Nebraska advertiser., 1881-12-15
The Speculation In Confederate Bonds.

past few days by the numerous applca.
tiOns in the Want column for coupon
bonds issued by the late Confederate
States of America" To jump into the
true nwardness of this sudden demand
for bonds that for many years had been
considered OF no more value than the
paper upon which they were printed,
Post representative called upon the
brokers named i'm the advertisement.
The first one visitcd-a woman, by
the way said that her husband would
pay "a for all the $1,000 bonds
of the right kind offered, but as to the
right kind she was ignorant; her hus-
band, who WAS absent on other bust
ness, knew how TO pick the good ones
out. He was acting she said, for u
New York firm on commission; he had
not ~ yet purchased any large number
Of bonds, but there had been many in
quirics.
A second dealer in the bonds was alb
sent when the reporter called, but his
confidential clerk said the trade was
brisk one. During the day the house
had purchased about eighty $1,000
bonds at S3 to - each mostly from
Washington people, and in small sums.
Bateman d Co. stated that inside of
week they had purchased Conleder-
ate bonds OF the face value Of over S2,-
900, 900, in punches of from S25, 900 to
$l50,000. The price ranged from SO. 3.75
TO $3.50. They had about completed
arrangements TO purchase batch OF
1000, 600 from n Texas party. They
were acting on special orders from an
English broker, and did not know what
the Englishman intended TO do with the
bonds. They only purchased bonds
with the coupon due July /, 1865, at
tached, and most of their purchases
were the 6s, Is or 8s of the issue of 1863
A prominent banking house was next
visited. The Cashier said that no reg
ular house would touch these Confed-
crate bonds. He had seen dispatch
from New York broker Offering ST.
600 for $1,000, 900 for 6s. rs or IS. issue
of 1865.
Williams & Son smilingly admitted
the bonds of the deiunct Confederacy.
OF late their purchases averaged ST.
900, 900 day, at rates of $l.75 TO $3.50
per 81 600 They purchased all kinds
of these bonds, but only paid the top
rates for bonds with the coupon due
July |, 1868, attached. They had also
purchased quite II number of cotton
bonds The reporter modestly asked
the object of purchase, but the ques-
Jion remained unanswered. q sup
pose" said the elder Williams, "that
these purchased bonds will all go into
English hands, and that the English
men expect to get the coupons of July
/, 1865, cashed out of the gold that
rests in the Bank of England and in
other repositories to the credit of the
ex-Confederacy. If all reports are
true, there's a heap of gold
scross the water locked up
in the name of the South
ern Confederacy. The United States
can't get the money. Now, what will
prevent the holders of these bonds from
getting their proportionate share of this
goldp Again, the market price for
these bonds is steadily advancing. A
coupon on 81, 900 bond, bearing eight
per cent, calls for $40; the bond now
brings only S4a4.50. There is no tell
ing how high the market price will go.
In fact, the whole business Is mighty
uncertain. The price may Jump up to
$50 per 81, 900; itmay fall down to zero
They are good bonds to speculate in
for bold spectators.
A prominent ex-Confederate was in
tcryiewed on the subject. al think, :"
nc said, "we fellows have millions of
credit over in Europe; how much only
the Lord and Judah =. Benjamin know.
The trouble is, those confounded En-
glishmen won't give it up, l think the
Bank of England ought to be gar
nisheed in the name of the surviving
braves of the Confederate army. The
good Lord knows that the gold, be il
$4,000, 900 or $500, 600. 900, as is vari-
ously estimated, would come mighty
handy to most of us. | burned up all
my bonds, save one, when we surren
dored to Sherman, after had wasted
half day in vainly endeavoring to eX.
change a $1,000 bond for bottle OF
whisky My advice to the people of the
South is to sell"
A call was next made on the Treas.
ury Department. Treasurer Giltillan
said that he knew nothing about the
Confederate bonds save the single fact
that they would not figure in his forth
coming ebtstatement. The custodian
in charge of captured and abandoned
property said that there were stored
away in the Treasury building not less
than $50, 900, 900 of these Confederate
bonds. all properly signed and ready
for delivery; they had been captured
by the Federal troops at Richmond anC
elsewhere during the latter days of the
civil war; why don't you sell themP'
asked the Post reporter "At 81 OF
Che 81, 900 the sale would put $780, 0Ot
into Uncle Sans strong box
"Couldn't think of such thing" re
piled the custodian; "we want thos,
bonds to pay oil the Southern Congress
men,"
Inhme LaMrence the law ollicnr O