16
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 2490 18.55 May 24, G. I. DURHAM COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AUS TIN, [TEXAS] TO L. M. H. WASHINGTON, [NASH VILLE? TEXAS]7 9
(Comptrollers Office (Austin May 24/55
To
L M H Washington Esq Sir
In reply to yours of the 9th. inst, I have to say that owing to the temporary absence of the Comptroller, I am unable to furnish you with such information in relation to the public <lebt under the administration of Gen'l M B Lamar as you desire. Although I have examined with considerable care, the official reports -0f the accounting officers of his administration, it would amount to an almost impossibility to glean from them such facts as would be service .able to you in the compilation of your work, or show to anything like an accurate extent, the amount of the public debt contracted under him. The only reliable data I can at present furnish you with is, the amount disbursed in each year, during his term of Office, and which is as follows: For the year ending 30th. September 1839. " Do Do 1840. " Do Do 1841. $1,504,173.58 2,174,802.74 1,176,288.72
$4,855,265.04
Making a total disbursement of
for that time; but what proportion of this amount, was in liquidation ·of debts contracted under former administrations or what amount was for specific purposes I am unable to inform you To this amount should also be added the cost of the Navy, as contracted for by Messrs Holford & Dawson of the respective sums of $195,907. and $560,000. this latter sum is, as you are probably aware, double the amount of the contract price, owing to the Govt. having failed to pay at maturity. I should also observe that the disbursements of the Govt. in the three years stated was in the issues of that day, with which you are well acquainted excepting however the sum of $310,037 in par -funds, received from Messrs Hamilton & Burnley, Commrs to contract a loan of $5,000,000, and which is included in the sum as stated on the preceding page. Regretting my inability to contribute the desired statistics and which would doubtless be of importance in your laudable enter prise I remain •
Yours Yery respectfully George I. Durham
Chf. Clk. Compts. Off.
••A. L. S.
Powered by FlippingBook