Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-30
BURNT GREENBACKS.

The following is from can Hour Among
the Greenbacks," in Scribner's Monthly,
for April:
"The identification and restoration of
notes which have been burnt is difficult
and interesting operation. Every one has
observed that printed paper after being
burnt, if not subjected to q strong drafi or
roughly handled, retains its original form,
and the printing! is distinct and legible, and
appears as if it mad been raised or en-
bossed on the paper, but that if it is touched
never so gently ii crumbles into dust.
Notes in this condition are fire.
quently received ct the Depart
ment for redemption. The counter
subjects each note and fragment of note
to careful inspection in a strong light, I'M
der powerful glass, until she determines
the denomination and issue, and then
pastes it upon piece Of thin, tough paper
in order that it may be safely handled. But
this pastiDg, by destroying the raised or
embossed appearance, a. Onc5 and forever
precludes all chance Of again Identifying
The kind OF denomination of the note.
Henceforth it is but plain, black piece Of
paper, giving no indication that it ever rep
resented money. IL is therefore very nee
essary that the counter should be quite
sure that her Judgment is correct before the
note is pasted upon the paper.
She must also-a most difficult tssk-deter-
mine whether the note Is genuine Or coun-
terfeit, And yet cOunterfeits are discovered
by these experts among tie charred re-
mains of notes with almost - much Ger
tainty as among perfect notes. Charred
notes Of national banks have occasionally
come into the possession Of the depart
ment, and have been restored in this man
ner and returned for redemption to the
banks which issued them, accompanied By
the affidavits of the counters that they were
the remains of notes of the banks TO
which they were returned. In most cases
they were promptly and chaerfuliy re-
deemed. But occasionally q surly bank
officer, unable or unwilling TO trace any re-
semblance to bank notes, or at least to the
notes of his bank, in the plain black pieces
of paper returned to him, and Influenced
perhaps by desire to effect little saving
for the stockh0l Iers, refused to redeem and
challenged the Department to the proof.
All positive ocular proof having been de-
strOyed when the notes were restored and
pasted, the Department was compelled to
submit to the loss.
Once some o these experts were grant
ed leaves of absence, without pay from the
government, for the purpose of restoring a
large quantity of burnt money belonging
to Adams Express Company. This was
permitted partly because it was known that
there was no one else who could perform
the service, without which the company
would be subjected to great loss, but prin-
cipally because the company offered to pay
them much more for their time and labor
than they were receiving from the govern
ment, and it was thought that their long
and faithful services justly entitled them
to this addiiipn to their meager
salaries. The money was taken from safes
recovered from the wreck Of a burnt steam
hr which had been lying for four or Eve
years al The bottom OF ths Mississippi, snc
the notes were SO burnt, deeayed, and dam
aged as TO be absolutely worthless, unless