Items of Interest August 6, 1904 Issue

Items of Interest

The frigate Constellation, the oldest ship in the United States Navy, has been ordered out of commission. She was launched in 1797. Two years after her launching, she was victor in her first great fight, which was with the French frigate Insurgeant in February of 1800. She fought the French frigate Vengeance in a desperate battle, which cost her all her standing rigging, but brought her victory. The Constellation subsequently took part in the war with Tripoli and was conspicuous in the War of 1812. The exhibit of France to the World's Fair in Chicago was brought by her. During the last ten years she had been in•service as a receiving and training ship for navy apprentices at Newport.

For the first time in the history of the country the trust funds in the United States Treasury now amount to more than $1,000,000,000. The total amount was $1,002,169,969. as against $902,700,869 on June 30,1903. The items include silver dollars 469,873,000, against which an equal amount of silver certificates has been issued; silver dollars of 1890, 7,770,785 and silver bullion of 1890, $4,956,215. Against the last two there are outstanding Treasury notes to the same amount that is, $12,727,000. Besides the gold in active circulation the Treasury vauits now hold gold coin and bullion to the amount of $696,655,068. exclusive of the legal reserve of $150,000,000.

A conference has been held between the Panamanian Minister of Foreign Relations, Tomas Arias, and the American Minister, Mr. Barrett, as "a result of which it has been agreed that steamers can go into Ancon. the newly established port of entry in the Canal Zone the Panama Government simply filing protests. but not imposing any fine on the steamship agents, pending the final settlement of the questions at issue.

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