The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-22
History in Treasury Books
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS REVEAL SOME INTERESTING STEPS
IN NATIONS GROWTH

washington Cor. New York Press.l
h board OF relics and documents
Of historic significance at the national
treasury seems as ~ineNhaustible 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 COM
ing to light. An auditors office is
rarel* the shelter for anything more
lively thar dry-as-dUst papers. wcari-
some columns of figures. and long,
dull hut the office of the
auditor of the treasury contains some
records of commercial transactions in
the United States which form Il fas-
cinatins little museum in themselves.
These various records are in the
custody Of Miss Mary II. Brady. a
clerk. who has herself dug many OF
them from the dusty oblivion into
which they had fallen. They are her
delight. In enc of the black japanned
boxes in Miss Brady's desk there are
several warrants or checks of remark
able interest. They date back as far
as 1924, when 100000 was paid to
Lafayette by the United States lin
consideration Of his services and sac
riiices in the war of the revolution"
This warrant is signed by William Fl.
Crawford. secretary of the treasury.
and is receipted on the back by La.
fayrtte himself in tn" characteristic
delicate French hand.
h next warrant of Importance is
that which gave the Emperor of RUS
STA SI.2Q0.000 for Alaska. under the
treaty of 1867. 1t is pompously word
ed, beginning: Pay to the UNDER
signed. envoy extraordinary and min
lister plenipotentiary of his majesty
the emperor of all the Russians" The
NS.pr rl +, IL. r,. L. II r,
then secretary Of the treasury. This
was Endorsed by Edward de Stoccke.
the Russian minister. and was de-
posted 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
dubbed Stewards folly.' yet one mine
alone has Welded far moro than the
price paid for Alaska. The warrant
so met. \ warrant for a still larger
sum and a far more important terri
tory is that covering the Louisiana
purchase. the amount being s15.000,-
600. This was under the treaty OF
1909.
-Four warrants of $4,000. 900 each.
making 100000 900 in all. represent
our purchase of the Philippines. These
warrants We're Endorsed by Jules Cam
Don. the French minister, represent
ing the government of Spain; this for
IN" reason that a treaty cannot be en-
tered into ny any country directly
with one with which it is at war. The
latest and by far the largest warrant
ever issued by the United States is the
one paid for. the Panama canal. 1t is
q simple common draft for $40, OOO.-
300. made out to u. Pierpont Morgan
x Co.. special %disbursing agents."
through whom it was paid to the
french company. 1t is Endorsed BIZ
j. F%icrpont Morgan himself. Slightly
earlier was issued tho warrant for
slo,ooo,00O covering the Canal zone.
These various warrants, though
Cancelled. serve AS receipts, and as
Miss Brady announced omniously that
In case of their loss the
might never be able to prove that The
moneys were paid, she hastily LAYS
them away again under heavy lock
and key.
And now ! will show you my jew
els she will tell you. bringing an
other black box Of ancient cut and
time-wOrn decoration. Peering at it's
Id, YOU can family dccipher some fan
tastic gold lettering and you read,
guessing at it here M there "ac-
counts. &. Washington with the Unit
ca States. Commencing June, 1875,
and ending June. 1888, comrrehending
n space of eight years" Inside are
three or four battered caIf-bound ac-
count books. all neatly filled with debt
and credit columns in the mooth
writing of h great American parent.
The rounded letters. with their grace
fully curlv-cucd embellishments, and
the beautifully formed. symmetrical
figures, are eloquent proof of the
painstaking minutiac Of his affairs.
These accounts We're kept mainly
while or the march, yet they werc
brought up from day to day with the
greatest accuracy, and the recapitula-
o at the end Of each book is de-
tailed and comprehensive. The ac-
counts cover money Of Washington's
W spent for the government, and
government funds expended by him.
HIS conscicntiousness is shown in n
f%ootnotc, calling attention to a par
ticular item which he appeared to
nave paid, but for which he had nc
receipt. This he deducted from his
f" credit until the matter should he
definitely settled. Some curious little
differences in bookkeeping phrase
ology are shown in these books, For
instance, the top line Of a column that
~ carried forward reads sometimes
brought p or when he is very
businesslike. indeed, ito foot of Other
side brought up" OccasionnIlv ono
finds brought over from the other
side Or "cnntracrcditsidc." Tho no.
counts are in English money.
Equally interesting are tho old milo
age hooks. showing the sums aIlowrd
members OF congress for t%ranspor,a-