The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24

pcsitory oorrBpoaAs With Ne amount waich ~
books and returns cell for"
In each depositoey found the amount Of money
Al Pittsburs. In shst there Was . def sienoy q
sls,96s 81, caused BY robbery Committed Some
Ths money there wss kept in An unfinished build
ing, In suoh way as TO invite aggression. Tho ar
chitect hsd placed vault in the room, but it WAS
intended only for the safe keeping Of books Ii
was constructed Of thin walls Of brick, unlined vita
ron II had two iron doors, but only the outer enc
had any fastening, and that was OF the mist COM
moa construction.
Mr. Hastings the collector OF customs and deposi-
tAIy At Pittsburg as he ON hia way after night
fslit0 his hons in Allegheny City, was attacked by
fo,tPads and nearly murdered. They took from
him his watch, nine hundred dollars In money (his
private funds), and the key OF the vault. On the
same night the public money was distracted but as
the robbers shut the door Of the vault and locked it
after they had attained their object, it was not
known till next morning that robbery had been
committed.
Having been informed Of the inadequacy Of the
defences in tho Custom house at Pittsburg the
Treasury Department had authorized the Collector
TO employ two watchmen, though the sum then in
the depository was not large. Two watchmen were
accordingly employed, but they proved unfaithful
to their trust. One of them was drunk and asleep
perhaps had been drugged; the other is strongly
There win be no loss to government as the bonds
given by the depositary will cover the amount alb
stracted; bit the loss will fall heavy on worthy
man.
Some useful lessons may be derived from this
mishap. II the double lock and key system, which
is in use In the large repositories and some of the
smaller ones, had been in In Pttsburg, the foot
pads would have had to assail two mon instead of
one in order to get possession OF both keys, and
there 10 little probability that both OF the holders
OF the keys would have been at one time In such q
place or places as invite an attack.
Again, public repositories should be so con-
nd hat thn int t>or hn
even IL the watchmen employed prove unfaithful to
their trust. They should be 70 strong, and con-
structed in such way, Is to bid defiance to any a..
patton Of burglars, in the length Of time burglars
would have to operate. The depository at Boston
ia the only ono that at present fully answers this
description.
"5th. whether anything further can be done to
promote the convenience Of those officers whose
duty 1t in to receive, keep, pay and transfer the
pubic money, also the convenience Of those to
whom payments are to be made"
Atsome Of the repositories some inconvenience is
experienced from the want Of suitable scales for
Weighing gold and silver and various little conve-
niences might be supplied to the others, which
would greatly facilitate business. To enumerate
them here would be tedious and Is unnecessary, as
what is wanted at each depository is mentioned in
my special reports A moderate appropriation Is
ali that is required for Strengthening the presout
repositories 80 - to make them secure from fire,
thieves and burglars, and fit them up with every
"6th Whether anything more can be done to facil
itate the transfer Of the public funds from place to
place, and to lessen the expense thereof"
saly transfers Of public funds VIII be carefully avoid
ed. At present the government is occasionally
under the necessity Of making some traAsfers simply
because the securities against fire, thieves and rob-
ben, at the places where the money 10 collected,
are net deemed sufficient. Transfers from these
motives will be ecessary, the repositories be
strengthened in tho manner above recommended.
II viii probably be advisable before long to estab.
lish depository in Minnesota and another high up
the Missouri, il the Kansas and Nebraska territories
shall be settled as rapidly q is anticipated. This
will save the risk and expense OF transporting part
Of the money collected at the land Offices In the far
West to the present repositories at st. Lo7is and
Dubuque, and after yards carrying it back again to
defray the expenses Of Indian agencies and other
charges against the United States government in
those distant regions.
necessary. they can, in most parts Of tho country
owing to the facilities which railroads and steam
boats afford, be made from one depository to ano.
ther with great despatch and at very small ex-
pense. But even this is, in many instances, made
unnecessary by the use Of the transfer drafts.
For example: person in Washington City wishes
to pay sum of money In New York. He deposits
the gold or silver in tho treasury Office at Washing
ton, and receives an order in return for an equal
amount Of gold and silver on the assistant treasurer
at Ne. ye-A tAi: Wy ts> ee~..sn.As. = ssyed
e q 1s pr1ss
the expense OF earring sold and silver from Wash
ineton City to New York. The government Is psr
fecy secure for it does not issue the transfer draft
ill the gold or silver is actually paid into the Trea
sury Office The private individual runs no risk, for
the gold ard silver on which the draft is drawn il
actually in the Assistant Treasures Office At the
same time these drafts are for such amounts that
they do not become part Of tae circulating me.
unnecessary transportation Of specie from place to
place.
already avoided by means Of these transfer drafts,
and viii be to greater extent IS soon as the sys.
ten is more generally understood.
Immigrants and others are now subject to some
purchase Of lands far Into the interior There the
money is paid into the land Offices, and then il has
to be brought back by the government to some one
of the depositories before Il can be applied to the
might be avoided BY provision that parties wish.
ing to purchase lands might make payment
for the same in advance ct any depository,
and receive . certificate for the amount. which
certificate should be receivable in full pay.
presented Sithin a stipulated period. There would
be 10 more danger Of such certificate becoming a
circulating medium than there is Of the scrip
now issued by the land Office becoming such. To q
certain exte nj this principle has already been ted
on. II made general, it would prove convenience
both to the government and to those wishing to
ulchasc public LANDS.
This principle might be ap Piled more extensively,
ard has been already in some cases. Merchants in
inland cities such, for example, as ST. Louis and
Cincinnati-msy occasionally find 1t more conve-
nien. 10 make their payments Of duties at She sea
ports through which the goods are introduced ints
the country than at the places where they actually
reside. Tnofe engaged Ia the construction of rail-
roads, also though the iron imported from abroad
may be consigned to the far West, may find 1t more
convenient 10 pay their duties at the seaports In the
Esst, whence they derive most OF the capital for
making their railioads. II allowed to pay their du.
ties at the port Of Importation they would be saved
the expense Of carry ing the money to the West and
government saved the expense Of bringing it back
agsin.
1t is 6xed principle Of policy with the United
States government to grant every facility that can
be grated with propllety to those having payments
70 make into The public treasury; and though much
has already been dooe in this way all perhaps, ha
not beer done that might be done.
There Is one way Of making transfers Of the pub.
lie funds which appears to be highly Objectionable.
IL ia ~ nj of IN ausfer alta 10 banksfS