Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1887 — UNCLE SAM’S FINANCES. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM’S FINANCES.

The Surplus Available for Debt Reduction During the Fiscal Year Was $103,471,097. General Sheridan’s Annual ReportPostal Statistics—Other Department Reports. THE TREASURY. Synopsis of the Annual Report of Treasurer Hyatt. The annual report of James W. Hyatt, Treanurer of the United Stites, shows that the revenues of the Government for the fiscal vear ended June IJ, 18'7, were $371,403,27? ; ordinary expenditures, $887,932,179; surplus receipts available kr the reduction of toe public debt, $103,471,997. As compared with the previous year the receipts increased t3i,963,K>9, the expenditures $25,449,041, and the surplus revenues $9,514,309. There was an increase in every item of revenue, the largest being in the receipts from customs. The largest increase in the expenditures was on account of Indians and pensions, and the largest decrease on account of interest on the public debt. Tbe rece pts of the Postoffice Department amounted to $54,752,347, and the expenditures to $53,583,835. The revenues, exclusive of deficiency appropriations, increased $3,500,495, and the expenditures $2,901,219. The amount drawn from the Treasury to make good the deficiencies in the postal revenues was $6,969,13 <, as agdinst $8,714,422 in 1886. The operations of the year involved the redemption of $127,911,950 *in United States bonds, of which $47,894,200 was on account of the sinking fund ; the issue of nearly six hundred thousand drafts and checks; the redemption of upward of $193,000,000 in the United States paper currency and national bank notes, and tbe handling of i 192,000,0u0 in the United States bonds deposited or withdrawn by the national banks. Statements of the assets and liabilities of the Treasury are given for tbe close of the fiscal year, a>nd for Sept. 30 and Oct. 31,1887, in comparison with the same days last year, 'lhe largest increase in any item of assets during the year ended Sept. 30 was $34,705,625 in goldcoin and bullion, and the largest decrease $26,143,181 in silver dollars and bullion. The largest increase in tho liabilities was in the funa for the retirement of the national bank notes, which ran up from $65,612,547 to $102,265,.87. The available balance decreased $26,132, >24, and the total balance, including fractional silver and minor coin, fell off $28,286,951. During tho year ended Oct 31 the gold balance increased $44,322,653, the silver balance decreased $21,287,772, and the total balance ran up $1,959,283. The total at the end of this period, exclusive of certificates and other obligations held as cash, were $319,190,965, and the total liabilities'sz62,432,26o. The statement of United States notes outstanding show that between June :-0, 1884, and Sept. 30, 1887, the circulation of si and $2 notes ran down from $51,500,000 to $15,460,000. This decrease has been made up by changes in other denominations, the volume of $5, $lO, and S2O notes increasing about $13,0.10,000. The shipments of legal tenders and silver certificates of small denominations, together with the increase in the circulation of silver coins during the fifteen months ended Sept. 30, amounted to upward of $149,000,000, while, in addition, several million dollars in small gold coins have been drawn into circulation. Under the provisions of the act of June 8, 1872, certificates of deposit amounting to $34,900,000 were issued during the fiscal year for United States notes lodged in the Treasury. The redemptions in the same period were $43,990,000. There remained outstanding June 80 only $9,020,000, which is the least amount shown at the end of any fiscal year since the Issue began. The Treasurer attributes the limited use of these certificates at this time to the change in bank reserves from notes to coin and the demand for currency caused by business activity. There were no gold certificates issued during the year. The redemptions amounted to $9,687,428. Of the total of $1,173,354,880 issued from November, 1865, there were outstanding at the close of the year $121,486,817, of which .39,261,380 was in the treasury and $91,225,437 in circulation. The holdings of the treasury decreased nearly $25,000,000 in the year. The amount outstanding Oct. 31 was $132,542,931, of which the treasury held $32,858,158, The silver certificates outstanding at the close of the fiscal year amounted to $145,543,150, an increase of nearly $30,000,000 in twelve months. The amount in the treasury fell off in the same period from nearly $28,000,000 to $3,425,133, while the increase in the actual circulation was a little more than $54,000,000. This increase is due in part to the demand for small notes arising from the discontinuance of the issue of legal tender ones and twos. There was put out during the year $14,166,000 in $1 certificates, $1,976,000 in $2, and $7,760,000 in $5. The Treasurer believes that nearly all of the trade dollars have been redeemed. The coinage of standard silver dollars for the fiscal year was $33,216,831, an increase of $3,377,926 over 1886. On Oct. 31 the Treasury held $214,175,532 and there was $62,540,625 in circulation. Between June 30, 1886, and Oct. 31, 1887, the fractional silver coin in the Treasury decreased from $28,904,681 to $24,468,135, and the minor coin from $377,814 to $51,400. The 1 and 5 cent pieces on hand are not more than sufficient tot payments over the counter. The Treasurer calls attention to the rapid decrease in the redemptions of fractional currency, and shows by comparison with other paper issues that a larger amount than has been estimated has probably been lost or destroyed. The amount outstanding June 30, as shown by the hooks, was $15,322,902, while the redemptions for the year were only $7,123. The Treasurer renews the recommendations of his predecessors, that all of the postal revenues be deposited in the Treasury and be disbursed on the warrants of the Secretary, and that the payment of Speaker’s certificates for salaries and mileage of members of Congress be devolved upon a disbursing officer.

