Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-05-25

the direction OF Chief Wilkie OF the secret
service show that the gang was about to
put into operation one Of the boldest and
most daring schemes ever contemplated
by criminals. The plan was to manufac-
ture $1O,000,000 in $50, $50 and $lOO
notes. Jacobs, the leader, worked on the
theory that every man could be purchas-
ed, and it was his intention after making
this large amount Of money to buy re-
ceiving teller in subtreasury, deposit the
counterfeits in sums Of not less than $lOO,-
600, take certificate of deposit, and
draw against them, receiving genuine
money in return. This daring scheme was
being worked out, and when Mr.. Wilkie
and his assistants interrupted 1t they
found a $50 plate completed which was
even better than the plate from which the
500 counterfeits were printed and which
baff1ed the skill Of experts. These men
had the machinery for making paper
which is almost an exact counterpart OF
that used by the Government. 1t is esti-
mated by the commissioner Of internal
revenue that the Government lost about
$240000 as result Of the work Of Coun-
terfeiter Jacobs and his gang. -Four
wornout plates were found in the posses
sion Of these men, each Of which is capable
of printing 10000 sheets of ten stamps
each. This made 100000 stamps, each
of which could be used for stamping box
containing fifty cigars, making S0,OOO,OOo
which have perhaps been sold under coun-
terfeit stamps at 81 per thousand less than
the market price, thus making a tremen-
dous profit since they escaped paying the
revenue tax Of $3.50 per thousand.
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TL ... - A. con ono ooo a.
Spain in return for the Philippines COM
pletes the sixth great land purchase to
which the United States has been party.
Just ninety-sx years ago President JEFF
ferson began the thrifty practice by pay
ing $15, 100000 for Louisiana, thus more
than doubling the national domain. By
ASSUMING claims of American citizens
against Spain to the amount of So, 100000
President Monroe secured Florida, and as
a part Of the same deal Spain relinquished
all claim TO territory north of California.
President Polk gave $1S,250,OO0 for New
Mexico and California in 1913 and in 1853
President Pierce paid SIC, 000, 900 for that
part of Arizona and New Mexico south of
the ella river. President Johnson gave
$4,000 for Alaska in 1867. In assum-
ing the national debt of Hawaii the Unit
ed States has practically paid cash for
those islands. Porto Rico is the only pos
session which has not been directly pur-
chased.
The Department of Agriculture has en-
couragng reports as to the condition of
winter grain in Europe. From some
points in Russia there have been com
plants of insufficient rainfall, but on the
whole the condition of the wheat crop ia
represented as being satisfactory. Ger
many appears to be the only important
country in Europe where there is doubt
as to the condition of the cereal crops.
There considerable damage seems to have
been done and the crop may be short. The
outlook for India is for considerably less
than a normal crop. The harvesting for
1899 is practically concluded in India.
The Department of Agriculture testfies
to the apparent authenticity Of an esti-
mate of 100000 bushels of wheat for
Argentina, Of which between 100000 600
and 100000 bushels will be available
for export.
Up to June 80, 1898, the Government
had expended $2,610,921 in printing the
official records Of the Union and Confed-
crate armies, and it is estimated by Pub
lie Printer Palmer that before the work
is completed the total expenditure win
probably exceed $3,00O,OO0. This is ST.
100000 more than the total amount APP
proprated by Congress for the erection
of a new Government printing Office, work
on which will begin within a few days.
The Rebellion Records" as the work is
called, is probably the most stupendous
publication ever attempted, the series
comprising Ill volumes, averaging 1000
pages each, and the final edition will be
/ ,29S, 100 separate volumes. The first copy
was sent to the public printer Aug. %,
1880, and it is doubtful if the work will
be entirely completed by the same date
next year.
President Mckinley is becoming as in
veterate a smoker as Gen. u. S. Grant.
To this is attributed the development Of
his nervous condition. The President
smokes almost continuously from the time
he goes into his Office in the morning at
o'clock until he retires, about midnight.
During the reception of official callers the
President smokes. At the cabinet meet
ings smoking is also INDUCED in, and
whenever the door of the cabinet room is
opened to admit a visitor a blue haze of
TOBACCO smoke Is visible. Inc treSluenL
is a believer in the theory that tobacco
smoke is efficacious in stopping the neural
gic pains from which he had been q suffer-
er for the last few months.
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Comptroller Dawes has announced the
result of his call issued April 5, which
shows the condition of the 1858 national
banks in the United States. An abstract
of the reports which come from the 1858
national banks Of the country, briefly Civ
en-, shows the total resources to be $4,-
639, 1873, 100, loans and discounts amount
ing to So, 4O3, 410 S95, and reserve of law
full money 494,217, 975, of which the gold
holdings were S133, 190652. The deposits
aggregated $2,524, 396,257 and the aver
age of the reserve held is shown to have
been 30.S9 per cent.
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The expenditures of the Government In
the last ten months were $685., 1856 1903,
against 1913, 763,SS in the corresponding
ten months ended April 80, 1897. This
includes the $20,000,000 paid to Spain for
the Philippines. The increase is largely
due to the larger outlay on army and
navy. In April, May and June, 1898, for
example, the outlay for army and navy
was S54,9S4,376 more than the like months
in 1897. Adding this sum to the figures
given for the ten months, the audited ex-
penditure for the war so far appears to
have been S2T5.5T7,797