No. 52.
Mr. Goodloe to Mr. Evarts

No. 76.]

Sir: I have received from the minister of foreign affairs the following information in answer to questions previously propounded concerning gold and silver coin and bullion in Belgium.

The information desired by the honorable Secretary of the Treasury was set forth in six questions:

“1st. What is the amount of gold coin and bullion in the treasury, in the banks, and in circulation in Belgium?

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“2d. What is the amount of silver coin and bullion in the treasury, in the banks, and in circulation?”

The National Bank in Belgium is what might be termed the State Cashier. And it is only from this source that definite information can be obtained.

The bank vaults on June 12, 1879, contained in gold (pieces of the Latin Union and others) 74,630,000 francs. In silver (5-franc pieces) 13,650,000 francs. In silver (divisionary coins at 835/1000) 12,350,000.

There are no means of determining with certainty the amount of gold or silver coin in the vaults of private banks or in general circulation. The Belgian Government and the National Bank have, following the example of the French Government during the sitting of the International Monetary Conference of 1878, caused an inquiry to be made as to the quantity of gold and silver coins of different dates in circulation. The result of this inquiry was given as a “rider” to the reports of the conference in a publication made by the French Government, and has of course been for some time in the possession of the Department. These inquiries have also been the subject of a special report, which I inclose herewith marked with red crayon A.

As to the divisional silver coins (pieces of 2 francs, 1 franc, and 50 centimes, at 835/1000) the quantity is limited to 6 francs for each inhabitant, which gives to Belgium 32,000,000 francs.

“3d. What is the amount of outstanding paper currency?”

The circulation of bank-notes has for some time past closely approximated 300,000,000 francs the amount outstanding June 12, 1879, being 302,690,000 francs.

“4th. What is the amount of gold produced annually from the mines?

“5th, What is the amount of silver produced annually?”

Belgium does not possess either gold or silver mines. A few metallurgic works in the Bleyberg and at Sclaiguaux smelt the argentiferous lead, but the quantity of silver thus collected is not considered of sufficient importance to note.

“6th. What is the amount of gold annually coined, imported, exported, and consumed in the arts and manufactures?”

I inclose a table of statistics (marked in red crayon B) which gives in full the minting of national specie from 1832 to 1878, inclusive.

In addition to the sums mentioned in this table the mint has turned out on account of foreign governments 31,500 kilograms of fine silver, amounting to 7,000,000 francs, in crowns of five francs or pieces of 25 grams, at 900/1000, and 5 k. 971,896 fine gold, amounting in value to 20,580 francs in pieces of 20 francs.

The Belgian laws do not even approximately estimate the consumption of gold and silver in the industrial arts, but I give you, however, a statement of the weights of the objects submitted to be marked since the year 1870, under the regulation of the law declaring free the manufacture of ail objects of gold and silver (see inclosure marked C) and abolishing the obligatory mark of the state.

Year. Gold. Silver. Year. Gold. Silver.
Kilograms. Kilograms. Kilograms. Kilograms.
1870 233.065755 2,898.6208 1876 92.563575 2,899.6064
1871 225.964950 3,051.7904 1877 60.207900 2,824.8192
1872 182.838600 3,456.7904 1878 50.154900 2,477.6064
1873 165.879675 3,485.6544
1874 133.295625 3,398.4448 Total 1,263.657405 27,684.6144
1875 119.686425 3,192.0728
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The following table, marked D, presents the movement of gold and silver for the past ten years:

D.—Statement of the quantities of gold and silver imported and exported from the year 1868 to 1878.

[Special commerce.]

SILVER IMPORTATION.

Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted. Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted.
Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms. Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms.
1868 32,773 742,744 91,743 1874 445,775 1,294,715 24,263
1869 133,328 798,181 78,353 1875 1,173,934 1,208,843 11,568
1870 177,327 627,005 264,428 1876 30,972 1,207,589 20,116
1871 106,288 961,017 94,749 1877 3,076 1,069,522 3,221
1872 131,992 986,922 189,896 1878 7,291 1,023,986 43,773
1873 311,651 1,142,984 50,313

GOLD IMPORTATION.

Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted. Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted.
Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms. Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms.
1868 273 850,247 399 1874 2,588 526,108 1,150
1869 5,336 844,650 2,282 1875 1,316 459,634 4,131
1870 15,138 463,332 5,045 1876 572 694,429 561
1871 29,844 532,844 23,219 1877 1,657 608,504 3,651
1872 53,230 490,584 14,199 1878 1,008 432,569 3,367
1873 3,060 591,894 1,110

SILVER EXPORTATION.

Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted. Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted.
Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms. Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms.
1868 6,344 35,778 22,922 1874 201,194 33,767 2,885
1869 259 51,704 72,210 1875 3,950 57,681 443
1870 37,377 25,843 6,207 1876 840 16,006
1871 194,344 67,480 11,247 1877 1,166 11,221 13,233
1872 96,033 38,640 10,355 1878 1,179 32,395 96
1873 12,800 75,728 2,753

GOLD EXPORTATION.

Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted. Year. Unwrought. Wrought. Minted.
Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms. Kilograms. Francs. Kilograms.
1868 316 67,537 172 1874 3 20,562 7
1869 292 55,823 13 1875 4 23,415 82
1870 12,303 275,754 13 1876 3 16,264
1871 4,341 107,855 1877 172 30,244 10
1872 455 66,653 1878 711 4,660
1873 27 67,809

I applied to some of my personal acquaintances here among the leading bankers for the benefit of their knowledge on the above subject, but, after receiving their replies and comparing them with the above, I found they were so incomplete and inadequate that I have thought it best not to transmit them at all. I think it is safe to conclude that the information I now send you is as full and reliable as it is possible to obtain.

Trusting that it will prove satisfactory to you and entirely meet the requirements of the honorable Secretary of the Treasury,

I have the honor to be, &c.,

WM. CASSIUS GOODLOE.