The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-19

The Assistant treasurer reports to-day as fol-
lows
T Tossi rsee mers S5S5ll % z
totH pay l39y34S rs
Total balance .2,673, 1926 Il
The receipts to-day include SCI 900 from customs.
The duties paid at the Custom House now. are prin-
cipally on goods entered for consumption from ware
house. The direct arrivals are very small, many of
our packet ships coming out in ballast.
Mr.. Orville Oddie, of the firm of Oddie and st.
George, has been elected a member of the New York
Stock Exchange.
The bank returns for last week show the following
variations in the aggregates, compared WIN the
week previous -
Increase in loans and discounts 1851 COS
Increase in specie. 1904, l2S
Decrease IN circulation. ................. 266, l39
Increase in deposits, actual ................. 1,1Sl ,627
The increase in specie and in discounts is more
than Offset by the increase in actual deposits,
showing an increase in liabilities beyond their assets.
The accumulation of specie under these
ces is an evil. With superficial observers the large
increase in the specie reserve of our banks is held to
be a complete evidence of returning prosperity. In
this they make a very great mistake. The fact is
quite the contrary. Looked at in the proper light,
this movement shows that in the direct degree in
which the banks show a plethora of specie, the col
l~ections from the country or interior cities must be
the result of a depletion in quarters where it would
render better service. If it was not 80, and trade
was on a better footing, produce and not specie
would supply the means or method of remittance.
In these bank statements we have the best
argument to prove that there exists a general
arrangement, such as cannot be set right
until commerce shall resume its former activity.
When we see the current of specie setting from the
49, a. n .A-f- I'm Al - -
healthy and general improvement; but until then
every accumulation of bullion in the banks of this
city will be but adding more dead weight to a
burthen already too great to carry for any length of
time. The channels of trade have been drained of
bullion TO pile up in the vaults of our banks, nearly
every dollar of which Is SO much added TO the de-
mand liabilities of those institutions.
The New jersey Railroad and transportation Com
pany have declared a semi-annual dividend of five
per cent, payable February /.
The Exchange Fire Insurance Company has de-
clared a semiannual dividend Of five per cent, paya-
BILE February l; the Brooklyn Fire Insurance Com
rany a semi-annual dividend of ten per cent, paya-
bic February 1; the Farmers Bank of Virginia a
semiannual dividend of Eve per cent, payable on do
mand.
The earnings OF the New York Central Railroad
80 lchF " bt''MF'tf iSpff tuounteu fpDA,I5J
l., against sCs7,;36 Il Tor the same month in 1856,
showing q decrease Of 1921 -.
The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad
Company earned ito3l3 80 in December, 1857,
against s5O,Olj IS in December, 1856, showing a
decrease Of $9.696 ~.
The Comptroller General of South Carolina has
demanded of the suspended banks Of Charleston
payment Of the second months penalty for suspen-
- - -..... ---.. - = 80 tn
Planters and Mechanics Bank and the Southwest.
en Railroad Bank have anticipated the demand and
paid the penalty. The other suspended banks Of the
city have not yet paid. The Charleston Courier
maintains that the Comptroller General has no right
to exact this payment, the same having been re-
leased by the act Of the Legislature at its late ses-
sion, suspending the operation of the act Of is4O.
The earnings Of the Milwaukee and Mississippi
Railroad for December, 1857, were Sal 500, against
$50, 900 for December, 1856. The company run about
100 miles more than in 1856.
The land sales of the Illinois Central Railroad
Company for the year 1867 were 335, 722 acres, for
s4.59s, 2fl. Sold previously, Sos, 2ll acres. Total
since commencement, 200. 1888 acres value, 49,
81 ,44O 40. The total receipts during the year 1867
were e. 292, 4l3, against s2,434.s7s In ls56. Cash
applied TO interest fund during 1857, 1886 ,sls. Total
No applied, 81, lls52l.
The Panama Railroad Company. on paying their
usual semi-anAual dividend OF six per cent, accompa.
ny the same with a model report. This shows what
can be done by railroads properly constructed and
operated. The greater portion of the road il, we
understand, now relaid with lignunvitG ties. which
are almost indestructible, and but for the difficulty
Of procuring large timber Of this species, the whole
would have been finished the past season. Iron
bridges are taking the place Of the former wooden
ones, and no expense is spared In keeping IL up to
its design. For some time past a line Of steamers
from London 10 Aspinwall and from Panama b. Mel.
bourne has been contemplated, and also a rival line
from southampton 10 Aspinwall. Bat for the Eng.
lish government requiring the steamers for India. the
arrangements would ere this have been completed.
and cannot now be long delayed, as II il the most
direct and safest route. and eventually will com.
nand the preference for merchandise Of value, az
well rs passengers and specie.
by the report Of the Western (Mass.) Railroad
Company for the year ending Nov. 80, 1867. II ap-
pears that the capital stock paid in is q $50, 900;
the funded debt IL e. .633, 13j, an increase sinoe last
year Of 1854, 705; the floating debt Is sll3.l 4o so. an
increase since last year of $50 yOs0 ~: the total of
funded and floating debt is &c ,07G, SIS 30. The ave
rage rate Of interest per annnm paid through the
year was five and a half per cent. The value of the
sinking fund Is 81 ,793, 800. During the pearthe pas
senger trains Of the road have run ZIG, sO7 miles. and
have carried 629,O54 passengers; the freight cars
have run $50, FOG miles, and have carried s77 5o7 tons
of merchandise. The income Of the road during the
year has been 81 ,9l0,342 -, Of which sos .977 81
was for passengers, 81 ,0O7 ,ls5 81 for freight. and
800 ,179 40 from other sources. The total expendi.
ture for working the road was Al ,0e4 IFS SIS, leaving
a net income Of ss2G,223 80. From thi. two semi.
annual dividends of four per cent have been paid.
mounting to $4,000; interest on State loan. ss13.-
l26 60; payment to sinking fund, $4,000: loss on
Pittefeld and North Adams Railroad. 81 .els a..
leaving a surplus not divided Of t49,17s 81, which.
added 10 the surplus Of last year Of t255,741 "A.
-. n ,,<aI e,,,tus ~ toof uoo ~ n