Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1885-03-21
IN THE BALANCE.


of the United States Mint shows that
since June. 1873, 1893, 100, 900 standard
silver dollars have been coined. A
statement issued March Ist, shows that
sf4I,4Io,S3o in silver certificates were
in actual circulation. According to
this showing, there are only $50, go, 40
not in actual circulation in the form OF
silver certificates. From this amount
there must yet be drawn the number OF
silver dollars in circulation, which Is
not given in the treasury report. This
will show that the mountain OF idle ard
useless silver currency accumulatins in
the United States Treasury is not OF
such terrible proportions as has been
represented, and forebodes no great ca
lamities 10 national prosperity or per-
sonal comfort. Thus it is readily shown
that a few facts and figures may easily
annihilate and render harmless the ter
rible storm. cloud of disaster which has
been SO graphically pictured by the OPP
ponents of our silver currency, who are
personally interested in its destruction,
that the gold in their possession may
receive additional value. 1t has been
claimed by most of those who have
written or spoken against our silver cur
rency, that the sum represented by out
standing certificates was an idle and use
less accumulation of worthless curren-
cy in our Treasury vaults. If this be
true, and if it be any reason for sus-
pension OF silver coinage, what shall be
said when it is shown that over $40, ooo,.
900 more in gold is held in the Treas.
ury for the redemption Of outstanding
gold certificates than of silver. If the
argument has any force in one direction
it is very strange that it is impotent in
another. II the accumulation Of $I4I,-
DOC, 900 in silver, held for the redempt.
ion OF. outstanding certificates, proves
that silver is idle, worthless and use.
less, and is not desired by the people,
what lesson is there in the fact that
over sI53,ooo, 900 in gold is held in the
Treasury vaults under exactly the same
conditions and for. the same purpose?
A little reason and common sense in the
discussion Of this question would show
the weakness Of a majority Of the po-
sitions which have been taken against
the coinage of silver, which has added
largely to our national prosperity; has
readily assimilated in all business cir
cles, and, but for the steady and per-
sistent opposition on the part of few
ersonally interested in its destruction,
would never have been mentioned or
noticed in the financial transactions of
Inc country.
1t is evident from examination and
investigation that if the silver factor of
our currency had been indiscriminately
used, instead of there being, as at the
present time, small balance in the
Treasury, there would in fact have been
a demand for more than the minimum
amount as now coined. Under the ad.
ministration of officials, if unfavorable,
at least net antagonistic to the legiti-
mate operation of our bimetallc policy,
even under the long season of our 6nan-
cial depression which has existed over
such wide extent of territory, this
part of our coinage would have per.
formed mitch more important part in
commercial operations, and demonstra
ted. beyond the, question Of doubt,
its importance, and even its necessity,
as a prominent factor of our national
currency.-Mining Review.
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