Hidden Treasures

Every year or so sonic imaginativo Bohennan of tho Washington press rovives tho old story of untold wealth in tho íorm oi jewels that aro hidden away in tho vaults of tho Treasury üepsrtinent. Each time the valuo of the treasures is magniüed, until at latst accounts geven or eighl figures aro required to expresa it. In point of fact, there is a quait or more ói precious stones in tho bond vault of Ihe ireasurer's office, but singular as it may appear, no ono can be found who has any conception of their valuo. About thirty years ago during Pierce's time some Eastern potentate with an unpronouacable namo sent to the President of the United States several swords heavily jeweled, a botile of roses and a joweled casket. The swords and other prosents could not be received by tho President, lnasmuch as a clauso in tho Constituí ion prohibits the acceptance of gifts of this character. Eïiquetto prevented their being sent back and thoy promised to become a white elephant on the government's hands. In this dilemma they wero deposited in a case in the model room of tho Patent Office, where they remained for xtarg, until a clever Philadelphia thiS who camo here for that purposo succceded in stealing thoiu. After a tapse of some months tho jewels were captured and placed in the treasnry vault for safe"keepiDg. Here for eight years they have remainod sealed up in bottles and hidden away in a rough pine box out of sight and almost forgolton except by those to whose keepicg they are especially intrusted. The custodians of the vault differ widely as to the value of the contents. One eays the lot would be cheap at $100,000, while anotherthinks$l,500 a stift prieo for the whole assortment. No ono owDS it, tho United States roally having no more title to it than the King of the Canaibal Islands, except that the United States holds possession. Tho jewels are liable any day to be stolen again. and Tresurer Wyman says the successful thiof will probably reap the benefits of his haul next time, as it would bo oxcoedingly doubtful if the ownorship of this government could be established. Thero is only one way in whioh the treasure can be disposed of and that is by the ani9nding the Constitution so as to allow the hcirs of ex-President Pierce to dispose of it. The curious visitor to tjie Treasary Department inquire8 for t invaiiably and eyes the rough pino box which incloses it with looks of wonder and awe. Some times the box is handled roughly; on such occasions the subtlo odor of the attar of roses 1111 the vault for days. The government sold 147,225,060 plain stamped envelopes last ycar, while the number of return requeat envelopes footed up 129,515,500. The registored letters sent through the mails last year numbered 8,068,388 while the registered pareéis of the third and fourtb. class numbered 1,005,865. There are 11,629 star routes for the transportation of the mails, aggregating 226,779 miles. The steamboat routes number 117, and aggregate 15,591 miles. There are 6,310 money order offices in the United States, which is an increase of 383 ovor last year. Their transactioas amounted to $122,261,98 in domestic money orders issued, and $121,971,082,80 'in domostin orders paid,