The morning call., 1891-05-10
TIE CALLS
QUERY COLUMN.
No Republication by America Of CONT
mental Currency.
President Harrison as volunteer-Eo ALI
ance With France Steamship Data.
Bay Of Fundy Tides

THE CALLS Query Column is conducted with
sview TO aid all seekers after knowledge OF gel-
eral interest.
Catch questions VIII not receive any attention.
No opinion viii be given In Ibls column regard
ing the reliability or character OF any person or
firms in this CITY or elsewhere.
Questions, answers 10 which are IN the nature
Of an advertisement, viii not be answered.
Every INQUIRY must have the true and full
name Of the sender as well as the correct resi-
Gence. Any inquiry that has not 'he cor
rect name and address of the sender will
be treated if il was not signed, and the
writer need not expect an answer.
No REPUDIATIoN-J. B. B., Hauford.
Cal. No; the United States did not Eepu-
d ate any Of the continental currency issued
during the Revolution, though at times hard
pressed for money to meet the demands.
During the colonial period and under the
confederation the financial operations of the
Government were based on the law Of neces-
sity, and depended for success upon the
patriotism oil the people, the cooperation Of
the several States and the assistance OF for
eign powers friendly to Americas cause. 1t
was the willingness of that people to
receive the various kinds Of paper money is
sued under authority Of the Continental
Congress, and used in payment for services
and supplies, together with the issues of
similar obligations by the different States,
for the redemption Of which they assumed
the responsibility; aided by the munifcent
gift of money from Louis XVI of France,
followed by loans for large amount from
both France and Holland. that made
victory possible. Such assistance was
also had from Spain, and the pay
ment of the vast indebtedness was
virtually guaranteed by the Constitution
and made valid against the United States
under this Constitution as under the Fed
Grafton" The liquidation was not an easy
task, for it has gone down in history that on
assuming the position Of Secretary Of the
Treasury Hamilton found himself entirely
without funds TO meet the ordinary eX-
penses Of the Government except by Dor
rowing until such times as the revenues
should come in. lie did make temporary
loans, and with the money thus obtained
he paid the first installment OF
salary due President Washington and
the Congress during the first session
under the Constitution IN March, 1109.
Again, in 1896, the credit Of the Government
was very low, as shown by its utter failure
to negotiate a loan to pay of debt Tor
moneys borrowed and used. partly TO repay
the expenses Of suppresslng the whisky in
surrecti0n in Pennsylvania, and to buy
treaty with the pirates Of Algers. On a
loan authorized for S5,000,000, only $4,000
could be obtained. and this at discount OF
12h per cent. But the Government re-
deemed its solemn pledges. aad IN the year
1886 the United States were, for the
first time in their history, practically
out of debt, Secretary Woodbury., IN his
report Of December s, 1886, estimating the
amount of public debt still outstanding at
about S22S, So, aud this remaining unpaid
solely because payment had not been de-
manded, ample funds 10 meet II having been
--ea- THzTHr II tot hon + nd
lOan-Ofices. The debt outstanding con-
sisted mainly Of unclaimed interest and
dividends on claims for services and sup
plies during the Revolution, and Of old
Treasury notes; and 1t is supposed that pay
ment Of these had not been asked Tor solely
because the evidences Of the debt had been
lost or destroyed.
HARRISON IN THE ARMY-A. II. c., City.
o. Benjamin Harrison. the President of the
United States, was the original commander
Of the Seventeen Indiana Infantry Regiment,
mustered into the service in August, 1862,
Governor Morton having without solicita-
ton commissioned hhn its Colonel Harri-
sen began recruiting Company A, was CON-
missiOned its Second Lieutenant, and the
regiment was soon full % Harrison was
mustered cut CT the service at the
close Of the war with the rank
of BTigadieT-General Of Volunteers.
(3) His regiment was bTigaded under
General William I. Ward of Ken
lucky with the Seventy-ninth Ohio, One
Hundred and Second, One Hundred and
Fifth and One Hundred and Twenty ninth
Illinois, and this organization Of the brigade
remained unchanged during the war, Harrl-
son holding the right as the senior Colonel.
The brigade was also under MajOr-General
Joseph Hooker IN the Twentieth Army
Corps "a Harrison commanded brigade
in Lookout Valley preparatory to the cam
paign Of Atlanta, participated in the battles
al Resaca and Peach Tree in that campaign,
aud for the conduct of himself and his com
mand at these was commended by hooker
for promotion. After two years in tue field
he was detailed for special duty in Indiana,
completed his duty IN i've weeks hurried
back 60 Chattanooga, was given command OF
a brigade and was transferred 10 Nashville,
and when Sherman reached Savannah was
ordered to join him and TejOined him at
GoldSboTo, \. c., In command Of brigade,
and remained under him until the close Of
h0Stlllties.
TROUBLE WITH FRANCE-J. B. b.. Han
ford, Cal. O. The valuable aid of France
was secured by treaties in 1873 during the
Revolution by the United States; but when
IN 1889 monarchy was oYerthrown. that ma
ton found herself at war with England and
other nations Of Europe and she desired tue
United States as an ally. Washington per-
sisted firmly IN preserving neutrality, Jays
treaty was concluded with England, and
this course Of the Government greatly an
Eered France, whose Directory In 1897
gave permission to its navy to as
sail American vessels An American
navy was quickly raised and every
preparation made to defend American
rights. The alliance with France was re-
fused; the negotiations for reconciliation
proved fruitless and soon several French
vessels were captured before there was any
declaration Of war. Indeed neither power
declared war and as soon as France dis
covered how earnest America was she made
OYeTtureS for an adjustment OF difficulties
and these resulted in the treaty Of 1900 (2)
France was Unidentified By the payment Of
the national debt for all assistance rem
dered the United States in the matter of
money, military supplies, officers and SOL
diers during the Revolutionary War.
STEAMSHIP DATA. R., City. The data
at command Of the Q. C. and asked concern
ing the vessels of the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company are: Los Angeles, length
40 feet, gross tonnage 1913, horsepower 100;
State of California, 800, 2266.03 1900;
Corona, 220.75, 1922 Umatilla, 80, 1868 rs;
Eureka, 1913, 689.27. 800; Gypsy, 102,
1880, 70; Yaquina, 1865. 1857, 200; Po-
mona, 225, 126428, $50; Newport, 1885,
245 90, 60; City Of Puebla, 1906. 1928. S. 2400;
Coos Bay, 40, 311.27, 200; Alexander Dun
can, 1875, 37158, IS; Walla Walla, 80,
2I34S0; Newbern. 1882, 943.2, 37j; Queen,
331.2, 2727SO, 1000.
CONCERNING COINs--L d. R., Modesto,
Cal. o. The only American coin Of 1847
commanding q premium is the half-cent,
with head to left. Ii is valued 81 90 o.
The premium on halves ranges from So cents
to $50; on quarters from 80 cents to $50,
and on dimes from 10 cents to 81 %. ()
The Q. c, knows of no American coin made
since 1894 rated at $1,000. The highest pre-
MUM is $500 for the dollar of 1904. which is
excessively rare and valued at 500.
CORPORATE STocK-E.s o., City. Tie