The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-07

dent submitted the following message L
the Senate to-day:
10 he Senate Of the United Statcs:
In reply 20 the request Of the Senate
Of the 9th OF FEBRUARY last, requesting thC
President to institute inquiries as to tht
proper place for the establishment OF /
branch mint at some point in the West
ern States, or In the Mississippi Valley,
transmit herewith the report and accom-
panying papers Of the Superintendent o.
the Mint, who was charged with the duty
Of making the inquiries called for BY
said resolution.
[sjgnedl US. GRANT.
DR.. Landerman in his report says
that he has visited the cities oi
Chicago, Cincinnati, 81. Louis, Indian.
apolis, Kansas City and Denver and ex-
amined their advantages respectively
with reference to the establishment of a
mint. He then says: The principal com.
mercial and railroad centres in the West
are St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indi-
annapolis, Omaha and Kansas City. All
offer ample facilities for the economical
conducting Of mint operations, both as
respects tho cost OF necessary supplies
and rates Of labor. They also possess
sufficient facilities for distributing coin
to the cities and towns Of the Mississippi
Valley. For the coinage Of silver it is
not very material which Of the cities re-
ferred to shall be selected for the location
Of the mint, as under the law such coin
age, with the exception OF the trade dol
lar, must be on government account ex-
clusiyely, and the bullion for the same
procured by purchase. The supply will
come chiefly from the different reduc-
ton and refining works hereafter re-
ferred to. II is important, however, to
avoid, il possible, the delay and particu-
larly the expense which would attend the
construction Of new edifice, which may
be accomplished by utilizing some Gov
ernment building no longer, required for
other purposes. The only Government
buildings in the West adapted for mint
operations are the United States Arsenal
at Indianapolis, and the United States
Postoffice ut St. Louis, which will require
probably three or four years. The edi-
fce at indianapolis, 1t Is believed, is no
longer required for the purposes to which
1t has hitherto been devoted, and could
be converted into mint at moderate
expense within, say, six months from the
time OF its being vacated. If it be the
intention to establish mint in the West
cru States for the coinage Of silver only,
assuming that the arsenal building can
be vacated and turned over for Use as
mint, the true policy would appear to be
TO locate it at indianapolis. Having sta
ted my conclusions as to the location OF a
mint for the coinage Of silver, deem it
proper to refer briefly and in general
terms to the minting requirements Of the
territory known as the Mississippi Val
ley. That extensive and highly produc-
tive section will require in tho near fu.
ture considerable coinage OF gold and
silver. II demand is to be made by one
mint that il should be located at point as
near the centre OF the valley as practica-
bic, having reference to the procuring OF
cheap supplies and facilities for receiving |
bullion and distributing coin, the city Of
81. Louis being situated nearer the
centre Of the valley than any other
principal city or railroad centre, and
possessing equal advantages in other |
respects for the conducting Of coinage
operations, would appear to be a proper
location for the establishment OF mint
of capacity for both gold and silver
coinage equal to the requirements Of the
present and future. The director Of the
mint then speaks OF the extensive reduc-
ion and smelling OF precious ores now
carried on at Omaha, Chicago, 81. Louis,
ind various points in Colorado, and says
his business, which has already proved
very beneficial to the bullion producing
erritories, will be largely increased with
he further extension Of the railroads
ind would no doubt be benefited to some
.xtent should a mint be established in
he Mississippi Valley.
In conclusion he calls attention to de-
allied statements bearing on the subjects
# his inquiry which were furnished him
~ various local authorities, and which
,e transmits as an appendix to his re.
,ort.
The subcommittee Of the House Com
nittee on Appropriations this forenoon
ubmitted a report to theifull committee
m the Consular and Diplomatic Appro-
,riations bill. The estimates from the
Department called for 81 1852, ,4S0. This
B reduced to S1,264,349, saving Of
;SS,131.