New-York tribune., 1867-09-04

IT
revealing iet-black network of spider-legs.
Moreover the paper would washl Scrubbing one
of those 5Ocent pieces with soap and water and then
drying it with towel did not injure 1t In the least
Its body remained rm its print clear its bronze I'M
dimmed Hence B. F. Taylor's extravagantly drou
conceit of man putting off dun with the excuse
that his money has not come back from the laundry
OF making out a list for his washerwoman thus:
Shirts .....'...'.'-.''''''''''''''
HandkerchiefS..
Tendollar blis .-'.-'--'-'-'-''---,
FiVe-douar bills AZ
Fractional currency-peceS. .....-...........W
Return on Friday.
For six months our small change was printed on
this wonderful paper. McCullOch, on taking the
helm. discontinued it, holding somewhat obscurely
that to make its use the test of genuneness discred
tied the millions of former issue, upon ordinary pa
per- already in circulation. The inventor alleges
that he has lost $780, upon it but sooner OF later
il must be adopted. The last novelty proposed Is
to print notes upon peculiar linen, bearing new
and indelible mark, corresponding to the water
mark of paper 1t can only be woven upon Jae-
guard loom, which costs 10000. 1t would puzzle
counterfeers either TO initiate the mark or make the
fabric for inventng brains and timid capital COM
prehend that in the long run dishonesty pays poor
dividends.
Altered notes. more common than cOunterfets, are
light Adopts are incredibly skillful at producing
tbou In Salisbury prison, with nothing hnt pom
ink mucilage knife and bits of old notes, captives
altered SO greenbacks and passed them to Rebel
guards as SOS and sos. In Charleston, with only
writing materials and blank paper, Yankee officer
initiated Confederate fractional currency so clevery
that its genuineness not questioned. lie had
only coarse models 10 copy. But our s greenback,
with all its delicate shades and involved Ornamen-
tation, was similarly duplicated by an officer in
Libby Prison with so much exactness that at first
glance it was difficult to distinguish the spurious
from the original
According to Frank Moores War Anecdotes early
during the Rebellion, notes of Pennsylvania bank
bearing Buohanan's likeness became so disfgured by
"Traitor" and other epthets written under the por
trait that the bank compelled to call them all
In and make a new issue, OnItting the obnoxious
head.
Chase gIeefuly relates that in the ranks of a long
unpaid regiment in the field he found old
quaintaDce, who did not recognize him until he IN
troduced himself. Then the witty soldier responded
30. yes-Mr Chase. 1t is so long since we have seen
your picture that had nearly forgotten youl Better
still the exclamation of the old darkey at Key
West. After studying long and perpexedly the fea-
lures of the great OhiOan, sudden intelligence
CLEANED over his sooty face, and he CALCULATED, Lor
mas'r. knows you; yOu's old Greenbacksp
Clark suggested the engrayings on the backs of our
National Bank notes. :" Ones exhibit the Landing
of the Pilgrims, from original drawing by White
''Twos0 show Sir Walter Raleigh introducing to-
bacco. from an engraving owned by the Bank Note
Companies. The rest are from historical paintings
in the great rOtunda of the Capitol. flyeso-
Landing of Columbus, by Vanderlyn. "Tensp-De
Soto Discovering the Mississippi, by Powell Twen
ties - Baptism :, of Pocabontas, by Chapman.
Observation-Disclosures Of the Pilgrims, by Weir
"Hqndreds"zSigning of the Declaration Of indie
pendence Five NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Corn
wallis. Zone Thousands" Washington Resigning
his Commissioned by Trumbull These illustra-
tOns increase familiarity with our National history
Of execution and against altering because every note
of the same denomination, upon whichever Of tho
100 banks. always bears the same picture.
Now for glance through the Bureau, at its curious
processes which we have been SO long in reaching
Its various machinery is driven by 13 steam engines
OF 500 aggregate horse power. Some are narvels OF
mechanism, running with perfect smoOthneSS and
perfect silence-giants that walk with muted feet,
but strike with iron hands.
In the cool vaults of the lower story is the forge
room where crude iron and steel come in. Next, the
great machine shops where each powerful, intricate
apparatus is fashioned and repaired This is thor
oughy distinctly American-to invent, construct
and run the machinery, all under one roof.
Near by. the ink factory which turns out tun
week. IN dozen colOTs and shades. Busy, humming
little steam mills grind up the ingredients The
w0rkmen who mix and measure them are rudmen-
taTy raInbOws; their garments, faces, and bare,
brawny arms shine In black and blue, green and
million.
Then the paper-mill. Clippings of the bindery and
envelope room. and other waste of the Department,
furnish its raw material. The supply always far
ceedS the demand. Great vaults are stuffed with
soiled sheets aud strips, waiting to be made over
again. Lives there an official with soul dead who
never 10 himself hath said II will expend ungrudg-
ingly the public suppliesP Here are enormous piles
Of new Internal Revenue books, each as large as a
TRIBUNE volume, on costly paper and in solid bind
ing. For slight errors in print or ruling they
thrown aside to make paper of
Greenbacks destroyed by fire or otherwise have
reached about onehaf of per cent on the issues
already called in OF the earliest issue of fractional
currency 25 per cent is still out; of the second ia
per cent. IL is believed that fully 10 per cent will
never return OF course this is clear gain to Gov
ernment. But great deal of currency comes in
soiled and mutilated. New notes replace it, Tbs
old with gold notes. which are never issued twice
come TO the paper-mill.
In the engine-rOOm is a slowly revolving iron cyn
der as large as a hOgshead. and four times as long
1t has three locks whose keys are held by custO-
dans appointed by the Secretary. After the old
notes have been cut apart and punched TO cancel
them, the three Commissioners see them locked fast
into this cylinder. Here, with water and chemicals,
they are churned for "A hours. Then the Commits
sioners leach watch upon the other and all upon
the-paper maker return with their keys and hold
solemn inquest lest notes should remain intact
to be patched reunited and again passed for money.
But they find them decomp0sed, and requiring locks
no longer.
Next the mass is pumped up into huge tanks in
therOOm above, the ink washed out leaving il white
like cheese-curd; and coloring mixed H. until
ii is just the hue wanted for the new paper After
ward the pulp is strained through holes which fine
needles could barely pass and next spread thin and
even upon a very close seive OF steel wires
NOH II 10 III the form of paper but not strong