The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918, March 27, 1886, Image 8

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The Oregon scout., March 27, 1886, Image 8

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Newspaper Page TextEARLY COIN-MAKING. Money Manufactured In rhllndolpHla Nearly n Century Ago TJio "Wash ington lIiUf-Dollnr, tho Mark, the Cent of 1703, nnd tho Dollar of 1 701 High l'rlccs for Tlicm. Tho history of tho early mint, says The Philadelphia Press, resembles tho early lives of our most successful mil lionaires in that it commenced to make money in small amounts and in a very humblo way. Tho three-story structure, Nbs. 37 and 39 North Seventh street, was chosen as tho sito for tho United States mint, and thoro it remained from 1792 until 1833, when it was romovod to its present location. Tho subject of a national coinage was agitated as early as 1782, when Robert Morris, tho financier and signer of tho Declaration of Independence, advocated u system of coinago for tho United States. "Ten units woro to equal 1 penny, 10 ponso to mako 1 bit, and 10 bits to mako ono dollar." Dies for theso pieces wcro mado and sovoral specimens struck in silver, called tho mark, quint and bit All of them aro exceedingly raro and valuable. A mark sold for 510 in a public sale in Now York, and tho bit, of which but ono specimen has been brought to light, and which was recently bought in a sale of coin in Scotland by W. E. Wood ward, of Boston, is valued at $550. Theso patterns or experimental coins aro historically most interesting, as they comprise tho earliest efforts for tho csiablishmcnt of agovornmont coin ago. Tho foundation of tho now mint was laid by David Riltcnhousc, on Tuesday, July31, 1702, at 10 o'clock A. M. On Sept. 11, 1792, tho mint mado tho first purchaso of coining motal, six pounds of old copper at ono shilling 3 pence per pound. Tlireo presses wcro put up and operated in tho beginning of Oc tober, tho first pieces coined being tho Martha Washington half-dimes, of ffhich President Washington speaks in bis annual message to congress, Nov. C, 1792, as follows: "In tho oxecution of tho authority given by tho legislature, measures havo been taken for engaging somo artists from abroad to aid in tho establishment of our mints. Others liavo boon employed at homo, revis ions havo been undo for tho rcquislto buildings, and theso aro now putting into proper condition for tho purposo of tho establishment. Thoro was a small beginning in tho coinago of half-dimes; tho want of small coins in circulation calling tho first attontion to them." Thoro is a tradition, gonorally bo liovcd by numismatists, that theso pieces wero struck from tho private plato ot Washington, which ho had molted up for that purpose, and that Martha Washington sat beforo tho ar tist who dosignod tho dies. This is very probable, us Washington was groatly intcrostod in tho infant mint, personal ly superintending many of its affairs. For this reason tho coin is highly prized by collectors. A number ofotlior dios woro mado and coins struck in 1792, as patterns or designs for a regular coin ago. Notablo among thorn is tho Wash ington sllvor half-dollar. Tho dies for for this picco wero mado by Peter Getz, of Lancaster, and on .tho obvorso is roprcsontod tho bust of Washington, facing loft. Tho mint did not, howovor, oom monco Us rogular business till 1793, when tho copper cont and half-oont first mado thoir appoarauoo, and, although qulto a largo numbor of theso woro coined, no less, in fact, than 112,212 onts, yot they aro seldom mot with now, and tv porfect unusod spooimon has boon sold at auction for $200. Tho half-pennies of this dato do not com mand so much, In fmo state of preser vation only bringing from $10 to $20. The mo6t valuablo of tho early pennios iro thoso of 1799 and 1801, and if theso could be obtained in uncirculated con ditionthat is, as fino as whon dropped from tho dlo, thoy would soli for from 9300 to $100 each. In the yoar 1791 tho sllvor dollar first mado its appoarance, and