Reasons for early problems at New Orleans Mint
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
This transcription is rather lengthy, but I think it will be of considerable interest to those collecting early New Orleans Mint coins.
U.S. Branch Mint,
New Orleans
April 13, 1839
To:
Dr. R. M. Patterson
Director of the Mint
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st inst., in which you propose the following enquiries:
“1st. When did you commence coining?” To which I answer, on the 7th of May, 1838.
“2nd. Were you supplied from Philadelphia with the necessary machinery, apparatus and materials requires for your operations, or do you think that you have had reasonable grounds for complaint in this respect, and that this has been a prominent cause of the scanty coinage of last year?”
In the Assayer’s, Melter& Refiner’s, and Coiner’s departments I believe that the necessary machinery, apparatus and materials, requisite to commence operations, were supplied. The reports of the Assayer and Melter & Refiner to me to that effect were quite satisfactory. The reports of the Coiner however would seem to indicate that the causes of delay and of the scanty coinage of the last years are to be found in his department. In his first report to me, dated January 1, 1838, he says: “Considerable delay has been occasioned, and some future inconvenience may be apprehended from the injudicious departure, of the person employed to place the said engine and machinery, from the plan given him. For instead of placing the engine in the middle of the room, as was intended, he has placed it four-and-a-half feet towards the annealing furnaces, which, besides destroying the symmetry of the room and violating the rules of good taste, throws the annealing furnaces away from their foundation previously laid and settled, rendering almost useless the room beyond, designed for whitening, cleaning, etc., and likewise, in the opposite side of the building, brings the line shaft, intended for driving the coining presses, an equal distance out of its proper place. To these remarks I feel bound to add, that the entire machinery in the principal story of the building is found to be too low for the floor by two inches.” Again: “The coining-presses, of which there are three of different sizes, will all require material alterations to render them efficient and durable. But the largest may be gotten ready for temporary use in three or four weeks, and in the meantime the other two may be undergoing a more through preparation. Of the other machines and the minor apparatus, I need only say that the former are all of the more or less unfinished, and that the latter require time to arrange and put them in operation.”
In his second report, dated February 27, 1838, he says: “I have used all possible diligence in forwarding my preparations, in order to be ready to commence operations in the course of the ensuing month. Two of the coining presses are nearly ready for reception of the dies.” In his report of the 31st of July, he assigns as a reason for having coined only one description of coins, “the very limited number of men employed in the department,” which, he states, “has rendered it impracticable in our present stage of advancement to keep up a supply of planchets of even a single kind for the full operation of a single coining-press, and at the same time to do justice to the branches which are in the rear.” Again: “A great cause of delay has been found in the imperfection of the rolls. It would be a vain task to undertake to enumerate all the various hindrances and disappointments which have tended to retard our progress, such as the want for a long time of weighing balances, and to the present time of anything like suitable weights.”
From these extracts, I cannot be think, if the Coiner be right, that the defective and unfinished state of all the machinery in the coining department has been a prominent cause of the scanty coinage of the last year, and that in this respect there has been reasonable ground of complaint. The assurances of Mr. Gordon, and the statement contained in the Annual report, relative to the Mint and its Branches, to the President, in January 1838, made me feel authorized to reply to the numerous enquiries of the citizens as to the time when the operations of the Mint would commence, that I could not entertain a doubt of our being in full operation early in the Spring of 1838, and that a very efficient coinage would be the result of our operation during the year. Soon after the first deposit was made by Mr. de Lizardi & Co., Mr. E. J. Forstall of that firm stated to me that he wished to deposit $300,000 worth of bullion provided he could have the positive assurance of its being coined by the 1st of July. I asked Mr. Tyler if it could be done, and he expressed himself confidently that it could with certainty. Mr. Forstall, however, finding that no coinage was going on, did not make the deposit. How far Mr. Tyler was deceived is evident from the fact that up to the 1st of August, only $40,000 were coined. Aware of the disappointment of the public and of the injury that would result to this Branch Mint, I repeatedly urged Mr. Tyler to push on his operations as rapidly as possible. He always encourage me with the hope that in a few days every thing would be in full operation; but I was invariably disappointed by the intelligence of new defects in the machinery rendering much repairs indispensable, and further delay unavoidable.
“3rd. When were the operations of the Mint suspended to allow the unacclimated officers and men to leave New Orleans, and when were they operations resumed by their return?”
The operations of this Br. Mint were suspended of the 1st of August. Business was resumed in the Assaying and Melting & Refining departments in November; Coining, about the 1st of January, 1839.
“4th. Did you not consider this suspension, for the first hot season, and act of prudence and propriety?”
