The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-12-18
TREASURY RELICS
Historical Treasures on File II
the Auditors Office.
ACCOUNTS OF G. WASHINGTON.

These Cover Period Of Eight Years
and Are In the Handwriting Of the
0reat Patriot-Rsesipts Signed by
Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
The archives Of the United States
treasury are rich with relics. In the
dies Of the ONCE Of the auditor Of the
treasury department may be seen the
cancelled check showing the payment
to Lafayette In 1924 Of $500, 600 by the
United States '.in consideration of his
and sacrifices In the war.-Of
the Revolution" William II. Craw-
ford, then secretary Of the treasury.
signed the warrant, and in the char
acteristic French handwriting on the
reverse is the Endorsement of Lafa-
yette. A Cancelled check or warrant
for 15.OOO.O 900 represents the payment
for the Louisiana purchase under the
treaty OF 1903.
The purchase under the treaty. char
at the time as Stewards fol-
ly." of Alaska Is evidenced by a war
rant for $7,2OO.0O0, signed by F. e.
Spinner. who at the time was secre-
tary Of the treasury. The wording of
the warrant begins and runs, PAY to
the undersigned envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of his
majesty the emperor Of all the Rus
sias." This warrant called for pay
ment In coin and was so paid through
the Riggs bank. then private bank
ing institution of Washington, after
being Endorsed by Edward de Stoecke.
the Russian minister at that time.
The purchase Of the Philippine Is
lands from Spain Is represented in the
financial transactions of the
government by four warrants Of So
100000 each. As a treaty cannot be
entered into by one country directly
with one with which It Is at war, the
warrants were Endorsed by Jules Cam
bon. the French minister, who had del
egated authority to represent the Span
fish government.
The Panama canal purchase repre-
scented the largest financial transaction
Of the government. The payment was
made by a common draft, payable to
~. Pierp0nt Morgan & Co.. special dis
agent" through whom it was
paid to the French company. the for
mer owner. The late ]. Pierpont Nor
gan himself Endorsed the draft. A
short time previous there had been Is
sued warrant for $4,000, 900, cover
ing the cost Of the canal zone. an area
Of ten miles on each side of the canal
As these Cancelled checks are held as
receipts, 1t could happen, in case of
their loss, that the government might
not be able to show that the moneys
were actually paid.
Not less interesting as relics are "Ac-
Washington with the Unit
ed States, commencing June. I'VE. and
ending June, 1888, comprehendfng a
space OF eight years." Under the cap
ton are three or four dilapidated calf
bound account books in the handwrit-
ing OF the great American patriot.
These accounts were mostly kept while
he was on the march, but they were
brought up with great accuracy from
day to day.
At the end OF each book there is a
comprehensive recapitulation Individ-
nal money and funds Of the govern
ment expended by him are specifically
indicated. In footnote he calls at
tention to a particular item which he
to have paid. but for which
he had no voucher. He deducted the
of the item from his credit
until the matter could be definitely set
tied ALI of his accounts are express
ed in English money.
A c0ntemporaneous account book Kept
by Caleb Gibbs shows the personal ex-
penses Of Washington and his military
family" meaning. no doubt, his i'm
mediate staff. The entries are usually
headed. Headquarters, on the march,"
For the most part they cover purchases
Of food supplies. but now and then are
such entries as:
s"To cash for broom that Peter
bought some time ago, sixpence"
"Cash paid for mending the chariot.
1 shilling
agreed with Peggy for 4 shiilipgs
per month for the generals washing
and shillings per dozen for the gen.
tlemen Of the family"
Among other things Of interest in the
auditors office are books showing al
lowances to members Of congress to
and from Washington. In the Thir-
teenth congress 1868 for mileage is re-
ceipted in faint. uncertain hand I'D.
Webster" A payment Of $500 for III
days attendance is shown to have
been made to Henry Clay. Harper's
Weekly
Bowling.
Rnxx,iS bDxu13vu Is one 80 &e,<,