Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-08-25
FOUR TONS OF GOLD.

arrived, yesterday, at the Sub-Treasury
at San Francisco. According to the
usual method of reckoning the weight of
gold coin, the weight of this amount was
about four tons. When gold is shipped
in the ordinary manner, in kegs of $780,
900 each. it is customary to consider
100000 equal to ton; but, as the
iron-bound oaken kegs form an item in
the estimate, the net weigh of the gold
is somewhat less. When the law for the
recoinage of all gold pieces which had
suffered from abrasion had been partly
carried into effect, the Assistant Treas
urer at Boston notified the Treasury De-
partment that he had more gold than he
needed, and a considerable amount was
therefore sent from Boston to this city.
Mr.. Ashley, the chief of the con divis-
ION in the Sub Treasury here. says that
he supposes the department is carrying
OUT Jne same peIIcy IN regard TO san
francisco, this being the only city where
the Government needs to keep gold in
large quantities for mercantile purposes.
The 100000 received here yester-
day was packed in twelve strong iron
chests, each about two and a half feet in
length by sixteen inches in breadth and
depth. The gold, which consists entire
ly of double eagles. was in stout canvas
bags, one hundred in number each con-
tanning $4,000. Every bag bore seal
affixed by the Assistant Treasurer at San
Francisco, and each of the chests had
three combination locks, which the As
sistant Treasurer secured. The expla-
nation of the combination was sent to
Assistant Treasurer Hillhouse of this
city, in two instalments, one by mail
and one by express, so that if either
fell into wrong hands it would afford no
information. The treasure was brought
overland from San Francisco by the Adj
ans Express Company, which was re-
sponsible to the Government for its
safety. The car containing it was guard
ed by nine armed men. On the arrival
of the gold in this city it was carried in
express wagons to the Sub Treasury
where the chests, weighing between 500
and 700 pounds apiece, were placed on
trucks and rolled into the coin division.
The bags were then emptied and the
contents of each counted by weighing.
The exact weight of $4,000 in gold
coin being known, the absence of sim
gle piece would be instantly detected
About $1,0OO,OO0 of the amount was
fresh from the mint, and this it was nee.
essary merely to weigh. The rest, hav-
ing been in circulation, must be examin.
ed piece by piece to see that every one
is genuine. Two coin experts began
their labor, yesterday, and will proba.
bly, be occupied in it for week. Sc
large an amount of gold is rarely receiv
ed at the Sub-Treasury at one time
Mr.. Ashley says that it now contains
little more than S3o,0OO,OOO in golc
coin, which is an unusually heavy sup
ply. One reason for this is the light
shipping demand, only 1900 having
been delivered for shipment since tn,
lst of last January, which is less thar
half the amount in the corresponding
period last year. This is accounted fo
by the fact that the balance of trade ha
been in our favor, the exports havin,
been about $4,000 900 more and tn
imports $50, 100000 less than yea
ago.
In addition to this the Sub Treasur,
now contains about $1O,OOO,OOO in gol,
bars, 100000 in silver and $4,000,
900 in curreney.-Nea0 York Post.
Mississippi has a statute that punish
I