I did; but I am now convinced, from the information of experienced physicians, that it is only by remaining here during the summer, that northern men can be acclimated, and that no advantage whatever could be gained in that respect, by their leaving the City during the hot season. I am moreover persuaded that the welfare of this institution required that it should be kept in full operation, the whole year, unless the yellow fever should prevail, [as], as much bullion arrives during the summer months from Mexico, as in any other part of the year, and if northern officers and workmen cannot be found who will incur that risk, I am satisfied that both officers and workmen, acclimated and fully qualified for their respective duties may be found in this city.
“5th. How are the operations of the Mint now going forward? Have you more than one press at work? Have you yet coined anything but dimes and half-dimes? If so, what other Coins? What are your immediate prospects as to coinage?”
The operations of the Mint go on much better at present that they did last year; though a great change must take place before the expectations of the Government and the public will be realized. We have never had more than one press at work at a time, nor have we now. Besides dimes and half-dimes, we have coined half-dollars. As to our immediate prospects of coinage, I can see no reason to induce me to hope that, without some decided change, we shall do much better than we have already done. As to the supply of bullion, I feel no anxiety. The Mint I believe will always be supplied with bullion when depositors can be accommodated with coins.
“6th. How much has been deposited at your Mint for coinage? Of this, how much has been paid?”
The amount deposited for coinage up to the present time is $332,595.32; of which there has been of silver, $261,659.15 and of gold, $70,936.17. Of this there has been paid $226,757.97 – being of silver $204,494.23 and on account of gold $22,263.74 – out of the fund provided by the Secretary of the Treasury $135,000.00 – in coins of the Mint $91,757.97.
“7th. State the whole amount of your coinage up to the date of your report.”
It amounts to $116,403.40 – in dimes, half-dimes and half-dollars.
“8th. If you can learn how much foreign silver and gold has been imported into New Orleans since the opening of your Mint, I should be very glad to have this information, and if possible, I should like to know how much was in uncoined bullion.”
On application to the Collector [of Customs], I have ascertained that there was reported from the 7th of May, 1838 to the 24th of March, 1839, of foreign bullion $1, 493,337 – of which about $70,000 was gold; and $44,910 in uncoined silver bullion. The Collector informed me that there was much more brought in and not reported. Formerly, nearly all the bullion imported from Mexico was in bars. Since a heavy duty has been laid on bullion exported, the proportions have been reversed, so that at this time about $300,000 is the supposed estimate of the amount imported from Mexico in bars. From the information I have received, I am induces to believe from the great benefit which has resulted from the few experimental deposits of uncoined bullion that have been made in this Mint, and the assurances of gentlemen engaged in the Mexican trade in this City, and of others who reside in Mexico, that the amount of uncoined bullion hereafter will be immensely increased. In former years as much as eight millions of bullion and specie have been received in this city in one year, from Mexico. There is no reason to doubt that commercial prosperity will, now that peace has been concluded between France and Mexico, be speedily restored.
Very respectfully,
Your faithful servant,
/signed/ David Bradford, Superintendent
Comments
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/486176002
What a mess ! It's no wonder to me Bradford left
shortly after this exchange.
R.I.P. Bear
Not surprising. The coins themselves betray a lot of problems. Thx for sharing.
The original letter and many others can be found in the NNP. Look for RG104 Entry 216, volume 4.
I had no idea the climate was such a problem for northerners who came to New Orleans to work at the mint...Were they only temporary labor? Not relocated with families? Seems strange...Cheers, RickO
It was a sultry night.....
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Mint Director Patterson felt there were no competent people in New Orleans to get the project "off the ground." Therefore he had northern workmen sent south under the promise that when hot humid weather hit, they cold return north until better weather returned. The send year, they were supposed to stay longer under presumption they would gradually become acclimated to 100 degree temperatures and 100% humidity. This closed the New Orleans Mint for a large part of the year.
@RogerB.... Thank you... of course there was no AC then.... Cheers, RickO
I just came back to read it again. It's a fascinating letter.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
No, it was not only temporary labor sans family.
The New Orleans Mint closed again in 1839 due to yellow fever, perhaps a bit late. Several workers succumbed to the dreaded disease. In addition, Melter & Refiner James Maxwell died on August 18, 1839, and Coiner Rufus Tyler died on September 8, 1839. Tyler's entire family was in New Orleans and was also stricken by the fever.
The Mint did not swing into full action again until mid December 1839 when John Riddel, who was confirmed as the new Melter & Refiner in October 1839, finally reported to duty in early December 1839, having been located from an extended hunting trip in Texas. Philos Tyler, Rufus' brother, became Coiner. The Treasurer and Superintendent were replaced. Denga wrote an excellent article in the September 1968 Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine describing the mysterious conditions surrounding the possible mintage of coinage at the New Orleans mint during October 1839.