The amount of minor coin distributed, by offices, to depositors therefor during 1905 and 1906, and first quarter of 1907, is stated here:

a The charge against the mint, Philadelphia, covers the expense of transfers from that point to supply other offices.

REDEMPTION OF MINOR COINS.

Minor coins are redeemable in the lawful money of the United States, and the amount presented for redemption at each of the Treasury offices for the fiscal years 1905 and 1906, and the first quarter of 1907, is recorded in the annexed table:

THE EARTHQUAKE AT SAN FRANCISCO.

An earthquake, the like of which has not been experienced in any other part of the country, occurred at San Francisco April 18, 1906, followed by the worst fire in the history of the United States. Within four days the greater part of the city was consumed, including nearly all of the public buildings, banks, and hotels. The subtreasury was burned, and the treasure therein locked in vaults buried under fallen walls was for a time unavailable.

The mint of the United States with its $300,000,000 of coin and bullion was saved thru the vigilance and forethought of the superintendent, Frank A. Leach, who rendered inestimable service immediately after the conflagration had subsided. The mint was opened for the transaction of business April 23, and the assistant treasurer of the United States, Julius Jacobs, laboring under great difficulties, gathered his scattered force, and tho in a crippled condition was furnished with office accommodations in the mint building and resumed business on April 27, 1906.

Contributions for the relief of the stricken city, as well as moneys withdrawn from eastern correspondents by the banks of San Francisco, were received at all Treasury offices, and payments in like amounts were made thru the medium of the general fund by the mint at San Francisco upon telegraphic advice from the Treasurer of the United States.

The amounts thus deposited were as follows:

Of the foregoing amount, $2,467,065 was returned to the depositors, leaving a net payment at San Francisco of $37,360,344.44. The cost of the telegram in each instance was the only expense attending these transfers, and there was no delay in making payment. This is another instance in which the moneys in the Treasury were utilized to relieve distress immediately, and no bank or combination of banks could have rendered the service so quickly.

MONEY FOR MOVING THE CROPS.

Owing to the limited resources of the Treasury for the issue of small denominations of currency, it has not been able to render the usual facilities in the movement of the crops, but during the last year when deposits were made in the kinds of currency needed at the point of payment, the amounts have been transferred promptly thru the medium of the general account.

The amounts received in New York and transferred during 1904, 1905, and 1906 are recorded in the following table, by offices and months:

DEPOSITS OF GOLD BULLION AT MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES FISCAL

YEARS 1904, 1905, AND 1906.

The new product of the mines or original deposits of gold bullion at the mints and assay offices during the fiscal years 1904, 1905, and 1906 may be observed in the statement following:

For the deposits of gold bullion in the mints and assay offices the depositors are paid in coin, or by checks on the local assistant treasurer, in subtreasury cities, and at other places by checks on local depositary banks, or by exchange on Chicago, New York, or San Francisco. To accommodate the depositors during the last fiscal year, $25,000 in gold coin was transferred to Carson and $2,300,000 to Seattle, to be used in payment when coin was desired.