The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-24
PLENTY OF GOLD
AND SILVER coin
Millions in the Branch Mint at
San Francisco Available
for Use of Banks.
BUILDING NOT DAMAGED
OPERATIONS CAN BEGIN AT ANY
TIME.

San Francisco, April 23.-One for
tunate condition still remains with
San Francisco. There is an abundance
of gold and silver coin available In
the vaults of the United States branch
mint in this city The mint had almost
completed its coinage for the fiscal
year when the earthquake and fire in
terrupted this operation. A visit to
the mint today disclosed the fact that
the damage done is comparatively tr1v-
iaI, only one or two rooms in the build
ing being touched by the flames. The
furnaces and CRATE chimneys will be
ready to start up at an hours notice If
suitable power can be obtained, and 1t
is possible that a speedy makesh1tt for
power may be soon arranged II the
early future should warrant such a
step. Mr.. Leach, superintendent of the
branch mint, said today:
Mint Ready to Resume.
1.-THE mint is intact No damage has
been done to the inside either by the
earthquake or fire. We are ready to
resume business Just as soon as the
public wants us to do So All OF our
men have been at their posts since
Wednesday ready to meet any demand
but the outside financial system is not
yet in shape to use money. The f1nan-
cial interests of the city must organize
first and establish themselves in tenn
pOrary quarters before they will be in
a position either to receive or pay out
money. We have in the vaults of the
mint an abundance of money; in fact,
more than San Francisco needs. Sec
rotary of the Treasury Shaw is fully
alive to the situation, and has instruct
ed me to turn over money to banking
institutions whenever needed.
Sub-Treasurer Jacobs opened his Of
fee in the mint today. Until he can
get his books and papers the mint will
make necessary transfers Of money.
No Demand for Money.
'Thus far we have had no de-
mands for money continued Superin-
tendent Leach 1--WE have had had
about dozen demands for orders but
no one has called for money. We were
almost through with our coinage Oper-
atiOns for the year and the only thing
now lacking to start up Is the want Of
power. We will give up all our spare
rooms for commercial purposes. 1
have conferred with all of the repre-
sentative bankers here and in Oakland
and will continue to keep in touch with
their needs. They desire to get every
thing in shape first. All that they ask
from the secretary of the treasury is
the prompt transfer of funds, and this
is something that Secretary Shaw is
most anxious to do. One of the first
things that he did was to instruct me
to consult with the bankers and see
what was needed"
No Extra Guards.
A significant indication of the early
restoration of law and order and safe
ty in this devastated city is the fact
that there is not d single soldier or
mliitiaman or regular police officer
guarding the many millions of dollars
in the vaults of the mint. The soldiers
and other guards were dispensed with
the first day of the fire, and only the
regular special police officers connect
ed with the mint have since been on
duty there.
1t was stated today by officials of the
mint that the early reports of the
shooting and attempts to break into
the mint by lOOters were the purest
nonsense. There has been no disturb
ance whatever at the building, and
there is no prospect of future trouble.