The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-11-19

sesfetary Richardson's order to Treasure
Spinner directing the payment of silver is az fol
lows: You viii please, ON and after the receipt
ofthis letter, and until otherwise ordered, pas
public creditors, Should they desire IL on ae-
count Of currency igationa, but not in ex-
change Ter eurrend sum not To exceed 1--WE
dollsrain ssis one aynlent ii silver cpin.
4 The report d tie second auditor Of The
treasury shows tllss tae hsanlbei 81 apcailats
examined By that bwreau during the past fiscal
year was $4s, 969, 8242O; and for bounty, ar
rears of pay, ETC., aggregating over forty-nine
million dollars. 1t is expected that an effectu-
al stop will soon be given to the fraudulent
practices in the bounty claim business. The
number of cases awaiting action is four thou-
sand seven hundred ard forty-nine.
Estimates for the legislative branch of the
government have all been prepared, and show
an increase over those of any previous year
This is accounted for by the fact that the pay of
members and senators now is more than here
tofore. Estimates for salaries Of senators for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, 1856, 900,
and for pay OF officers and employees of the
senate, $144,000; for contingent expenses,
S199,000 for salaries of members OF the house
50, 100000, for salaries of officers and en-
ployes $219, 600; contingent expenses, $267,-
600. Another cause Of the increase is that
the number of members of the house now is
292 instead of 242, as under the old apportion-
ment.
Secretary Richardson hopes to keep up
payment Of silver, expressing the opinion that
he will be able to do so unless a run upon the
treasury be made, and silver taken out for the
purpose of being boarded. There is at pres
ent about $780, 900 of silver in possession of
the government, which, it is thought will last
some weeks. The work of coming will be con-
tinued, though not more rapidly than hereto
fore. There is an abundance of silver bars
in the country, and the silver of the mints is
sufficient for coinage of about4$ "a, ,OO0, 600 in
age. With the exception of that in California,
there is but little silver coin in the country |
now, not owned by the government.
The secretary Of the treasury, relative to |
the contemplated issue Of silver coin to take |
the place Of currency in making payments by
the department, says he does not know exact
Ey how much will be paid out, and expects it
will be convenient for him next week to issue
about $4,000 in the regular course of busi-
ness, but it will depend on circumstances if
gold should go up silver would not be paid out
nor will it if sold again to bankers for specu-
lative purposes. 1t is not to be expected that
the treasury will begin the 1st of November
10 pay out silver coin for every purpose and
nus exhaust Immediately the entire amount
held by the government. One illustration Of
he manner of making such payments was pre-
,ented by the secretary to-day who said that
+ person should present check for 1856 40,
he chances we're that he would receive five dol
ars and forty cents of the amount in silver.
The determination Of the department is to is
jue silver to whatever extent it can be conve- I
liently done, and as there is bullion sufficient {
o coin about 92OO, 900 within week. this will |
70 used as a beginning,
The following statement has been pre-
jared by Commissioner Drummond of the
General land office, for his forthcoming report
uring the last fsoal year. of Puflie= Land dis j
.o~e3- Of s-a fellows, the fguras represent t
ng acres in round numbers: Cash 6
,aid $16, 262, ,626; located with military war
ants 214 $40; taken for homesteads $685.
SO; located with Agricultural College script
5S 446 certified to railroads 6,083, 1856; certi-
led to wagon road 76, ,576; approved to states I
s sw&mps 23S, ,548; certified for Agricultural Y
colleges 1929 certified for universities ST. I
as; certified for common schools 79, 908; cer- c
fled for seminaries 800; approved to states r
or internal improvements. 19O,79 Indian
cript location, IA, ,228; total in round numbers,
g. 030, ,606; disposal Of previous year. II 1884,
rs; increase Of disposal, 2,163,6s1. Cash re- O
eipts under various heads amounted to 5, 40s,- j
Is; surveys during the same period show t
1tal of 80, ,4ss, ,939 acres surveyed during the n
reviops year, %, ,45O, ,989; increase in number :
acres surveyed, 1857, 1874; total area of
md in states and territories, 1884, 99s, 400 :
ores, and making the proper deduction, l. :
Is, ,449,605 acres are yet to be surveyed. s