The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-06

wv ala Russia nmhhi me ina
NJ mense store OF gold which
she is reported 10 have Of
iered 10 Uncle Sam?
The answer is simple. She has been
for ever so long q hoardor OF the yell
low metal, Withdrawing from oircula-
tion not only the product of her own
mines. but also the foreign coin and
gold bars imported into the country.
Hardly any gold leaves Russia, while
she receives annually from outside
500, 900, 900 20 100000, 600 worth Of
it. Thus she has got together o q.
gantic heap Of specie by draining the
channels Of the monetary circulation
Of the world The Treasury Of the
Gear now contains about $3.50, 900, 600
in gold.
The boarding Of gold, which signi-
fees its withdrawal from circulation,
binders the flow Of the worlds com
merce, and is an injury to the latter.
It would be an immense benefit to all
mankind il the stores Of the yellow
metal now held by individuals in India
could be made available for general
use. Ever since the dawn of history
that country has been gathering gold
and hiding it away. 1t was estimated
by DR.. Soetbeer that during the half
century previous to 1885, India boarded
81, 800, 900, 900 of silver and gold
nearly one-third Of the total amount
Of coinage in circulation in the world.
Treasures Of almost incaloulable
value are possessed by many Indian
princes. Recently the Maharaiah OF
Burdwan died, and the stock of gold
and silver left by him was so large
that no member of the family could
make an accurate estimate of it. A re-
port made to the British Government
by a secret agent stated that ou the
estate of the defunct potentate we're q
number of treasure houses, one of
them containing three rooms. The
largest of these three rooms was forty
eight feet long and was filled with
ornaments of gold and silver, plates
and cups, washing bowls, jugs, etc. -
all of precious metals. The other two
rooms we're full of bags and boxes of
gold mohurs and silver rupees. The
doors of this and other treasure
houses had been bricked up for no
body knows how long. According to
a custom Of the Burdwan Raj family,
all of these valuables we're in the GUS
tody of the maharaiuh's wife, the
vaults being attached to her apart
ments, but none of them was allowed
to be opened save in the presence of
the master. One vault was filled
with ornaments belonging to different
gods of the family.
1t is known that this hoard has been
in process of accumulation for several
centuries. Not long ago the sum of
81, 100, 900 was drawn out of it for IN
vestment in land, the entire amount
being in Sikka rupees, none of which
have been coined since 1885. Gold
or other money thus boarded is not
put away with any intention to take
it out again. On the contrary, only
pressing necessity can force the own
ers to reduce the stock of wealth. 1t
is considered point of honor not to
break into a hoard. The proprietor
will borrow rather than touch it, the
hoard being treated like a family pic
ture, not to be sold if it can be
avoided One native prince in India
is known to be boarding gold at pes
ent at the rate of $780, 900 year.
Every month he sends 40, 900 or So
600 silver roupees to agents in Cal
cutta and Bombay, who convert them
into gold mohurs. A mohur is worth
about 81.
Two other Indian princes, who died
few years ago, left boards amount
ing TO $20,000,00 each. Instead of
spending these great heaps of money
their descendants will add TO them
year after year and generation after
generation, The natives of that coun-
try generally prefer to invest their
means in ornaments for their families.
which serve the purpose of a hoard.
In fact, large part of the savings Of
the people are in the shape of jewelry ;
doweries are often composed of jewell
ry alone. The natives commonly bury
their boards, and among the poorer
classes a favorite hiding place is hole
dug beneath the bed. Disused wells
are sometimes employed for the same
purpose. 1t is undoubtedly fact
that many boards thus deposited are
} lost forever. 1t is estimated that in
the Bombay presidency alone $50, 900,
600 worth of English sovereigns are
treasured up, because they bear the
design OF st. George and the dragon,
and are valued on religious grounds.
India is very religious country, and
the gods take up immense quantities
of gold, silver and precious stones.
The temples contain vast amounts OF
the yellow and white metals.