The times., 1897-12-08
the past -four months, and the tendency is
toward still further advance.

the past four months, and the tendency is
toward a still further advance.
Deposits
The value or the gold deposited at the
mints and assay offices during the fiscal
year 1897 was S129,1O5, ,5o0.53. OF this
amount, ss7 .oo3 ,s37.7l were original lie
posts ana $40, lo2, ,162-s2 re-deposits.
The purchases OF silver bullion for ssbsi-
diary silver coinage, under the provisions "f
section 1926. Revised statutes oc the
United States, aggregated 259, ,245 90 fine
ounces, costing, S17i,455.42.
The face value OF uncunent domestic
gold coin received at the Inints and essay
offices was 81 .O25, III. OF this aInount,
S623 ,751 was transfer from the Treasury
for recoiaage, and the remainder. S4Ol,-
$40, was deposited by individuals, the total
coinage value Of which was 81 ,oI5 5,3I4.4I.
Coinage.
The coinage executed during che year
was as follows:
Gold ;. .-.................S7l,G $40 10000
Silver dollars. .:........ y ,203 ,T01 20
Subsidiary silver. ...... 3,121 ,9s5.e5
Minor. . ........ 9s4, ,5O9.59
The silver dollars coined were frCm
silver bullion on hand, purchased In.ler
the act of July II, 1890.
The total coinage cT silver dollars from
bullion purchased under the act Of July
ID, 1890, from August 13, 1880, when
the law took effect 10 July 1, 1897, Eas
been 6s 74s,477 pieces, containing %,
172, 65O1s ounces Of fine silver, G.. sting
SOL ,532. 154 10, giving u seigniorage Cf
S17.216, ,322.s7
or the subsidiary silver coinage, S3,0J2,-
489 80 were coined from uncurIent silver
coin transferred from the Treasury fer
recoinage, and $s1 ,595.s5 from bulran
purchased under the provisions II &c
tion 1926, REVISED Statutes, for the sab
sidiary silver coinas se = On the latter tie
seiSniorase was s42ss2214.
The director or thednint / 5 If the apin-
ion that d much larger volume II frac-
tional silver coin could be placed in active
circulation if the Secretary 9f the Treas
ury were authorized 10 use any silver
bdllion now in the Treasury fer the -oin-
age of such denominations Of fractional
silver coin as might be required frtm
time to time by the public in different
sections Of the country.
1t is recommended that section 3545
OF the Revised Statutes Of the United
states be amended so as 20 admit If large
impertations Ct foreign gold coin being
received at the mints and assay Office ct
New York, and not melted, but held AS
bullion.
Silver Balances
The balance OF silver bullion IN hand
at the mints for the coinage of silver dGl-
lars and subsidiary silver coins, Nogem-
Der l, 1897, was:
Purchased under act of July II, 1890,
fine ounces, 114,S ,SSi ,54S.3O; cost, S1n3 :
842Y3S9. &c. For subsidiary silver coma ge.
| fine ounces, / 69S ,OS2 90; cost, S2.O75,-
26S.12. At United States assay Jrfice
New YORK, for payment of deposits In file
bars, fine ngnces, 545. .713.48; cost, $685.
2S9.06. Total. fine ounces, III, 4 70
374.77; cost, Sf06 ,455 .946.44.
Minor matters connected with the ,nints
are touched upon and an argument, based
on the market value, introduced against
silver as money metal.
The present stock Of gold and silver in
| the United states amounts, approximately.
| to; gold, 1856, ,27O 542: silver. S634. .5Oa.-
ISL. The total stock or metallic money
| in the worlds placed at s. G27 ,OOO.O 900.
| A substantial brick outbuiIding for the
| Bureau OF Engraving ana Printing is need
| ed, the Secretary says. The opera: ions OF
| the bureau continue to be economically
| conducted. The cost OF the work FOR the
fiscal year under consideration shows a re
| duction = couupared with the pre- -lous
| year. which is equivalent to a savin;. for
the year Of S65,672.O1
That rart OF the report devoted to
national hanks-aside from their availa-
bility Is an instrument OF currency Y reform
| is mainly statistical.
Foreign Commerce
| America = trade with foreign countries
during the fiscal year is set forth in the
| following table