tho coinago of the half-dimo was resumed. Of tho dollar but fow really oxcellont Impres sions can bo found, and thoy would realizo from $100 to 200 each. Tho coinago of silver dollars continued till 1801, largo numbers being put in circu lation. Tho silver dollar of 1804, sur namcd tho "King of Amorlcan Coins' vrill probably command a largor prloo than any other of tho Amorlcan eorlos, and in tho faoo of tho faot that it is not gonorally conoedod by collectors who mvo thoroughly investigated tho sub Joot, that thcro over was or is n genu 'no coin of that dato struck in that year, known to tho numismatio world. That dies wcro mado for tho pleco is unquestioned, and that thoro woro sov eral rcstrlkes from tho dlos as late as I860 is also admitted. Tho two speci mens in tho mint cabinet aro restrikes, a aro all the others which havorocont ly been offered for sale, but aa thoy soli from $1,000 to $1,200 nploco It can readily bo Eoon that tho fraudulent re issues havo been a very lucrative and quick way of making monoy. Of tho littlo silver half-dimo of 1802 but eighteen spcolmons havo boon found The silror quarters of 1823 and 1S27 are almost impossible to find, Md unused examples of theso dates would be eagerly bought at $160. Tho areet early American coin, howovor. Is tke gold half-eagle of 1816. In this Ftr, a dLstutroiu fire having ocoured at tho mint, a number oi dies wcro re moved to Lancaster, and owing to tho confusion incident to their removal and tho lack of propor facilities but fow pieces wero coined. No pennies of this year havo been found. Should a genuino ono turn up it will doubtless bring an enormous sum. Of the half-cglcs but thrco havo found their way into collections, two of theso baring been discovered in an old stock' ing and sold to a New York broker twenty-fivo years ago. Tho cabinet of tho United States mint, which was begun as early as 1835, although containing an almost complete series of American gold coin, could not obtain this date. It lias qulto recently mado a valuablo and important acquisition In securing from II. P. Ncwlin ono of tho thrco specimens in a remarkably fino state of preserva tion. I ho others aro owned by Mr. Garrett and L. G. Parmclee, of Boston, tho latter being ono of tho oldest col lectors and having a cabinet of Ameri can coins valued at $50,000. It is stat ed that another 1815 half-caglo is in tho collection of tho Swedish mint. Tho valuo of each of tho pieces is estimated at $500. In tho year 1833 tho mint was rcraov cd to its prcscntsito on Chestnut street, below Broad, and its facilities for tho coinago of gold, silver, and copper were greatly increased. Of its lato coins, subsequent to 1834, but fow command largo prices, tho $20 picco of 1819 alono oxcoptcd. 1 Ins piece, of which but one gold specimen was struck, is probably tho most valuablo of tho entire scries, and a few years ago tho authorities of the mint wcro offered $2,000 for it by and enthusiastic collector. Coin collecting is in its infancy in thL country. As tho number of numismat ists is now tlireo thousand and tho do mand for raro coins is far greater than over before, it would bo natural to sup pose that as tho supply can not incrcaso with tho demand, tho fictitious value must advance in proportion. His Wife Numbor Two. oi. i-oricniciu was a nard man. Ho worked his wife a good, patient woman to death uponj his plantation. On her death bed, whon too late, hi? oyes wero opened to tho great wrong ho had done, and he begged her for givoncss. "It Is cosy enough for mo to forgive," she gasped, "but my forgiveness will not causo your coming punishment tc bo lessened. I feel that you aro going to bo punished on this earth." She turned her faco away from him and died. Tho Colonel's season of grief was not long. Ho soon put on his best clothes and showed himself at hog killings ant1 other places of amusement. His friends woro shocked, but said nothing. Sooi thoro camo into tho neighborhood a graceful woman, Antoinetto Polworth. Tho Colonel met her and was charmed. Ho called on her. Sho