The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16

Government Purchases Old Mileage
Books OF Webster and Clay-Dinner at
Revolutionary Headquarters, July 4.
1870, on the First Independence Day.
The hoard Of interesting relics and docu-
ments OF historic significance at the ma
tional Treasury seems as inexhaustible as
the widows cruise. The Treasury archives
are rich in material showing the steps in the
growth of a great nation, and additional
treasures are always coming to light.
An auditors Office is rarely the shelter
for anything more lively than dry as dust
papers, wearisome columns of figures and
long. dull accounts: but the office Of the
Auditor of the Treasury, says the Wash
in0ton Post, contains some records Of COM
mercial transactions in the United States
which form a fascinating little museum in
themselves.
These variou records are in the careful
custody of Miss Mary II. Brady, who has
herself dug many of them from the dusty
oblivion into which they had fallen. A
cancelled check is a mere slip OF paper,
generally worthless and uninteresting but
when its figures reach up into the multi
millions and il cover the purchase of a
country or a State il is worth a second
look. Carefully laid away in one OF the
black japanned boxes in Miss Brady's desk
there are several such checks held by the
Government as evidence OF its big business
deals. They are warrants for the payment
of moneys appropriated by Congress and
they date back as far as 1924, when 500, 900
was paid to Lafayette by the United States
in consideration of his services and sac
rifices in the War Of the Revolution" This
warrant is signed by William H. Crawford,
Secretary of the Treasury, and is receipted
on the back by Lafayette himself, in the
Characteristic delicate French hand.
The next warrant OF Importance is that
which gave the Emperor OF Russia 81, 200, 900
for Alaska under the treaty Of 1857. 1t is
pompously worded, beginning PAY to the
undersigned knvoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary Of his Majesty the
Emperor of all the Russias." The warrant
is signed by F. Z. Spinner. then Secretary
of the Treasury. This draft was indorsed
by Edward de Stoecke, the Russian Minister,
and was deposited in the Riggs Bank, one
Of the oldest banks in Washington. 1t will
be remembered that the treaty under which
this purchase was made was niUknamed
Stewards Folly" The warrant called for
payInen in coin and was so met.
A warrant for a still larger sum and a
far more important territory is that cover
ing the Louisiana Purchase, the amount
being SIS. OOO. 200. This was under the
treaty OF 1903.
Many people nave an idea, too" said
Miss Brady, that we paid nothing for the
Philippines. They think we simply marched
in and took the islands n that that was
all there was Of it. Nevertheless. four
warrants of 100000 each, making S20.-
900 900 in all. were paid TO Spain. These
warrants were indorsed by Jules Cambon,
the French Minister, representing the Gov
ernment of Spain; this for the reason that
a treaty cannot be entered into by any
country directly with one with which IL Is
at war"
These various warrants, though cancelled,
serve as receipts, and as Miss Brady an
nounces o~minously hat in case Of their