FINANCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



289 



up to 34 years, only two have had fever, and 

 their cases were typhus. _ Out of 47 men en- 

 gaged in the sewer-work in the southern sew- 

 ers, for periods varying from one to 24 years, 

 there have only been two cases of fever, and 

 these again typhus ; and, in one of these cases, 

 it is shown that the disease was contracted 

 from the man's family. There are 36 penstock 

 and flap keepers, who have been employed 

 from one to 50 years. Of all these only one 

 had any fever. He has been 16 years at work, 

 and had typhoid in 1862. There are some 

 curious notes about these men. One of them 

 had been at this work 50 years, and has not 

 had one day's illness of that time. One lived 

 25 years in the sluice-house over the King's 

 Scholars' Pond sewer, but never had any fever. 

 Another lived for 14 years in Penstock House, 

 over the outfall sewer at Old Ford. Another 

 lived 32 years in Great St. Paul's sluice-house. 

 Another lived for 35 years in a house over 

 Duffield sluice, and enjoyed good health. Out 

 of 54 men employed at the pumping-stations, 

 there has only been one case of typhoid fever. 

 At Crossness, out of 54 men engaged during 

 the last six years, there has not been one case 

 of typhus or typhoid. 



There have been eight cases of ague, but 

 these are, of course, due to the low, marshy 

 district, and they seem to have recovered rap- 

 idly. Out of seven men employed in cleansing 

 ventilators, oiling side-entrances, gauges, etc., 

 no case of fever has occurred, though one man 

 has been at the work 23 years. Of 10 survey- 

 ors and chainrnen, in the engineer's office, not 

 one has ever had typhoid fever, although they 

 have been almost daily engaged in the sewers 

 for periods of from four to 24 years. These 

 facts are very gratifying, and quite dispose of 

 the allegation that the men in the sewers are 

 decimated by fever. The statistics show, in 

 fact, that fever is less prevalent among these 

 men than the rest of the town population. 



FINANCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 

 The general prosperity of the country was un- 

 diminished during the year 1872, and the 

 finances of the Government were conducted 

 with little variation from the preceding year. 

 The revenues continued large, although there 

 was a reduction in the rate of taxation, and an 

 entire release of several sources of income to 

 the Government. The reduction in the prin- 

 cipal of the public debt was maintained at 

 about the usual rate, with a tendency to a 

 lower rate of interest on many portions of it. 

 The monetary operations of the Government 

 have been so large that nearly fourteen hun- 

 dred ^ persons were constantly engaged at 

 Washington in handling its coin, notes, and 

 securities. 



During the year two hundred million of five 

 per cent, bonds have been negotiated, and two 

 hundred million of six per cent, five-twenty 

 bonds have been redeemed. Thus making a 

 reduction of one per cent, annual interest on 

 that amount. 



VOL. XII. 19 A. 



In the annual report of the Secretary of 

 the Treasury, made December, 1871, there was 

 presented a statement of the receipts and ex- 

 penditures of the Government for the first 

 quarter of the year ending June 30, 1872, and 

 an estimate of the same for the remaining 

 three-quarters of the year. The receipts and 

 expenditures of the first quarter above men- 

 tioned, ending on September 30, 1871, were as 

 follows : 



Customs $62,289.329 37 



Internal revenue 85,553,175 07 



Lands 602,6^0 61 



Miscellaneous sources 8,753,189 61 



Total $107,198,374 60 



The expenditures for the same period, ex- 

 cluding payment on account of the sinking 

 fund, were as follows : 



Civil and miscellaneous purposes. $16,579,732 46 



War Department 12,590.653 05 



Navy Department 6,513^040 93 



Indians and pensions H,494,a32 11 



Interest on the public debt 26,725,124 37 



Total $83,903,382 92 



For the remaining three-quarters of the fis- 

 cal year, ending June 30, 1872, the estimated 

 receipts were as follows : 



Customs $148,000,000 00 



Internal revenue 90,000.000 00 



Lands 2,000,000 00 



Miscellaneous sources 18,000,000 CO 



Total $258,000,000 00 



The estimated expenditures for the same 

 period are : 



Civil and miscellaneous purposes. $50.000.000 CO 



War Department 31.000,00000 



Navy Department 13,500,000 00 



Indians and pensions 30.000,000 00 



Interest on the public debt 85,000,000 00 



Total $209,500,000 00 



These estimates contemplated a balance ap- 

 plicable to the payment of the principal of the 

 public debt, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 

 1872, of $71,794,991.68. 



The actual receipts into the Treasury during 

 the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, were as 

 follows : 



Customs. . . .. $216,370,286 77 



Public lands 2.575,714 19 



Bank circulation tax 6.523.896 39 



Internal revenue 130,642.177 72 



Pacific Railway interest 749,861 87 



Customs fines 1,136,44234 



Fees, consular, etc 2.284.09592 



Miscellaneous 4,412,25471 



Total ordinary receipts. . . . $364,694,229 91 

 Premium on sales of coin 9,412,637 65 



Total available cash $484,042,573 15 



The net expenditures during the same pe- 

 riod were : 



Civil expenses $16,187,059 20 



Foreign intercourse 1 ,839,369 14 



Indians 7.061,72882 



Pensions 28,533.402 76 



Military establishment 35,372,157 20 



Naval establishment 21.249.809 99 



Miscellaneous civil 42,958,329 08 



Interest on public debt 117,357,839 72 



Total, exclusive of public debt. $270,559,695 91 



