Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-31
TREASURY RELICS
Historical Treasures Oh File IN
the Auditors Office.
ACCOUNTS Of 6. WASHINGTON.
There Cover ( = Period Of Eight Years
and Are IN the Handwriting Of the
Great Patriet-Rsesipts Signed BY
panisi Webster and Henry Clay.

09ntOt WOOoSOT SUO IVoUCy Way
The archives Of the United States
treasury are rich with relics. In the
files Of the office OF the auditor Of the.
treasury department may be seen the
Cancelled check showing the payment
to Lafayette in 1924 Of 100000 by the
United States lin confederation of his
services and sacrifices in the war of
the Revolution" William H. Craw-
ford, then secretary! OF the treasury,
signed the warrant, and in the char
acteristtc French handwriting on the
reverse il, the Endorsement Of Lafa-
|yette. A Cancelled check or warrant
for ~$l5,OOO.OOO represents the payment
Tor the Louisiana purchase under the
treaty Of 1903.
The purchase under the treaty, char
|acterized at the time as Stewards fol-
ly," Of Alaska is evidenced by a war
rant for $7,2OO.OOO. signed by +. 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 at all the Rus
sias." This warrant called for pay
ment in coin and was SO paid through
the Riggs bank, then a private bank
ing institution. OF Washington. after
being indorsed by Edward de Stoecke.
the Russian minister at that time.
The purchase OF the Philippine Is.
lands from Spain is represented In the
important financial transactions OF the
government by four warrants Of 3d.
100000 each. AS a treaty cannot be
entered into by M country directly
with one with which it is at war, the
warrants We're Endorsed by Jules Cam.
bon. the French minister, who had del.
egated authority to represent the Span.
ish government.
The Panama canal purchase repre-.
sented the largest financial transaction
Of the government. The payment was
made by a common draft, payable to
81. Pierpont Morgan & Co., special dis
bursting agent" through whom it was
paid to the French company, the for.
ME- owner. The late j. Pierpon: Nor
gan himself Endorsed the draf.. \
short time previous there had been is-
sued a warrant for $1O.OOO,OOO, 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, it 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 FAC.
c0uhts-G. Washington with the Unit
ed States, commencing June. 1875. and
ending June. 1888, comprehending 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 We're 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-
ual Amoney and funds Of the govern
ment expended by him are specifically
indicated. In a footnOte. he calls at
tention to n particular item which he
appeared to have paid. but for which
he had no voucher. He deducted the
amount Of the item from his credit
until the matter could be definitely set
tied. All Of his accounts are express
ed in English money.
AcOntemporaneOus 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:
$50 cash for a broom that Peter
bought some time ago. %sixpence."
"Cash paid for mending the chariot,
l shilling" s.. ..
agreed with Peggy for 4 shillings
per month for the generals washing
and 4 shillings per dozen for the gen
tlemen Of the family"
Among other things Of interest in the