Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-22

WHAT Is DONE WITH TIE REDEEMED CURRENCY.
From the Washington Chronicle.

WHAT i DONE WITH TIE REDEEMED CURRENCY.
From the Washington Chronicle.
The national bank notes and fractional
currency, when first turned out Of the
Treasury, are very pretty to look at. Their
crispiness Is particularly attractive feature,
and the bright green and moderate quantity
of rose color are very pleasing to the eye.
The engraving, too, is really artistic. and,
taken IN its entirely, Uncle Sans money
when new may he pronounced very pretty
money indeed. But, unfortunately, the ma
tiOnal bank note, and the modest ten,
twenty-five or fifty cent fractional currency
pieces are subjected to very hard usuage.
First they may be handled by the dapper
bank clerk who understands their manipula-
t0n perfectly, and from whose hands they
pass none the worse for the contact. But
the man who receives them next may he a
grocer clerk, who, disregarding their beau
ties, uses his unwashed digits that may few
moments previously have been engaged in
handling a nice fitch Of Of bacon, to count
the bills. The pork-butcher may be the
next one to have temporary possession Of the
representatives Of value, and while in his
custody they are sure To take on more or less
of the badge OF his calling. Probably they
rcpose next in the wallet Of a fashionable
lady, and the odors Of the grease are nen-
tralized by musk, yiang-y lang or some one Of
the many popular perfumes. Next they
may fall into the hands Of n careless young
man who uses no poeket-book, but makes
his vest pocket neutral ground where green
backs, cigarettes and ends of all kinds meet
on friendly terms The vcissitudes of cur
a. I a..
tie room for wonder that the presses in the
Treasury department find constant occupa-
tion as they do in turning out fresh supplies
Of paper that only too soon becomes really
"hlthT lucre." The destruction is very
rapid, and one of the chief occupations Of a
large force in the Treasury is that Of sub
iecting the condemned cash to the process
ses by which it Is finally wiped out Of exis-
tence. About two years since it was the
custom OF burn the redeemed bank-notes,
bonds and fractional currency, but more
economical and in every way more accept
able plan is now pursu ed. On the White
lot, Immediately in front of the Treasury,
may be noticed two brick buildings. The
largest Of these Is the machine shop, car
penter and general repairing establishment
Of the Treasury. The other is also an ad-
junct, and is known as the macerating de-
partment. Here it is that the folicsome
currency, after it has been made worthless
by reason of too much abuse, is converted
into pulp that finds its way to the paper
manufactures, where it is reconverted INTO
paper. Here also the bond rendered
useless by redemption at expiration or some
other cause Is made undistinguishabe from
let us say mortar, by an extremely sim pie
process. In the first place, the fractional
currency is subjected TO a most rigid
scrunity and count for the purpose of de-
tecting counterfeits, and then it is turned
over to men who with machine cance leach
note 50 cfeetualiy that by no possibility
could it ever be used again another count
is then gone through with for the purpose
Of checking the operators of the machine
and preventing them from appropriating
any of the condemned money. After the
cancelling, the money is next cut in half
aud once more the separate halves are counted
and when ascertained to be all right are
| placed in boxes for the purpose Of removing
them to the macerating building before al
luded to. These boxes are securely locked
while in transit from the Treasury to the
macerating establishment, where they art
| opened in the presence of three representa-
tlves OF the Treasury. one acting in behalf o.
| the Secretary, another for the Treasury, anC
| the last for the register, for each batch i:
usually accompanied BY quantity of bonds
From the boxes the bonds, which are cut
are cancelled thoroughly, and the fractiona
currency are emptied into the msceratine
cylinder, which is also locked with three
] L. h. nj fxrbf fah bals
respectively by the officers named above
The process of macerltion is very simple
The mscerating cylinder is revolved by {
sixty-horse power engine, and at the SAINT
time Jets of steam are injected into it which
speedily softens the mass of paper. Tit
moistened paper by its own gravity keep
dropping, and is reduced to pulp by tn,
sharp ridges which form the inside OF tn,
cylinder. After being subjected to thi
treatment for about thirty-six hours tn,
cylinder Is unlocked by the three officials ant
the pulp is then allowed to fall on an eleva
tor, which conveys it to large tub, wher
it is thoroughly cleased. and all fatty mat
ter removed by the agency of quicklime ami
sola.
The washing of the pulp completes tn
process, and 1t Is finally dumped in heal
TO lie until purchased. Yesterday abou
four million five hundred thousand dollars
worth of fractional currency was placed il
the macerator. This was an unusuall,
large batch, the average burning" as th
maceratings are known, being much less
There is now an immense quantity Of tn
pulp on hand. probably several hundre,
tons. This will be sold to paper manufac
turers. The rate usually paid for the pull
is in the vicinity of $500 per ton, ana tb
principal purchaser is George F, Hill Of thu
city, who manufacture from it the very mic
article of paper at his mills in George
town. An approximate estimate Of th