Mr. Bowles's interesting book, Across the Continent, in which, among other things, he treats of this subject of the Mint and its branches, and says, speaking of the branch mint at SanFrancisco: "Of all the Government institutions in SanFran cisco. themint is the most interestingand important. Already it is the great inanufactoryof coin in the nation and its comparative importance in that respect is destined to increase. t coins now about 20 millions of gold and silver a year, against 5 millions coinedat all theother Governmentmintsin the country.including the arent Mint at Philadel phia. The coinagchercfor uueand July was ncarly 3. millions a month and the aggregatefor this year is likelytogo up to 24 millions. Mints elsewhere on the Pacific coast and in the mining regions, are utterly unnecessary. There is one at Denver. in Colorado, but it has nothing to do the gold of the Coloradoand Montana mines goesright it, indust and bars, to NewYork and Philadel 8 iii. Effortsaromakingtogetmintsin Nevada and in reizon, but they would only provea wasteof money. laroi tylocoarlccolanmtroarctoofrps'ojolibtiscifaonrsf.rsieenedkisn.g home popu should induce Congressto yield to such demands. 2 mints are only neededfor the whole country. at NewYork or Philadelphia, and at SanFrancisco. The metals, an Icon as mined, drift at once to the commercial and financial centers" thereonly can their true value be known: thereonly the use to which commercemay choosetoput them." Mr. Speaker, the statement of the writer of that book is confirmed by the report of the Superintendent of the Mint at Philadelphia. This officer, in his annual report of 1864, (leprecates the establishment 0 any more branch mints in this country, and he says, as the ComWays&Means believe truthfully, that assay offices will accomplish all that is required in these new regions for the purpose of developing their mineral interests. e says: “ Neither public nor private interests, national or local considerations. require the multiplication of branch mintsforcoinage. When locatedfar from our Brenteommercialcenters.the difficultiesand expense necessarilyattending their operation greatly out wci h everyadvantagethatean bederivedfioin their catslishinent. the mints now in o oratiop are sufficicpt for 10 can cplinageofialkeliiggil and in vor that a prouce in a in 68;, I'll Imago is the commercial an economicalcomfor the 0 of the preciousmetalsproduced ffomthe mines o the States undTPrritoriesivestof the Rocky mount ains. The parent Mint in Philadelphia occupiesthe same position in reference to the Atlantic States. These 2 great eentral institutions, in their capacity for coinage.can abundantly meet any governmental or commercialdeiiiand. These for coinage, and the establishmentof assay officesby the lloi'ei‘iiient in our mining regions for melting, ri liiiing, assaying, and stumpingbullion, willsecure to the minim: interests of the countryeveryfacility that can bedesired and every encouragementthat canwith propriety be expected." I sympathize fully with the Gentfrom Oregon in his desire to secure the development of his section of country. The Committee of Wu s and Means would gladly have consented to the establishment of this mint at Portland, Oregon, if by that means the object which he seeks could be accomlished. We desire as much as he can desire tedevelopment of that region. But in this bill we have provided virtually for all that could be accomplished by the establishment of a branch mint. We have provided that the superintendents of the assay offices at Portland, and at Boise City, shall have authority to issue certificates for the net value of the bullion deposited in those offices; and those certificates are to be payable either at the branch mint at SanFrancisco or at the principal Mint in the city of Philadelphia. This, I submit, will accomplish all that the Gentfrom Oregon desires. The gentleman informs us that there is a line of steamers runnin 3 times ever month between Portlan, Oregon, and SanFrancisco. Hence this bullion can be transported to SanFrancisco at very little expense. Thus b a system of purchases and exc anges as provided for in this bill, under regulations to be prescribed by the SecyTreasury, the Government will assume the risk of transporting bullion from the assay offices to the mints for coinage, or to the commercial centers for sale. This system will not only benefit the hardy miner in the gold regions, but also the general commercial interests of the country and will save to the Government a large annuai expenditure which would necessarily be in curred if branch mints are to be established in all the gold bearing States and Territories of the Union. a Sir, these mints are very expensive affairs. The parent Mint, at Philadelphia, costs from $75,000 to $150,000 annually to the Government; and the annual expense of maintaining the mint at SanFrancisco is about 140,000 dollars. The cost of buildin a suitable mint at Portland, Oregon, would e from $150,000 to $200,000, and a large annual expenditure must be incurred to sustain it when established. Besides, sir, it is important that in our mints we should have the most experienced and best mechanical skill and labor and the best machinery that can be procured for the purpose of coining the money of the country. And it cannot be expected that in every gold bearing region this expen sive machinery and this skilled and experienced mechanical labor can be procured. The SecyTreasury has recommended the ComWays&Means to 0 beyond what they have proposed to the case by this bill. It will be remembered that there is a branch mint now authorized at Carson City, in the State of Nevada as well as a branch mint at Denver, in the 'lierritory of Colorado. The SecyTreasury, concurrin with the superintendent of the assay office at NewYork, recommends that he be authorized to convert these branch mints into assay offices, believing that in this way will be accomplished all that is necessary for the coining of money in those distant regions. The SecyTreasury says, in a recent letter to the Senate ComFinance: “I concur in the opinion of the superintendentof the assay office, expressedinlhis report. that no more branch mints should be established: and I be glad to have a should section incorporated in this bill convertingall existing branch mints, with the exception of the branchesat SanFrancisco and NewOrleans, into assay oifices." Now, the truth is that money will seek the business centers, ‘mid those centers are today NewYork and Philadelphia. When we have the Pacific railroad to SanFrancisco, that city will be the great exchanging commercial center for all the trade between Europe and America and Asia, and will be the center of business for the Pacific coast and all the regions west of the Rocky mountains. Now, Mr. Speaker, I think it perfectly apparent that, as has been urged by the chairman of the ComWays&Means, we should have a fixed policy on this subject. If we establish a mint at Portland, Oregon, we must establish one at Boise City, in the Territory of Idaho, because Idaho today produces twice or thrice the amount of gold that is produced in the State of Oregon. The Territory of Montana is a rich gold bearin region, and will demand that she also shall have a mint for the purpose of coining th gold produced in her mines. The policy of iiie Government, as recommended b the SecyTreasury, and by the chief officer of the Mint at Philadelphia, is that we shall have 2 great mints in this country, one on the Pacific coast and one upon the Atlantic coast; and that, where ever convenience requires, there shall be assay Offices, from which the bullion may be transferred to the mints for coinage. And in this policy I be e the House will concur. I deman the previous question.