Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-04-06
GOVERNMENT MINIS.
Whore the Most of Uncle Sans Silver Dol
lars are Coined.

lars are Coined.
Says James P. Kimball, Director of
the United States Mint: The New
York assay office is the largest and
most important in the United States,
and more of the precious metals are
handled here every year than at all the
other offices combined. Last year this
office manufactured into bars $48, 321, :
567.74 of gold out of total of $52, $780,
703.73, and Sc, 1892 of silver out
of the total of 1851, $50 rs. The affairs
Of the office are in perfect shape and
condition, notwithstanding the great
amount of work done here, but we
always expect to find its condition sat
isfactory, and regard it as the model
office of the country. Its business is
systematized and is being done by old
and tried employees. Changes in the
personnel of the office are made as sell
dom as possible, and never for political
reasons. 1t is the only acid refinery
belonging to the Government, and gen.
orally large quantities of metal to be
refined are sent here from the other
offices because the facilities here are
so much better"
In answer to the question, why the
mother mint should have been placed
in Philadelphia instead of in New York.
Mr.. Kimball said THE mint was es-
tablished in Philadelphia when that city
was the seat of government, and so has
since remained there. know that there
is a strong feeling that it should be re-
oil ho, TO htc h
and Philadelphians are constantly fear
ing that such step may be taken. The
mint is, at present. inadequate for its
purpose; but no large appropriation is
asked for fear Congress may say, if it
requires so great sum to put it in con-
| dition, why would it not be good idea
| to build new mint somewhere else.
| At present the steam plant is being re-
| newed at the mint. All we could get
for the purpose was 500. 900, though we
should have had 100000, but the
! authorities feared to ask too large sum,
| because it might start the removal agita-
| ton that the Philadelphians dread so
much.
The Philadelphia mint as never in
| tended as a storage place for the
| precious metals, but we have been COM
| PEELED to care for large amounts. We
have some $4,000, 900 of silver dollars
at present stored in the vaults at the old
| post-office building. not having room fol-
| it in the mint itself. OF course the
expense of guarding this money i.
considerable and the responsibility very
great. We shall be glad when all OF thi.
treasure can be shipped to Washington
as it will be when the great silver stor
ing vaults, now being constructed In
the Treasury, are completed Thes
new vaults are calculated to hold 500,
600, 900 of silver dollars. The most o
the silver dollar coinage is done il
Philadelphia. OF the 2.600,0 900 silve
dollars coined monthly under the law
LOO, 600 are struck off in Philadelphia
and 100000 at New Orleans. Yer,
little of this coinage is done at the othe
minis. and then only in case of emer
gency.
just at present we are not coinin
the silver sdollar at Philade lphia, be
cause of the new steam plant which
being put in, which necessitated tn
stoppage of the work. There seems t
have been an impression in the mind
of some that the non-coinage OF tn
dollar was for the purpose of contra.
ton. but it is wholly on account of re
newing our machinery, and just a
soon as we can get to work again w
will make up for lost time; but, Will
Philadelphia is not at work on the do
lars. San Francisco is coming 40O, 90
of them to help make up the deficiency
The making of the silver dollars keeps L
crowded all the time at Philadelphi;
but the reason why we don't hav
more of the coming done at the othe
branch minis is simply because of tn
expense of shipping to Washington c
other depository after they are made.
N Y. Commercial Adcertiser.