THE ARMY. Annual Report of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan Recommendations. Lieut. Gen. P. H. Sheridan has presented his annual report to the Secretary of War. From tbe report it appears that at the date of the last consolidated returns the army consisted of 2,290 officers and 24,236 men, including Indian scouts. The Lieutenant General briefly sums up tbe condition of the various divisions of the army, and of the Division of the Missouri says that while it has been free from Indian hostilities of any magnitude, many operations of a minor nature have been rendered necessary. Troops have been continually occupied in patrolling the Oklahoma country, ana have been successful in keeping intruders out of that region. The gradual spread of railroads throughout the Territory can, however, ultimately have but one effect, and Gen. Sheridan is of opinion that Congress may well consider tbe advisability of opening up reservations, at least of this country, to settlement. The General touches upon the recent trouble occurring on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and its settlement by Gen. Roger. In order to quiet the restless young men among the Crow Indians, the report says, Gen. Ruger has been authorized to enlist about thirty of their number as scouts and take them to Fort Custer. The Crows have always been friendly and make it a boast that they have never killed a white man, and it would be a great pity if anything should now occur to disturb the peaceful relations of so long a standing, and Gen. Sheridan ie confident that Gen. Ruger will be able to effect a permanent settlement that will be satisfactory to the Crows as well as to the Government. In regard to the concentration of the army in the larger posts, the report says that the worz on the new post at Denver, where it is proposed to place ten companies, will shortly be commenced; that at San Antonio has been progressing favorably during the year; the ground for the new post near Chicago will pass into the possession of the Government at an early day; and at Fort Snelling both the reservation and otherj attendant conditions are favorable for the establishment of a large garrison, and only some additional buildings are required for their accommodation. The reconstruction of .Fort Riley has been actively prosecuted during the year, but before it can be completed additional appropriations will be necessary. No other poet in the country possesses such advantages for the location of a school of practice for light batteries and for cavalry exercises, and since its establishment

for these purposes has been authorised by Congress it has been deemed but true economy to erect only buildings of a substantial and per manent nature, so that with the new equipment of breech-loading steel field guns, metal carriages, snd improved harness nnw being manufactured by tbe Ordnance Department, tbe service will probably derive marked benefit fio.u this station for a number of years. THF. AMERICAN NAVY. Commodore Wilson in Hi* Report Think* the Prospect Is V<ry Bright. Commodore T. D. Wilson, Chief of the Bureau of Construction and r epair of tbe Navy Depaitinent, tn ills annual report to the tecret ry of tbe Navy renews hiK recommendation that two new vessels ot about a thousand tons each be built to replace the training ships >sratosa, Jamestown, and Portsmouth which cann> t p ssibly be kept in service much longer, and ha asks that special authority be given for the repair it the ivsteric eloop-of-war Hartfonl, at aco.t of 5175,09i1. Relat.ve to the adap’ability of tbe single-tur-reted monitors to coast and harbor defense Commodore Wilson says: "They are now a considerable expense to the navy, as they must be taken care of. and, not being in proper rex air, they are of do use to the country. If these vessels are to be kept on the naval list they should be placed in perfect repair and be fitted with such modern rifles as they are capable of carrying Within six months all of these vessels could be put in the same state of efficiency as they were at the time of their construction at an expenditure of about $500,000. This would give thirteen coastdefense vessels actually available, armed with 15-inch smooth-bore guns. These guns could be replaced as rapidly as possible by rifles. By no other means could the same amount of money be spent to give the country such a valuable return.” In conclusion the report says: “The outlook for the navy in the near future is a very hopeful one, and with the completion of tbe vessels now projected the navy will consist of a number of modern vessels admirably adapted to the varied needs of the service. The charactor ot tbe work being done on the vessels now building and those lately completed shows that our ship-buil lers are able to turn ouVvessels of war second to none in the world. “The establishment of the gun factory at Washington and introduction by the Bethlehem iron-works of a plant to furnish heavy armor and gun forging* make the Un.ted States absolutely independent of other countries in tho construction and armamentof her ships ot war, and if the work of rebuilding the navy is only kept up as it is now going we shall soon have a navy that will be a credit as well as a protection to our country and our country’s interests." Tables attached to the report show the exact condition of every vessel in the navy. This table shows that in three years wo shall have tweniy-one of the wooden vessels remaining. In six years but four, and in nine years the entire wooden navy will have disappearod.