received him kindly and eventually thoy wcro mar ried. Six months of almost unbroken hap piness Hew. away, but now tho Colonel' faco sometimes woro an anxious ex pression. His wifo was not so fair as sho had been, and tho Colonel had dis covered that tho waving hair which ho had so much admired was soinotiincs at uight hung on a corner of tho mantle pleco. Ho found, also, that ho had beer deceived in other ways, and tho spirit oi rovengo aroso in his Injured breast. "Antoinetto," tho Colonel ono day remarked in a voico which had los much of its wonted gontloncss, "Cnro lino is ill, to-day, and I want you to g, out and woavo jeans for tho nogroos. I got a good prico for tho stuff, and lean not afford to seo the loom idlo." "Woll, then, don't look at it," An tolnetto carelessly replied. Tho Colonel nibbled his lip and stern ly said: "Woman, I want no foolishness." "Don't havo it then." "I won't Go out thoro nnd weave, or you'll feel tho ungontlo forco of rotrlbutlvo authority." J Antoinetto laughod. Tho Colonel took hold of her noso and gavo it a turn as If ho would unscrow it. Antoinotto put asido a stocking sho had been darn ing, knockod tho Colonel down with a lightuing liko slap, put ono foot under him, throw- him across tho room, sat down and resumed her poacoful occupa tion. Aftor a whilo tho Colonol sat up and looked at her in astonishment "Antoinotto," ho feobly said "What, dear?" "You needn't weavo." "Thank you, doar." "You havo convinced mo that a wo man should havo a fow rights, but, say, how did you do It? Whoro did you ao qulro the facts which you havo just em bodied into such un unanswerable urgu uiontP" "Colonol," sho rcpliod, "pardon mo for not sooner telling you. For many years I was tho cannon-ball woman and tho iron-jawed maidon in tho circus. Don't got excited, dear. I shall not givo you anothor exhibition until you attempt to get a dlvorco from mo. Thon I will tako you up in my tooth and shake you." Tho Colonel went out, loaned on a horso block and groaned. Ills first wlfo'a prediction was vor I Hod. Arkan taw Traveler. A Georgia tanner, whose uoj ate up hU wallet, coutalnlng 3W, It lu Washington, and will be an Important wltnota at to the desir ability of coatluuluc tho coinage and dlitflbu tloa ox the leu pcruuable silver dollar. Tithes and Polygamy. Ucorgo Q. Cannon having failed to jscapo tho punishment duo his polyga aious crime by trying to run away has now given bail. Tho amount of the bond is large, but he can afford to for !cit it Ho is ono of the high dignita ics of tho Mormon Church, an instltu- aon which has a revenuo of about ono million and n half a year. It could bail ut every bishop and high functionary f tho church and they might all run iway. Still a good bank account would bo left Tho strength of polga- aiy lies very largely in tho wealth of ilic church as an institution. Tho rovenucs of tho Mormon Church iro derived from tithes. The common pcoplo aro compelled by church law to ontnbuto onc-tentii of their income, whether it bo in crops, live stock, prof- ts, salary, or anything else, to tho scclcsiastical fund. The contribution is lot a voluntary gift, but an assessment, nforccd by tho most solemn obliga tions. These ecclesiastics aro ablo to rob (no nilder term would fit tho case) their ig- lorant laity by assuming that tho titli ng system of tho Hebrew common wealth, instead of being a national law, s a perpetually binding religious obli yation. This perverse idea may bo said o furnish tho tap-root of Mormonism, with all its revolting bcastiality. Tho reasoning of tho "saints" is that tho aw of Moses fixed upon onc-tonth as a permanent assessment for all the Lord's people, and thatit is as binding now, and n America, as it was thousands of rears ago m Palestine. By insisting ipon this theory they mako their dupes jelievo that to withhold tho tithes would bo a species of wickedness pecu- larly provocativo of divino wrath. I'licro is no passago of scripturo upon which Cannon and his brother prcach- irs of Utah dwell with such resonant md unctuous fondness as