Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-05-01
EASTERN DISPATCHES.
THE CARSON MINT.
Result OF Daggett's Inquiry into
the Reasons for Its Suspension.

-
WASHINGTON. Nay Lit having been
assigned a. . reason for the temporary
closing Of the Carson Mint last Novsm-
Der that sufficient bullion could not be
purchased there TO keep the Mint In
operation. Representative Dsgsstt. on
the 18th ulHmo, addressed . Letter to
the Secretary Of the Treasury. pro-
pounding sundry intsrrogaiions relative
thereto. Secretary Sherman yesterday
sent to Daegsts . detailed answer In the
form Of . letter from the Director Of the
Mint. Is principal points are subjoinsd
and will DO found Of especial interest Of
the prsssn. time. by reason OF their
bearing upon the proposition now
strongly urged In Congress for the
removal Of the Mint from Carson to
some city In the Mississippi Valley.
Director Burchard states that the Gar
SON Mint ID now and has been continual
IL open for the deposit Of gold bullion
and the purchase Of silver bullion, and
bullion fund has bsen maintained, BY
means Of which gold dspositors and sil:
ver sellers have been paid the value OF
the bullion by them delivered ~ soon a.
the value could DO asoertainsd; but al
though Il has thus been continually open
for the purchase Of silver bullion In lots
OF less than 10000 ounces, at the sams
rates % 1t the Ban Francisco Mint, and
although at the same time the Depart
msnt has been ready to receive and con.
slider offers for the sale OF larger lots,
yet from July !. 1879. to April l, 1880,
only 500. 900 ounces Of silver bul.
lion has been delivered at the Mint,
being but little more than . supply for
one months coinage II the Mint was run
to its full capacity. This, continues
Burchard, IL . difficulty oysr which the
Department has no control. The owners
Of bullion cannot DO compelled to do.
post or sell the same against their In.
~clination. The Carson Mint was closed
for coinage for the reason that sufficient
silver bullion-ths deposits OF gold being
merely nominal-oould not be procured
at the market rates to continue coinage
operations. The cost OF coming ut Car.
SON IL slightly In excess Of that at San
Francisco, because the cost Of obtaining
supplies IL somewhat greater; but this
fact was not taken into consideration In
s~uspending coinage operations.
Gold bullion II mot coined on govern.
msnt account, and any person has the right
TO deposit the same ct any United States
Mint for coinage or bars, a. he may pre-
fer, silver being only coined on govern.
ment account. The Department 10 willing
10 pay the market price for silver bullion
for delivery 81 the Carson Mint sufficient
10 meet It's requirements at that point,
and has been and II willing 70 pay the
same price for silver bullion - at Ban
francisco.
In conclusion, Director Burchard says
sufficient bullion has been purchased ct
the Carson Mint to run until the com-
mensemsnt Of the annual settlement next
June, and refers TO the order given on the
10th instant for the resumption Of coinage
operations, but he makes no promises 70
continue them during the next fiscal year.
Representative Dsggett, commenting on
this Official letter, calls attention to the
immense profit derived BY the express
company for the transportation Of silver
coin from Ban Francisco 10 New York or
Washington, which amounts to $4,000
per million, or about $500 per car load,
and 10 inclined TO think that the solution
Of the difficulty concerning the Carson
Mint may be found In the fact that the
Department. apparently assumes that the
law Of 1879 does not apply To- Carson -
shipping point. But, however this may
bs, hs admits that Nevada bullion pro-
ducsrs have for some reason or other found
II advantageous to send their bullion 70
Ban FRANCHISE rather than TO Carson, and
percsives that II the government cannot
buy bullion Of Carson ut Ban Francisco
rates the Carson Mint will undoubtedly DO
abandoned and the building DO used only
- An ssssy ofice.