Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-20
CHANGE IS SCARCE.
THREAT OF FAMINE IN FRACTION
AL COIN.
FEDERAL TREASURY RUNNING SHORT
Congress May Have to Come to the
Relief of That Department ana of
the PeOpie-Spnnish Purchases OF
Tobacco.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. September 10
Cspecial.)-The country IS threatened with
q famine in fractional specie, and the
indications are that Congress will have
TO come to the aid Of the Secretary OF
the Treasury. when II reconvenes. il
was reported to-day at the department
that the Treasury had only 100000 of
this class of money on hand. This in
cludes all the fractional specie on de-
post at the Treasury Department pro-
per, and at its nine sub-treasuries. The
demand for subsidiary coin the past
ten days has drawn off from the stock
of fractional specie nearly a million and
q half, which makes the officials appre-
hensive that within a very few days the
entire holdings Of the Treasury will be
wiped out. The knowledge that small
change is scarce has also given a fresh
impetus TO the demand for that kind Of
money. as everybody is anxious to get
in his requisition before the supply is tx
hausted.
Under existing law. the Secretary is
not authorized TO coin over fifty mil
lions Of subsidiary coin. and no more
can be coined without special legislation
This practically closes all avenues for
increasing the supply until Congress shall
have acted. There Is now outstanding
about seyenty-five millions Of fractional
specie, twenty-five millions OF which was
coined 10 redeem the "shln-plasters"
that were outstanding at the time the
law authorizing the coming of fractional
specie was passed. There are now nine
ty-twO millions Of silver bullion ia the
Treasury, against which Treasury GER
tidcates have been issued. and to relieve
the congestion in small change. which
is threatened, it is proposed 10 call In a
part of these notes. and 10 issue in their
stead fractional specie. This Is, OF course,
in the event that Congress should au-
thorze the coinage of more Of this class
of coin.
TOBACCO IN SPAIN.
Consular-Agent Mertens, of Grao, under
date of August Is, 1883, says:
in my report of February -, 1893, l
drew attention to the demand for Ameri-
can tobacco by the Spanish tobacco mo-
nop0ly. Since then there has been a pur-
chase Of 10000 Kilograms QlOE,CD
pounds of Kentucky tobacco from Paris
syndicate. This Will be delivered by De-
cember, when another purchase has 10 be
made. American tobacco dealers ought
TO be able TO offer directly 10 better add
vantage"
POSTAL.
Virginia C. Hylton has been commits
stoned a fourth-class postmaster at Pax,
va.
The following orders have been issued:
Norfolk and Richmond, Na.-An addi-
iiopal daily dispatch Of through register
ed pouches has been commenced between
Norfolk and Richmond. Va, via the Nor
FOLK. Petersburg and Richmond railroad
post-ofiice. leaving Richmond at a. NJ.
and Norfolk at 1875 +. NJ.
washington, ID. c., and Wilmington
n. CA daily exchange of through regis
tered pouches will commence the 10Th in
slant between Washington, ID. c., and
Wilmington, ~ c., i'm lieu of present
inner sack exchange. Registered pouches
will be dispatched via the Washington
and Charleston railroad post-ofiice' leav-
ing Washington at 4:30 a. NJ, ana the
Norfolk and Wilmington railroad post
office leaving Wilmington at $40 a. NJ.
Personal.
Among the hotel arrivals are the fol-
lowing: j. Il. Hughes, Newport News;
" i PAYNE. Richmond; 4. {. Hatton,
Wilmington, n. c.; Il. j. Ford. Newport
News. M. Mclaughlin. Newport News;
& w Brown, Virginia; W. b. Trout,
stanton. Va; Miss Nettie titzhugh,
Metropolitan.
IJeutenant-C Colonel William A. Marye.
Of the Ordnance Department, is ordered
10 make one visit per month during Sep
ternber. October. and November 10 the
petersburg Iron-Works. for the inspec-
ton OF projectiles.