The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-26
WASHINGTON.
etNERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GtNERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON. July %, 1878.
GOLD COIN AS THIRD CLASS NAIL MArrKn-
LETTER FROM THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
OBJECTIONS OF A RAILROAD COMPANY An
swERED.
The Postmaster General to-day replied to the COM
mupfcation received the Secretary Of the Treas
ury concerning the shipment OF gold coin from San
Francisco by mail third class matter" in which he
says
Tho Post once Department will do all in its
power 10 give sale and rapid transit to the
natter referred 20, and the necessary IN.
s,ructions win be issued to sho supern.snpsni OF
necessary that the gold coin be put up in packages
NO. exceeding Jour pounds and the package prepaid
gested by the Secretary Of the treasury.
The use OF iron sales VIII be adopted. II
POSTMASTER OF San Francisco other officer Of the
Post once Department. tho responsibility that would
in his favor, but an invoice 10 duplicate
may DO made OF each shipment and the
acknowledged by duly DESIGNATED officer Of THIS de-
partment and such invoice may be transIerrad with
Inc shIpmenI aud ack wledgment made thereof, as
often as may be necessary TO insure tho utmost Sc
purity she railway mail service can afford.
Eleven safes OF a capacity OF $1,000 each Will DO
furnished by Post Office Department TO be used In
this service until others be prepared especially
adapted for the purpose.
letter has been received at tho Post ONCE Depart,
ment from Strickland Kneoss, Esq, assistant TO tho
president OF Pennsylvania Railroad Company, OBJ
jecting to the forwarding OF coin from the Pacific
Coast OF Washington and New York gov
ernment account mail matter Of the third
class over the several lines operated by the Pennsyl
yania Railroad Company because OF an anticipated
overlooking Of the cars, additional visibility and
the transportation OF an additional number OF en-
ployes required as guards Second Assistant Post
master General Brady to-day in response to the let
Ter wrote as follows
mail matter shall not exceed four pounds
In weight; II defines this class
s,sss masaznss Sc ana ali o,nor
articles not above the weight prescribed by law,
which NOT iron their form or nature liable to de-
s,roy, aefacc otherwise injUre the
fonts OF the mail Dag; or Inc person
As coin s entirely free from the characteristics OF
tho articles enumerated as unavailable matter,
namely, all liquors. poisons. glass explosive ma
inevitable conclusion shat coin is maabs matter OF
tho third class.
Second-If coin is prepared for mailing paid
by law becomes the duty OF tue Post
master General accept It and provide Tor Its
mission, and by refusing 10 do so would bc violation
TAird-it Is to be observed that the coin
is 20 be transferred from the West to the
East and the iaciltiss provided for the postal
service on ali trunk lines are not taxed on
imam epehsii sh.ir capacity. 1t coin Be- forwarded
as proposed, II Is not l:x0ly that moro than
100000 would be sent a. any one time; this at
guard would not IL is submitted, overload Affect
The safety OF the train In the slightest
Fonrth-It IS answered that railroad companies, be-
Yond the providing of sufficient and suitable room,
hxtures and furniture, not held TO be responsible
Tor the custody safety OF United States mails pro-
vidcd postal clerks or route agents are employed on
Iu this instance the officer OF the government
charged with the duty OF forwarding the coin with
Gust ody safety ii coin should be sent through tbs
mails, the department will, tar as II can do so
% eaard ~" 70 you ines and ~ alter due
consideration, you prefer not to have this business
transacted over your road, arrangements viii BE- made
10 send IL to New York and Washington by other
lines.
VALUE OF MEXICAN SILVER DOLLARS AND
TRADE DoLLARs-DECrsIo OF THE pIREC-
TOR OF THE MINT.
The following circular relative 10 the value OF she
Mexican and trade dollar was issued to-day
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE DIRECTOR THE MINT,
WASHINGTON, ID. c. July 25, 1873
In opscquence OF the number OF inquired received
relative the value oil the exicap silver dollar and
The terms which 1, is received at the minss
1854 Revised Statutes United States, declares that
ono foreign gold or silver SONS shall be a
The Mexican dollar, therefore. has only the
value as bullion, which depends upon that
price oil silver AT the present price OF silver bull
lion IL Is worth about ninetycght cents In gold per
piece. It's circulation money In the United States
is optional and at whatever value may be agreed
upon
The United States trade dollar also is not legal
tender, aud therefore has only bullion value.
The standard silver dollar being loyal tender for
ali debts pubic and private, is received at par ut all
government Offices pay ment OF dues, differing in
This respect from the Mexican and trade dollar, which
not received.
Mexican dollars, as well as all other foreign silver
coins United States trade dollars, purchased
nj the mint at Philadelphia and tho Assay Office at
New York at the equivalent OF the London rate for
silver bullion on the day OF purchase less one
hail cont per ounce OF nne silver contained All sill
yer coins purchased melted and assayed and
the seller paid for the hno silver contained, IN
standard silver dollars
All parties desiring to sell foreign silver coins or
trade dollars to the government on the above terms
will send them mt their own expense TO the Superin
tendent Of tho Mint at Philsdeiphia or OF
the Assay Once at New York. Express charges
on silver dollars sent return also TO be paid by
the seller. All correspondence relative to silver
coins sent Is to be addressed to the
OF tho Mint or Assay Office to winch they arc for
varded Il. Il. LINDERMAN,
Director OF tho Mint,