Malachi's ox lorlation to bring all the tithes into tho itorchouso of tho Lord. Tho changes ire rung upon it with an iteration which would provoke to expletives a ess frec-tongucd hearer than Princo rial's fat friend. There could hardly be a nioro palpa- )Io perversion. Tho Jews constituted i nation, and as a matter of courso ;hcro had to bo somo svstcm of taxa- ion. As tho government was origin- illy a theocracy, church and state wcro nc, tho former being tho political and iflicinl head of all public affairs Tho aix of one-tenth, or 10 per cent, levied mder tho Mosaic law, was not cxtor- a'onato and oppscssive. In theso davs t is hotter to havo taxation upon rallies, rather than on crime, and exact payment in money rather than in kind, it least that is tho general opinion and mstoin, but tho old system was better ulaptcd to thoso times and that eiviliza ion. Conceding tho wisdom of tithes, is originally levied, it is no less truo lint any attempt to graft it on to tho present system of taxation for tho ben ifit of ecclesiastics has no justification. Vs well insist that the modern clergy ihould wear tho dress prescribed in tho lamo law for tho priesthood. Somo- imes ono hears tho tithing system rought forward, oulsido of Mormon loin, ns a model for Christians giving o religious and philanthropic purposes. t is no doubt a good idoa to bo systo- natio in ono's cliarity, and to gauge ho amount according to tho income which ono receives, or may count upon is reasonably secure. In this war tho ipirit of tho old Hebrew law can bo undo usoful. But pressed boyond that )oint, and hold up as an integral part f tho general roligious laws of our holy religion, it is liable to griovous abuse, is tho oxamplo of polygamous Utah mpressivoly teaches. Tho essenco of tho tithing system is lot tho ono-tenth exnctiou, but tho pay- nont In kind, rathor than in monov. Abstractly considered, this differonco ictwoon tithes and taxes would scorn to n moro matter of convenience, es pecially for tho tax receiver. It would w cosy enough for tho farmer to tako a I oad of corn, n fow hogs, nnd a steer or iwo to tho county scat in payment of lis annual publio assessment, but tho itilizlng of tho same might bo arkward, uul attended with very considerable oss. Uuriously, howovor, tho diffor mco in theso two systems, as shown m a vast scalo within tho period of nodorn history, may bo sot down as no of tho groat things in tho dovolop uont of tho raco. Under tho feudal systom, as it ob nlued in continental Kuropo, tho peas uit paid his tax on tho tithing plan of a jcrtain per cont of his incrcaso and irops, whilo in England tho payment )f a money tax obtained. At least iheso two systems woro thus in roguo whon tho silver of Mexico md Peru began to pour into Europo. That influx cheapened money, nany fold, and proportionately les loned, practically, tho taxation "of tho English poasant whilo tho continental ;ax was in effect proportionately in noasod, for monoy was then, hardly ess than now, tho standard of values. I'ho English poasant rose to tho dignity if tho farmer, and tho wholo pcoplo prospered whilo tho horrors of tho peasants' war In Germany, and tho turning ohateaus of Franco in tho early itogos of tho French revolution wero Jio rovengo wreaked by tho oppressed lusbatidnieu of those countries upon their tltho masters. This remarkable phaso of history, to which the merest, reference only can bo mauo in tins connection, is no argu ment against tho tithing system as it prevailed in ancient Jewry. It w as, no doubt, fair and equable thcro and then, but when we sec the most revolting do mcstic abomination deriving its susto nance in our day and land from tithes it is pertinent to recall the evil, upon a continental scale, which was attribu able to tho retention of the tithing sys tern in Europe after it had been out grown in the march of events. Chicago. Inter Ocean. She "Was From the Country. r i . . . one was irom ino country, and as pretty a picture a's you could imagine The difference between citj'and country girls m California