The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-28
The United states Mat.

The reply of the Secretary of the Treasury to
the resolution of the House, offered oy Mr.
Washburne, OF Illinois, relative to the receipts
and expenses of the mint OF the United States
and branches, and the cost and probable busi-
ness OF the branch mint at Carson City, Nevada,
was received yesterday. The receipts at the
Mint in this city, for the three last fiscal
years, from the coinage of gold aud silver, were
$2lS,O6 IN gold, and the expenses $637S30 IN
currency; the average annual expenses over
the income for the past three years have
been $685. ,92l. During the same period the
amount OF minor coinage manufactured aud
issued was 81, 239, 495; expense OF manu-
facture, S2l 342, ,032; the income over expenses,
estimating these coins at their nominal
has been paid into the Treasury, the annual
average income from the source beng S965, $50.
TIE receipts of the United States Assay Office
for three years were $l88 74H and the expenses
$500 30l, and the average annual expense over
the income being S93, 1853. The receipts of the
branch mint at San Francisco tor three years
were. in gold, $l66,577, and the expenses, in
gold $685. s29, and the average annual expense
over the income being S63, $685. The expendi-
lures OF the branch mint az Denver since the
date Of its establishment in 1862 were 1926. GIL,
and the total receipts only $95l3. A oil to
transfer this institution into assay office was
transmitted to Congress in February, 1867, aud
a similar bill has again been sent in during the
present session, to which the attention OF Con-
gress is called.
The expenses of the branch mint at Charlotte,
n, c., opened as an assay office ia 1867, have
been $532l, and the receipts only S2435. The
Secretary recommends that the branch mints in
North Carolina and Georgia and at New Orleans
be disposed of to the best advantage. The total
cost OF the branch mint at Caston City, Nevada
including machinery and fixtures, vas $276 1877,
of which amount $3.50, 900 has already been
appropriated by Congress. 1t is not thought
tia branch mint, complete in it's appoint
ments, can be erected on the Pacific coast at an
expense of much less than the cost OF this
establishment. The production of bullion in
Nevada is chiefly silver. Silver is only coined
for purposes of change, and all silver beiug
exported in bars, the coinage in Nevada must
therefore consist chiefly OF the gold bullion
produced in that State, which is
estimated at $1,000, 900. In 1864 an
act was passed establishing branch
mint at Dallas City, Oregon, and 100000 was
appropriated for that purpose. The plans have
| been prepared, and work IS soon to be com
menced, and ii is possible the building and
| fixtures will cost as muCh as the branch mint in
| Nevada. In conclusion, the Secretary expresses
| the hope, so frequently made previously, that
no more branch mints will be authorized by
| Congress. Two mints are located in the Atlantic
| and one in the Pacific States, which are suh
| cient to supply the coinage for the whole
country. All other similar establishments
| require not only the erection OF expensive
! buildings but large annual appropriations toi
! their maintenance, without returning cores
| nonding benefits TO the Government.