-29

'The act of Congress authorizes the refusal
Of all deposites of less value than one hundred
dollars.
John H. WHEELER,
Superintendent"
Ii this circular was issued by authority of the
Treasury Department, the superintendent might
issue certificates which could easily be used as
/ Government paper money. But of this the com
mttee will not say more.
/ II will be observed that, in Doc No. 273, r.
M. Patterson, Director of the Mint in Philadel-
phla, says Of the Branch Mint al Charlotte,
The contract price for the Mint edifce was
| Sz9,6OO. The expenses incurred here (Phila-
delphia) in fitting out the establishment amount
TO S22, $50. OF the other expenditures under
this head, have not exact information"
| The committee feel bound TO give, as nearly
| as they can, the exact information which the
Director of the Mint in Philadelphia could not
| give.
BY reference TO the original vouchers in the
| Treasury Department, il appears that the Mint
edihce, according to the contract only cost
| $29,S00
But then there was charge for extra work
| mot included in the contract of $l,75S
And, besides this extra work, there is among
| the vouchers paper endorsed, g Acct. Samuel
NlCSoHlD, commissioner l3llllulng Branch MINI,
| Charlotte, N. CO one item of which is as fol-
lows: Agreement for building out-hopscs,
| fencing, as per contract with Jonas Bost, dated
26th July, 1887, $500.
| This induced inquiry into what fencing, &C.,
| could have cost the sum Of $500
The committee expected to find in this some
fixtures for ''coining gold" But they were sur
prised at the result Of their investigation, as will
appear hereafter.
Amonp tha nanarc laid hac,ra "A, oo,x,.x,,,, N
was letter from VIM. +. Strange, the clerk of
the Mint at Charlotte, addressed TO Jesse Mil
Ter, Esq, First Auditor, dated as follows:
"UNIrED STATES BRANCH Mint,
"CHARLorTE ON. CO. SEPT "a, 1899.
SIR: Pursuant to instructions received from
John II. Wheeler, Superintendent Of this branch
| of the Mint Of the United States, have the
honor OF enclosing copy of the specifications
| agreed upon between Samuel McComb, commits
sioner on behalf of the United States, and Jonas
Bost, contractor for enclosing the grounds and
| for building out houses.
"Very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
Nv. f. STRANGE.
"JEssE MILLER, Esq,
" FIRST auditor, &c, Washington city"
The committee give copy of the specifca-
tons above referred to.
They omit the specification of one of the build
ings, which, however, was to be of brick, single
roof, plastered inside, "and painted as the other
buildings"
Specifications for Acknowledgements belonging
to the Mint, for building out-houses, &c.
"Superintendent's Rooms.-The centre room
OF the basement story in the east wing of the
building to be laid with good pine plank floor
Ia inches thick, tongued and grooved, with
four air-pipes, one in each corner.
"Room TO be plastered in the same style as
the principal story. The windows to be filed
with SASH glass, and Venetian blind shutters
painted green, 10 open inside, and jamb cased
The jamb between the chimney and wall to be
filled up with closet or beaufet, with two sets
OF panel doors. The doors of the room to be
finished as those above. The floor of the pas
sage from the stairway to be laid with tiles or
bricks. The walls and ceiling and windows of
the passage to be finished and plastered in the
same style those above. The outer door of
the passage TO be folding, and of the style of the
main front door, or as the doors above Centre
room to be washboarded, and one mantel-piece
TO the fireplace as In the Clerks Office in the
Mint.
"The extreme east room Of the basement
story to be floored with brick The windows to
be sashed and jamcased as the windows of the
centre room, and the door to be finished as here
tofore described. The ceiling in this and all the
udSeiHeHt IoolIS W De plaSleTeu In tne same
style as before stated The side walls all to be
whitewashed door, lock, and shelves TO the
vault, and whitewashed
The third room, to have the floor levelled,
the windows to be sashed and jambed cased,
with shelves and drawers for closet and pantry.
Walls to be whitewashed.
1.-THE rooms in the attic story to have each a
closet in press FORM a table, and washstand
1.-THE piazzas to be ceed with plank, and
painted with three coats of white paint.
"JONAS BOST.
"SAM'L McCOMB, Commr"
"Basememt story Of The rear building. The
windows, four in number, nearest TO the centre,
to be sashed and jamb cased, the ceiling to be
of plaster and the walls whitewashed, with two
heavy battened doors with stock locks. A vice
bench feet long, 2 feet 10 inches high, Is
inches WIDE, and inches thick. South door to
be closed like the foundation of the Mint, and
another door or window to be made.
All the vaults Of the edifce to be fitted up
with shelves and pigeon-holes for the purpose Of
holding bullion, paper, and books
Three writing desks, one panneIed counter
with three coats Of paint, and covered with zinc.
A case of shelves to the height of the door in
the clerks room, and six small tables covered
with green baze, with draws, locks, and han
dies to each of them
"Bell and handle at front door: bell and han
die at outer parlor door.
JONAS BOST
"SAML. McCOMB, Comm.
GOVT HOUSES, &c.-The kitchen and smoke
house to be as per plan No. 2, brick and a half
thick The roofs to be covered with heart
shingles. The kitchen TO be furnished with
dresser in each jamb, and large table, with