is generally m favor of the country girl. Sho was visiting some friends, and this was a theatre party. Sho was in chargo of a superb city dude, a man full of metropolitan airs and graces, albeit ho had never been beyond the Bocky mountains. Ho was just spreading himself on this rose bud from tho interior, and she, liko a simple, innocent country girl, was very grateful, and very ingenuous, and very much interested, and so tho dudo sailed in. lie tout nor about everything that had been in San Francisco for tho last ten years. Ho described all tho Kiralfy ballets; ho enlarged upon tho lato Neil- son, tno great i5ootli, tno opera. Patti and Gcrstcr and Nevada, and all tho great pcoplo seemed to bo quito fa miliar. "What a dull timo you must have in the country," he said. "Yes," sho answered, "its rather quiet." "What do you do with yourself?" "Oh. I read and sing and play some times, and every now and again wo havo a pleasant little party." "And what do you think of tho town? Doesn't it drivo you wild with its ex citement? Isn't tliis going to the thea- I tor a great treat?" "O yes, indeed; it's very delightful?" "I can't imagine what it must bo to bo ignorant of tho world, to miss all tho great pleasures of lifo." "You know so much, of courso, bo cause of your great opportunities." "That's to bo expected. I've lived in the city all my life." "You heard Nevada? " "Well, no; I had to go out of town when sho sang. You know sho was sick for a long time." "And what did you think of Patti?" "Well, I think she is overestimated. She's good, of course, but not so great as they make out." "And Gcrstcr?" "Well, she's good, too, but, after all, ther's not so much difference Of courso, thcro might bo to anyone from tho country, liko yourself, but to us in town they don't seem so very much above others." "I think Patti's simply divino." "Oh, yotfvo heard Patti?" "Yes, I have heard thorn all. been threo times to Europe." A dull thud rang in his cars, whoro tho simply country knocked out his conceit. San cisco Chronicle. THE HOWL AND & LLOYD Manufacturers ot Union Milling Co.'s FURNITURE, MJMj HOLLER FLOUIt TAKES THE LEAD Wherever II has been tiled. For Sale by all tho Leading Dealers Everywhere. Geo. Wnianr, President. W. m tinlsni Casliler. AL OF UNION, OREGON. Main Street. Union, Ore. Keen constantly on hand a laree stinnlr oi Parlor nnd Bed Room 6cts, Bedding, Desks, Ofllco Furniture, etc. Upholstering Hone In the Ilcst Stylo Loungea, Mattresses, and all kinds of Furniture made to order. PATRONAGE SOLICITED. GALLERY ! Corner Main and C Strcote, Union. All kinds of photocrnnhlc work done In a superior manner, and according to tho latest nnd most approved methods. Views of resiflencss laien on appli cation, Does a General Banking Business. Buys nnd Bella exchange, and discounts com mercial paper. Collections carefully promptly reported. attended to, nnd COMMERCIAL Livery id Feed OrrosiTE Centennial Hotel. JOHN S. ELIOTT, PROPRIETOR. Havlnc furnished this old nnd popular hostelry with amnio room, plenty of feed, good hostlers and new buecics, is better prepared than ever to nccoinmouato cus tomers. My terms aro "reasonable. I have It was maiden Fran- GOVE TANNERY. Adam Ciiossman, PnorniETon. Has now on hand nnd for salo tho best of HARNESS, LADIGO, UPPER and LACE LEATHER. SHEEP SKINS, ETC. ioit,rr)Aii rotiCES Paid for Hides and Pelts. WALLA WALLA BEER DEPOT. Comer Main and A Streets, Union. E. MILLER, - - - Proprietor. Keeps always on hand tho finest brands of WINES, LIQUORS, nnd CIGARS. r Tho very best Lngcr nnd Bock Beer in tho mnrket, at 125 cents acjuart. Beer and lunch U5 cents. A fine billiard tablo for tho accommoda tion of customers. Drop in and bo socia ble. JSy-All work warranted to elve satisfac tion. JONES BRO'S. Prons. MASON & HAMLIN Organs AND Pianos aro Unexcelled ""tT-- enn pavo From $10 to $100 on tho X OuL purchaso of an instrument by buying throuirh w.