The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-03-26
A MYSTERIOUS BOX IN THE UNITED
STATES TREASURY.

Washington letter to the Chicago Times
In the vaults of the treasury depart
ment there is box which was placed
there over thirty years ago for safe keep
ing No one know who it belongs to,
or what is To be done with it. 1t has
| been the subject of several Investigations
by officers of the treasury department
On various occasions resolutions have
been introduced in congress, making in
quirieS, etc, as TO its value and owner
ship, But no satisfactory conclusion has
ever been had as 10 its true history Its
contents are worth perhaps 5000 OF
/ 81, coo. The box remains in the treasury
vaults, tightly sealed and covered with
| dust No one can touch it unless con-
gross passes a resolution to that effect
/ Several United States treasuFerS who
| have found the box in their possession,
I when taking charge of the Office, have
| recommended that the articles be sold at
auction and the proceeds given 10 some
/ charitable object or monument associa-
| ton.
There are several stories told as to the
| origin of the box. One is that the ton
/ tents We're present TO president Andrew
! jackson from the khedive of Egypt, and
were placed in the patent office, and af-
4 terward placed III the treasury for safe
Keeping. Another, and probably more
correct, history of the box is found in u
report made by secretary McCulloch in
answer To a resolution of the house of
| representatives. His letter is dated
March 10, 1868, and he says:
In answer to your resolution of the
9th inst, inquiring as to the contents of
u certain box in the vaults ofthc treasury,
/ sealed with the seal of the patent Office
and marked Jewels" an examination
has been made by the treasurer, and 4
copy o: his report is herewith submitted.
1t is understood that the articles are
remnants Of the objects of an extensive
robbery, committed number of years
since AT tine patent office. They have
been ia treasury vaults since 1851. |
can see no reason for retaining them
longer. They certainly subserve no
good purpose in their present condition,
and | respectfully recommend that they
be sold at auction and the proceeds
coverted into the treasury. Respectfully,
etc. HUGH MCCULLoCH,
Secretary of the treasury.
SIR :-Iu pursuance to your direction
Endorsed upon an attested resolution Of
the house Of representatives, passed
March 6, 1868, have the honor to re
port that the box III the vaults of the
, treasurery, sealed with the seal of the
patent Office, and marked Jewels" wa.
opened by me in the presence of tht
cashier. There was found there mem
orandum in writing, of which the fol
; lowing is Il correct copy, to-wit:
y list of articles in box.
Bottle said 10 contain after of roses.
: One vial containing pearls.
= One vial containing diamonds.
: One gold plate-inside hinge of a snut
5 box.
: One paper containing a gold ornamen
and u silkcn tassel belonging to 4 neck
/ lace.
/ a paper containing thirteen diamond
n and four pearls.
). Two Jumps of gold
: The vial containing pearls and the on
d containing the diamonds are both scale
and were not opened. | should judg
that the pearls numbered from two L
!, three hundred. They are pretty uniforr
= in size, beng about as large as sma
n pea, except two, which are quite larg
. and pearl formed. The diamonds az
q small and about one hundred In numbe
The two Jumps of gold, if of mint fin
i ness-and they seem 10 be-are wort
;, somewhat over $500. The altar of rose
q is probably worth twice as much. Til
h diamonds and pearls are, Of course, quiz
: valuable. Respectfully,
. f E. SPINNER,
- Treasurer of the United States.
+ The box, of course, is of no earthly us
i TO any one. If the contents had bee
Is sold and the proceeds placed on interes
,. their value would have more than douI
led itself before this time. 1t is take
down once a year when the treasury of
Gals are making an examination of til
Office. It is busted, looked over, an
placed back on the shelf, awaiting d
- owner. There is Il chance for some {
Andrew Jackson's heirs to have an a,
passed by congress giving them a tit
,r to its valuable contents.