THE I’OSTOFFICE Cost, aud Length of Mail Service—Free Delivery System. The annual report of A Leo Knott, Second Assistant Postmaster-General, shows that the total cost for the year was $29,8J6,5e8. In the star service there was an increase of 615 routes and a decrease in cost of $252,647. In the mail messenger service there was an increase of 16.4 routes aud a decrease of $5,311 in cost. In tbe railroad service there was an increase of 7,015 miles in length of routes and an increase in cost of $654,590. In the star and steamboat service there was an average increase in the number of miles traveled during the last year ove r the average of the six preceding years of 7.50 per cent., and a decrease in tue cost of 13 per cent, in the star service and a decrease of 27 per cent, in the cost of tho steamboat service. The increase in the number of places of mail handled by the postal clerks during the last fiscal year over the preceding year was 505,000,0.0. The continuation of the appropriation for special mall facilities ou fast lines to the South and West is recommended. The total amount of the estimates submitted to meet the requirements of the office of the Second Assistant Postmaster General for the fiscal year 1888-9 is $31,635,065. The annual report of Co). J. F. Bates, superintendent of the free-delivery system of the Postoffice Department, shows that since Julv 1, 1863, the number of free-delivery offices has increased from 66 to 189, and the number of carriers employed from 685 to 5,810. The cost of the service lor the last fiscal year was $1,618,692, an increase of $306,386 over the previous year. The report shows that during the year the carriers delivered and collected 2,234, .61,056 pieces of mail matter, an increase during the year of over 285,000,000 pieces. The average cost per piece for handling the mails at freedelivery offices was 2 mills, a decrease of 9.09 per cent, during the year.

RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. Interesting Figures from the Annual Report of Superintendent Nash. The annual report of T. A. Nash. General Superintendent of the Railway Mail Service, shows that at ttie close of tbe fiscal year ended June 30,1887, mail service had been authorized upon 130,959 miles of railroad, postal clerks being employed distributing the mail on 116,609 miles, service on the regaining 14,360 miles being performed by closed pouches. At the same date there were in operation 41 inland steamboat routes, aggregating 5,864 miles, on which postal clerks were employed. To handle the mails while in transit there were employed on railroad routes 4,403 and on steamboat routes 57 railway postal clerks, being a total of 4,460-men. While in the performance of their duties the postal clerks on railroads traveled dn crews) 107.967,643 miles, and those employed on steamboat a 1,868,747 miles. During tH$ year the railway postal clerks distributed 5,834,690,875 pieces of ordinary mail matter, and protected, recorded, receipted for, and dispatched 15,7.>2,569 registered packages and cases and 950,613 through registered pouches and inner registered sacks. During the year 7,213 miles of new railroad service have been added. The lines on which service was.performed by clerks show an increase of 5,936 miles. Inland steamboat routes decreased from 43 to 41, and the length of routes from 5,951.53 miles to 5,864 89, The total number of clerks in tbe service at the close of the fiscal year 1886 was 4,573. There were handled by clerks in the railway mail service during the year of letters, ordinary mail matter, registered packages, through registered pouches, and inner registered sacks, 5,851,3j4,<;57, being an increase of 505,548,013 pieces. Out of this number 1,734,617 errors in distribution were found, making one error for each 3,373 pieces handled. The expenditures for the service aggregate $1,713,391, leaving $94,-6-8 of the appropriation unexpended. For the next fiscal year $2,031,288 is asked.

ORDNANCE BUREAU. Points from the Report of Gen. Benet, Chief of Ordnance. Gen. 8. V. Benet, Chief of Ordnance, has submitted his annual report to the Secretary of War. It shows that the total expenditures of the bureau during the fiscal year were *1,597,652. During the year 41,196 rifles ana carbines were manufactured at the National Armory. The report says that, owing to the failure ot Congress to pass the regular appropriation bill, the department has effected but little during tbe last year in tbe direction of providing guns, cartridges, powder, etc., for coast defense. Under tbe head of rifle-forgings the report says that the domestic manufacturers have at last triumphed over their limitations, and have obtained success in spite of inadequate facilities. The report says that the dynamite torpedo gun has been fairly perfected, and it fs recommended that a twelve-inch gun be purchased for exhaustive trials to determine its full capacity and fitness for coart defense. Favorable mention is also made of the Stevens dynamite sheik it is said that with tbe exception of the twenty-five 3 2.10-inch B. L. field guns just issued to the service there are in store only the old muzzle-loading guns of limited power, representing a system twenty-five years old and now obsolete, while there are no serviceable carriages. An estimate of $225,000is accordingly submitted for the purchase of sixty completely equipped steel guns. The tests of the eight-inch gun, it is said, show a h-gher effective energy than any gun of like caliber extant. The death is announced of Frank M. Higgins, managing editor of the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. ■ Buffalo's population, as shown by the police census, is 230,284.