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January 15, 1839.
Submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed.
Treasury Department,
January 10, 1839.
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a communication received from the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, containing explanations of the estimates submitted by him for the expenses of the Mint and branches for the year 1839.
I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
LEVI WOODBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. C. C. CAMBRELENG,
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means.
Treasury Department,
January 10, 1839.
Sir: Your communication of the 2d instant, enclosing a copy of a letter from the honorable chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, has been received and duly considered. He asks me “to compare the estimates now submitted with the appropriations actually made last year, and explain the cause of the difference in each; and also, to explain the three new items, not in the bill of last year, of $18,300, $3,000, and $1,000.” He further asks, “if the surplus profits on the copper coinage are sufficient to pay salaries, &c., and that appropriation has not been drawn for, why is that item estimated for in the year 1839?”
The following explanations are respectfully offered in reply:
1. The difference of estimate for salaries between the years 1838 and 1839 is $300. This arises from a proposed increase of the salaries of two clerks – one from $1,000 to $1,200, and the other from $700 to $800, founded upon my application to you of the 24th of November.
2. The item for compensation to laborers was, in 1838, $14,600; in 1839, $23,000. The explanation of this difference is to be found in a statement forwarded with the estimate for 1838, a copy of which is herewith sent. This statement also accounts for the difference of the remaining parts of the estimates. I need only say that the appropriation for 1837 considerably exceeded our wants for that year, and the balance being applied to the expenditures for the ensuing year tended greatly to reduce the estimates for that year, insomuch that we found it unnecessary to ask for so much as two-thirds of what was expected to be paid to laborers, or for any thing at all on the score of contingent expenses and new machinery. It will be perceived that a very close calculation was made of our wants for 1838, the statement of November 22d (last) showing an anticipated balance on hand of only $1,000 at the end of the year; consequently, our estimate for 1839, standing by itself, unaided by surplus and untrammelled by deficit, exhibits nearly the regular annual expenditure, proportioned to the anticipated amount of coinage, excepting, of course, the two items of $3,000 and $1,000, to be noticed presently.
In my letter to you, contained in your report to the House of Representatives of March 23d, 1838, (document No. 273, page 6,) you will find a table of the estimated cost of coining different annual amounts. A coinage of four millions (assumed in my letter of November last) would require $58,500. My estimate, exclusive of the two extra items of $3,000 and $1,000, calls for $62,000. It is necessary that we should not be straitened in our means of issuing even a much larger amount of coins than is there expected; probably the sum asked for will enable us to coin five millions, if required. At the same time, I have anticipated a considerable decrease of gain on the copper coinage.
3. The item of $3,000 for new machinery is intended to be applied towards the completing of the system of coinage by steam; a new engine, now nearly finished, and three new presses, being necessary for this purose.
4. The further sum of $1,000 is asked to enable us to commence a collection of coins and metallic ores, such as can be obtained at or near their intrinsic value, both as a useful and instructive appendage to the institution. From time to time we are called upon by Congress or by individuals for information respecting foreign coins, and the possession and study of such a cabinet is necessary to put it in our power to impart such information. The cost, moreover, will be very trifling, and will always be at least equalled by the value of the collection.
5. The concluding inquiry is, “if the surplus profits on the copper coinage are sufficient to pay salaries, &c., and that appropriation has not been drawn for, why is that item estimated for in the year 1839?””
To this I reply, that the surplus profits of copper coinage are by law applicable only to the contingent expenses of the Mint, and are relied upon te defray, as far as they go, that branch of expenditure; the salaries of officers constituting a distinct head of appropriation. The appropriation for 1838, on this account, is of course counted upon as a part of our resources; the only reason why it has not been drawn from the Treasury is, that there has happened to be a balance of money on hand, drawn from other items of appropriation. This, I understand, has occasionally occurred, but, as it is avoidable, and seems to need explanation, I shall, in future, direct the treasurer of the Mint to be specific as to the state of our funds on each account, and to ask for money accordingly.
Very respectfully, your faithful servant,
R. M. PATTERSON,
Director
Hon. Levi Woodbury,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Mint of the United States,
December 30, 1837.
Sir: The following detailed statement of my estimates for the Mint and its branches, for 1838, is respectfully submitted, in reply to your request of the 18th instant, received this day.
| The appropriation for the year 1837, including an item of $20,000 for new machinery, was | $101,800 | |
| On the 31st December, 1836, there remained a balance on hand of the appropriation for 1836 of | 18,550 | |
| The profits of the copper coinage of 1837, which become a part of our ordinary fund by act of January 18, 1837, are fairly rated at | 10,000 | |
| The credits of profit and loss, (that is, the deductions from deposites for the present year,) will probably amount to | 6,000 | |
| Available funds for 1837, | 136,350 | |
| The whole amount of expenditures, ordinary and extraordinary, within the year 1837, based upon what was paid in ten months, and inclusive of the wastage, is estimated at | 95,850 | |
| Probable balance December 31, 1837, | 40,500 | |
| If the estimate for 1838 be made without respect to that balance, or to any sources of gain, we should be obliged to ask– | ||
| For salaries of officers and clerks, | $20,400 | |
| For wages of workmen, | 23,000 | |
| For wastage, supposing the coinage may be $3,500,000, | 13,000 | |
| For incidental and contingent expenses, including iron, steel, lead, castings, copper, zinc, tallow, oil, chemical agents, melting-pots, crucibles, stationary, water-rent, and taxes, | 26,500 | |
| For new machinery, viz: one ten-horse steam-engine for the coining-presses, a steam coining-press, and sundry smaller articles, | 8,600 | |
| 91,500 | ||
| From this amount we deduct– | ||
| Probable balance of 1837, | $40,500 | |
| Probable gain from copper coinage, | 10,000 | |
| Profit and loss, | 6,000 | |
| 56,500 | ||
| Leaving the amount asked of Congress, | $35,000 | |
| which, with what we have, and shall have from other sources, will be sufficient to cover the whole expense of 1837. | ||
Upon that basis, the following formal estimate is submitted, differing slightly from that sent on the 24th of November, particularly in regard to the item for a clerk in the Director’s office, which is found necessary here, and has been approved by the President:
| For salaries of officers and clerks– | |||
| The director, | $3,500 | ||
| The treasurer, | 2,000 | ||
| The chief coiner, | 2,000 | ||
| The assayer, | 2,000 | ||
| The melter and refiner, | 2,000 | ||
| The engraver, | 2,000 | ||
| The second engraver, | 1,500 | ||
| The assistant assayer, | 1,300 | ||
| Three clerks in the treasurer’s office, two at $1,200 each, and one at $1,000, | 3,400 | ||
| One clerk in the director’s office, | 700 | ||
| $20,400 | |||
| For compensation to laborers, | 14,600 | ||
| Total, | $35,000 | ||
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