Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-02

tons. OF this amount 1,3O4, 22O67 tons
were in 2,127 vessels registered for the for
eign trade, and 1885,, O0S.00 in 22,O55 YES
sells enrolled and licensed for the coasting
trade and fisheries. There was an increase
| of 2,126 tons in vessels in the foreign
trade, and 1916 tons in domestic trade.
DISTRIBUTION OF CARRYING TRADE.
Ofthe merchandise imported at seabOad,
lake and river ports during the fiscal year
| 1884, an amount equal in value to Sl02,-
90, 100 was imported in American vessels,
and in value to $526,379,213 in foreign
vessels. The merchandise exported IN
American vessels had value of SIP ,52O,-
/ 723, and the merchandise exported in
! foreign vessels was valued at $661, 139, 81.
| OF the combined imports and exports of
merchandise about III per cent. was
| conveyed in American vessels, and about
| S2Iz per cent. in foreign vessels.
PUBLIC DEBT.
On Aug. 81, 1865, the Indebtedness of
| the United States, not including bonds
! issued to Pacific railroad companies, was
| 81, 756. 431,571 43.
On Nov. /. 1884, the public debt was as
! follows:
Debt bearing interest. .....S1, 206, 1860 90
Debt on which interest has 49, -,
ceased since n2aturity........ I2,54l.4o5 70
| Debt bearing no interest. 623, 46S,4S6 30
$l,S42. 49l ,52l 60
Cash in the Treasury .......... 434,OoS,572 90
Net debt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ,4os 4s2, GAS SO
The annual interest charge is now $47,-
323, S31 80, and the average rate paid 1892
per cent.
THE SILVER DANGER.
After giving the subject careful con-
sideratiOn, | have been forced to the con-
clusiOn that unless both the coinage of
silver dollars and the issue of silver GER
tifcates are suspended, there is danger
that silver, and not gold, may become
our metallic standard. This danger may
not be imminent, but it is of so serious a
character that there ought not to be delay
in providing against it. Not only would
| the national credit be seriously impaired
| if the government should be under the
necessity of using silver dollars or GER
tificates in payment of gold obligations,
| but business of all kinds would be greatly
| disturbed; not OEly so, but gold would at
| once cease to be circulating medium.
and severe contraction would be the re-
suit.
The coinage OF silver dollars under the
act OF Feb. 2S, 1878, has now reached the
very large amount of $1S4, $50, 800, being
an increase of $2S, 0O9, $50 for the year end
ing Nov. l, 1884. The amount of these
dollars in actual circulation is $41,326,-
the year has only been $1,260, 346, against
an increase of 81, 136,321 for the previous
year. These figures of themselves are an
insuperable argument against the cor
tinued coinage of silver dollars.
COIN IN THE COUNTRY.
The coin of the United States is esti-
mated to have been on June 30,
1888, gold coin, over $685., 200, 900; silver
coin, $228 100000, and it has been in
creased during the fiscal year by coinage
at the minis, and the import of United
States coin, deducting the export and
amount used in the arts, by $13,0O0,O00 in
| gold. and So, 000 600 in silver. On Oct. /,
! 1884. it amounted to $557, 100000 of gold,
! and S257. 200, 900 of silver-a total of $Sl4,-
/ 100000. This does not include the bullion
| belonging to the government at that date
| held at the minis and assay offices, aggre-
! eating nearly $53,000,000 in gold and
| S., 100000 in silver-making the total in
| the country of coin and bullion available
for coinage 1912, 100000.
NATIONAL BANKS.
The number OF national banks in opera
ton Nov. 1, 1884. was 1872. The number
of national banks organized during the
year ending Nov. 1, 1894, was 1911, with an
| aggregate capital of 6,042, 230. Circu
lating notes have been issued to these
new associations amounting to $3,854 $50.
These new banks are located by geo.
graphical division as follows: Eastern
States, 10 banks, with capital of $4,000;
Middle States, % banks, with capital of
| 81. S12, go; Southern States, so banks, with
capital of 1891, 100; Western States. 102
banks, with capital of SS,9O5, $50; Pacific
| States, banks, with capital of $3.50, 200;
! Territories, 10 banks, with capital of ST.
| $4,000.
Since the establishment of the national
| banking system, on Feb. %. 1868, there
| have been organized 3,261 national banks.
| OF these. 4S9 have gone into voluntary
| liquidation by vote of shareholders own
| ing twO-thirds of their respective capital,
| and 100 have been placed in the hands of
receivers for the purpose OF closing up
| their affairs.
| The aggregate capital of the national
| banks of the United States on Oct. l,
| 1884, was S524,266, 345: the surplus was
| $I47, O45, 1873 IS; the circulation was $780,
! 775. 1913; the individual deposits were
| 1915, 259, 295 "A; the loans and discounts
were $1,240,07O,7 97 OF; the amount of
! specie was $12S,609, 474 IS; the United
States bonds to secure circulation were
| 1927, 49,. 900; and the United States bonds
| to secure deposits and for other purposes
| were $50, 800.
REVENUE MARINE.
The revenue marine maintains its posi-.
| ton of usefulness and efficiency. The
vessels now number 50, manned by about
| $50 officers and men, and are so stationed
as effectually to cover the whole coast OF
| the country.
| year last past is represented statlstically,
as follows:
! Aggregate number Of miles
cruised by vessels ................ 3H,SIS
Number OF merchant vessels
! boarded and examined. ..... 26,2S2
Number of merchant vessels found
violating the law in some par
proper proper authorities - 2,27O
seis So so seized or reported $685., G42 SO
sisted sisted VI ''oao49 - '''i's 246
| Value of vessels and their eargOes
imperilled by the sea to which
| assistance was rendered ......$f, Ol5,5f2 W
sells assisted IS .o .. ~. oO 1910
SiXty-three persons were picked out of
the water and saved from drowning.
The cost of conducting the service for
the past year was $S51,31l Sc.
LIFE-sAvING SERVICE.
The number of the stations at the close
of the year was POI. There were 337 DIS
asters to dOcumented vessels within the
scope of their action. On board these
vessels there were 4, 253 persons; of these,
4,237 were saved and 16 lost. The number
| OF S0lpWreCkeu p6IsO4S SuCCOT6u al luG
stations was $50, who received in the ag-
gregate 1919 days relief. The value Of
property involved is estimated at $780,
OPS; of this So, 900, 1874 was saved and ST.
439,S91 lost. The number of vessels totally
lost was "a.
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
During the last fiscal year 44,751 pa
tients received relief-13, 07S were treated
in hospitals, and g., 673 at the dispense
ries. The usual number of surgical ap-
plances and orders for transportation
were furnished. The receipts from all
sources were $421, 34S 50, and the expen-
ditures, $465,3S As. This includes $751;
AGO 0S expended for extraordinary altera-
tions and repairs upon hospital buildings.
OF the hospital patients treated, 1854 re-
covered, 2,71S were improved, $50 re-
manned unaffected by treatment, and 4S9
died. There were 9, 707 persons physical
" examined by officers of this service at
relief stations, some of them preliminary
to shipment in the merchant marine and
enlistment in the revenue-marine, light
house and hfe-saving services.
LIGHT HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT.
The Light House Board reports that it