The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07

minis July l. ISIS. the net seignio.age on
the coinage OF silver from that date 10
June 81. 1893, was So, ls2 ai5.3..
The highest quotation for silver 9 ge5 fine
during the year in the London market was
27s4 pence. equal TO so.60S3l per ounce fine
In United States money. the lowest quo
tation Was 231s pence. equivalent 10 S05i7s9.
The average price for the year was 70 5-16
pence, equivalent 10 so.51675. The bullion
value Of the United States standard silver
dollar, az The highest price for the year.
was so.47eio. and at the lowest, 50 40'5e. and
at the average price S04s601.
The commercial ratio of gold 20 silver
at the average price was TO 1854.
The secretary says the present law is
Inadequate 10 permit OF the coinage OF
sufficient subsidiary silver to meet the de-
mand and asks authorization to coin some
OF the present stock OF bullion into silver
coins.
Building for Seattle Assay Office.
The secretary advocates the abolition of
the assay office at st. Louis and the mint
at Carson City. using the savings effected
In the Seattle assay Office. OF this office
THE assay office at Seattle during the
first four months after opening for depos-
ttS. has received N,4lS,5y0 worth OF gold.
Ii is probable that It will be one of the
most important offices of the mint ser
vice. II Is now located in rented build
ing, without such provisions for the safe
Keeping of the treasure as ought to be
provided Il Is, therefore, recommended
that congress provide for the erection of
a suitable building there for the assay Of
ice. An appropriate building can be pro-
yided at a cost OF not over $4,000
Condition of National Banks.
During the existence of fhe national
banking system up TO the close of the year
ended October 81, 1898. 5i5I national banks
is 1888 OF the closed associations, lisa
We're placed in voluntary liquidation by
the shareholders. and $50. insoivent. In
charge of receivers. On October 81. 1897.
n
Citations. During the past year 06 were or
ganizef. 50 placed IN voluntary liquidation.
liquidation. above referred to- making a
net reduction during that period OF IL
banks.
The authorized capital stock Of the
hanks on October 81 1883 was 1924 So 1875:
the circulation outstanding, So. sd, Isl. Of
which S@lo,o438 40 Is secured hy bonds and
80. 5oos25 by lawful money deposited with
the treasurer OF the United States on ac-
count of liquidation and insolvent associa-
tons. and those reducing circulation. \
comparison OF the circulation account on
October 81 1s.s. with October 81 1897.
shows an increase Of $9,5S2, III in the total
amount of circulation outstanding. and Of
&.iie.776 in circulation secured by bonds.
Increase I'm Commerce.
The foreign commerce Of the fiscal year
iSas in many respects has been phenomenal
The expectations OF the products OF both
field and factory exceeded in value those
OF any preceding year. ana the grand total
OF exports was the largest ever recorded.
Fer the first time in the history OF our
foreign commerce the years expectations
averaged more than $40 coo 0o0 per month
the total being si23I 49, 800. against sf050-
s33,3J6 IN 1877 and Si0a0.Zss liS in 1892 no
other years having reaches the billion
dollar line.
Liquor Traffic in Alaska.
The efforts at suppreSsing tae liquor trat-
| fic n Alaska ara reviewed at considerable
| length. The secretary says;
Is op1 rf.a -
enforce the law restricting the introduce
| ton and sale OF liquor witht1 the terri
| tory. BY reason Of the cooperation and
sympathy Of almost the entire population
| Of Alaska with those who violate the law
| and of the failure Of iuries In Alaska TO
| indtct aud convict after discovery and ar
| rests have been made II has been reported
| 70 the department that for number of
| years not one conviction for violation OF
| iae liquor law was mad in the courts In
thar district, and that former district
| Judge had stated openly, and while ne was
| occupying that high office. tina; no Jury in
Alaska would convict any person VINO vEo-
lated thar las Information has also been
/ received that where customs officers have
! seized liquors IN saloons ant reported the
/ facts - tAe United States attorney the
/ grand Jury either failed - find true bills
or tho cas- gS were compromised by the
! payment of small fines and the hGuor deal
| ets resumed their business with fresh sup
| plies Ia view q the constant liability %
/ seizure. hnt a small quantity II i,Quor is
] reported - be kent in the respective sa-
/ looms. the main supply being carefully MD
den and drawn f:Cm as accession REQUIRES.
/ So tha; a So cure br ? customs officer
! means little - the salnonkeeper.
! The remedy fer the situation, L Is he-
/ present lavs ard the provision hy congress
/ ~ high license evs3sfl ror the territory
/ Il has heen demonstrated tia. the sale II
/ saosr II \ aSka canno. = .efTertua,ly pro-
{ Nthtt@a under present regulations bx req
So - tse almost universal adverse public
! sentiment and u wous3 seem, therefore.