The age-herald., 1899-04-30
At the Sub-TreaSury Awaiting the Presentation of a Draft.
CASH NOT TO BE MOVED
Russia Was Paid for Alaska Through The Bank of Commerce in Five Thousand and Ten Thousand
 Gold Certificates.

Of the one hundred and sixty tons of gold in the United States sub-treasury in Wall street nearly fifty tons is the property of the kingdom of Spain, or will be in a very short time. It is the sum set aside to pay for the Philippine Islands, and it amounts to $2O,OOO,OOO.
 This is not the first time Uncle Sam has bought territory from another nation. More than twenty years ago he paid Russia a little more than $7,OOOOOO for Alaska, one of the most profitable commercial deals the United States ever made It is an interest ing fact that the same man who handled the cash in that deal will make the pay ment to Spans financial agent. He is G. w. Marlor, deputy assistant treasurer, who is immediately in charge of the cash and who would be held personally accountable if some one called in the night with a wagon and carried off few tons of gold whilc the watchmen were not looking. Of course there are higher officials, who would be responsible, but the first man Uncle Sam would eross-examine if that happened would be MT. Marlor.
 This gentleman sits in his office and lis- tens to such demands from bankers as q would like a million dollars in double eagles tomorrow morning." Then he has the money counted out and ready for de- livery and doesn't grow any more excited over it than grocer does who is asked for five pounds of tea.
 'I remember very well how we paid Rus sia for Alaska, said Mir. Marlor yesterday, flor I made the payment. A draft for a little more than S7,00O000 was sent by the secretary of the treasury to the Russian consul, who deposited it in the National Ia afal- if CoF 1arop In ttnC h1Xr 10 h. treasury was not member of the tclearine house, as it is now. and when tl1e draft was received E. H. Birdsall, who was cash fer of the bank came around here and gave the draft to me. I handed him S700OG00 in gold certificates of $5Oe0 and $10,G00 each. It made bundle not thicker than that" and he indicated with his hands a depth of four or five inches.
 Tn the present case the transaction will be even simpler. The 800 GOO 000 draft on the sub-treasury will be deposited. I sup pose, with August Belmont & Co.,, the agents of the Rothschds, who virtually control the Bank of Spain. The draft will be collected through the clearing house. but there will be no movement of actual gold. Of course, Spans financial agent could come hero with a cart and get the forty tons of gold and ship it to Europe if he wanted to, but at present Europe owes this country too much money to make it necessary to send any gold there. The money will be transferred in the shape of draft to London, and bills of exchange will 7e issued in London against it. Spain can use up the money by drafts on Lon don. paying debts with them.'
 Wall street men say that none of the gold will actually reach Spain. That un- happy country has too many liabilities outstanding to allow her to place anything in her treasury. The money will really go to the Rothschilds, and be used to pay off Spain's debts. All the Peninsular mon- archy will ever see of the cash will be references to 1t written in red ink on her ledger.
 An impression had prevailed in non-hnan- cial circles that Spain would get the money in metal, and that it might be sent on one ship. If that were so it might pay some one to fit out private vessel and capture it on the way over. Another suggestion, made. of course, by humorists, is that by little sharp practice "gold bricks" made of eilded solder might be palmcd off on the unsuspocting financial agent of the boy king or that the express wagon might be intercepted on the way to the pier. But unfortunately modern financial methods allow no chance for any such enterprise, which might have been a success in the old days of the feudal robber barons. ~
 If there were any opportunity of "gQld bricking' Spain plenty of bogus gold bricks" might be obtained at the united States assay office. Farmers who buy them and take thorn there for sale, on finding that they have been duped invariably throw them on the floor and go away mad, But there is no possibility of Uncle sam paylng Spain in anything but real cash. Stage money or bogus bullion will have no chance whatever.
 Roughly speaking, tho treasury officials say that there are two tons of gold to a million dollars The actual weight, how ever, to the million dollars is about Je6O pounds. This statement is made with, view 10 fairness so that gold buyers shall not expect too much for their money. f.'