-r. Will CUT, Agent. Union, Ogn. Buy the Hnyward HAND GRENADE Fire Extinguisher. Everybody should havo them. Men, women or children can tiso thorn. Thou sands of dollars worth of properly saved every day. They don't freeze, aro not in jurious to flesh or fabric, and aro nlwnys ready. You cannot afford to bo without them. G. J. Becht, Gen. Agent, 124 Market St., San Francisco. Cal. Cook & Dwiehfc. Acts- La Grando, Oregon. JONES BRO S, Comer of Main and B streets, Union. -Dealers in- GROCERIES, CANNED GOODS, Losintr Their .Food Supplies. "Tho most northern inhabitants of any territory belonging to tho United States aro rapidly dying of privations," said a signal sorvieo observer Monday who spent twenty-seven months with Lieut, ltay at Point Harrow. "Their sntl'erings deserve all tho more sym pathy because tho whites aro responsible for tho great diminution in their food supply. "Those natives around Point Harrow now number about four hundred souls. Whales and seals are their staple articles of food. Tho supply used to bo abun dant, and tho natives hardly knew what hunger was. Tor twenty years past, howovor, the coast oft' Point Barrow has boon a favorite resort of American whalers. Thoy have caught great num bers of whales there, and havo almost exterminated them in theso waters. All whalemen have known for several years that it was getting unprofitable to seek for whales around Point Barrow. "Whilo wo wero there the ono hun dred natives in tho villago at Point Bar row caught only two whalos. Thoy eked out a living on oidor ducks and other game obtained in tho summer months. Tho failuro of their food sup ply Is a possibility that constantly con fronts them. Every now nnd thon they are pinched for food, nnd this now hard ship, added to tho others thoy already endured, is killing them fast. Tho pop ulation of tho four villages around Point Barrow has decreased about one-third in the past liftoon years. For a littlo whilo during our stay thoro tho natives in tho villago near onr station wore sorely pressed for food, and wo helped them out aa much as wo could from our stores. "Theso natives are a branch of the Esquimaux, and thoy givo tho ethnol ogists who assort that the Esquimaux nil camo from Asia across Behring straits a rather hard nut to crack, II their ancestors camo from Asia it seoms strange that tho natives of to-day ap pear to bear no relation to tho Chouk dices, who llvo just across Behring straits In Asia. Their languages are dissimilar, and, whilo tho Point Barrow natives hunt tho reindeer, they hare nover domesticated them, whilo the wealth of tho Choukeheos consists in their herds of reindeer." New York Sun. -RAILROAD- FEED AND LIVERY STABLE Near tho Court House. A. F. Benso.v, - - PnorniKion. Union, Oregon, Fino turnouts and first-class rigs for tho accommodation oi tno public generally. Conveyances for commercial men a specialty. Pr-Tho accommodations for feed cannot bo excelled in tho valley. Terms reasonable. SMOKE OUR PUNCH" Best Havana Filled Five Cent Cigar. 5 Jones Bros., agents, Union. E. GOLLINSKY & CO. VARIETY AND FANCY GOODS, TOBACCO -AND- ClGdRS CENTS' FUHNISIIirVfi GOODS. WATCHES, SMOKE TIU3 CLOCKS, ESTRELLA" KEY WEST Imported Havana Cigar. NONE BETTER. Tonsorial Rooms Two doors south ot Jones Union, Oregon. Bros. etoro, J. M. Johnson, - Pnorniirron. Hair cutting, shaving and ehamnooini; uono uuiiuy tuiu in 1110 ut-at uiyie. CITY v MEAT MAIET Main Street, Union, Oregon. Bknson Bno.'s PnorniETons. Keep constantly on hand BEEF, PORK, VEAL, MUTTON, SAU SAGE, HAMS, LARD, ETC. CENTENNIAL v HOTEL. Union, Oregon. Dan. F. Mookb, PnorniETon. A well Btocked bar in connection with the house, and nono but the best brand ot liquors nnd cigars kept. bAllUti BAMl'LH KUUMS (or the ac mmodation of commercial travelers. and JEWELRY,. Glassware, Musical Instruments. Picturfl- Frames ana ncturcs, Moulding, Bird Cngoo, Baby Car riages, etc., Candies and Nuts, Stationary, School Books,. Periodicals,. hovels, etc., of every description. ALL KINDS OF FRESH FRUITS Alwuys on hand.. Wa irun mnRtnntlv on hand everything usually kept in a first clous variety fltori. Cft-Orders from any part oi tho country will be promptly attended to.