Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-12-08
WORN OUT MONEY
WHAT is DONE WITH THE REDEEMED
CURRENCY.

About two years since it was the GUS
tom to burn the redeemed bank-notes,
bonds and fractional currency, but a
more economical, and in every way more
acceptable plan, is now pursued. On
the White lot, Immediately in front of
the Treasury, may be noticed two brick
buildings. The largest of these is the
machine shop, carpenter and general re-
pairing establishment of the Treasury
The other is also an adjunct, and is
Known as the macerating department.. -
Here 1t IS that the frolicsome currency.
after it has been made worthless by rea-
son of too much abuse, is converted into
pulp that finds its way to the paper man
ufactories, where it is reconverted into
paper. Here also the bond rendered
useless by redemption at expiration or
some other cause is made undistinguish-
sble from, let US say mortar, by an ex-
tremely simple process. In the first place.
the fractional currency is subjected to
most rigid scrutiny and count for the
purpose of detecting counterfeits. and
then it is turned over to men who with
machine cancel each note SO effectually.
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 pre-
venting them from appropriating any Of
the condemned money After the can
ceiling, the money is next cut in half,
and 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 build
ing before alluded to- These boxes are
securely locked while in transit from the
Treasury to the macerating establishment,
where they are opened in the presence of
three representatives of the Treasury,
one acting in the behalf of the Secretary.
another for the Treasurer, and the last
for the Register. for each batch is
usually accompanied by quantity of
bonds. From the boxes the bonds, which
are cut, are cancelled thoroughly, and the
fractional currency are emptied into the
macerating cylinder, which is also locked
with three separate locks, the KEYS of
which are held respectively by the Off
GERS named above. The process of ma
ceration is very simple. The macerating
cylinder is rcvolved by a sixty horse
power engine, and at tho same time Jets
OF steam are injected into it which speedi-
ly soften the mass ofpaper. The moistene !
paper by its own gravity keeps dropping
and rs reduced to pulp by the sharp
ridges which form the inside Of the evil
inder. After being subjected to this
treatment for about thirty-six hours the
cylinder is unlocked by the three officials
and the pulp is then allowed to fall on
am elevator, which conveys it to large
tub, where it is thoroughly cleansed, and
all fatty matter removed by the agency
of quicklime and soda.
Ehc washing of the pulp completes
the process and it is finally dumped in
heap to lie until purchased. There is
now an immense quantity of the pulp on
hand, probably several hundred tons
This will be sold to paper manufacturers.
The rate usually paid for the pulp is in
the vicinity of So per ton, and the prin-
cipal purchaser is Mr. Geo. L. Hill, of
0eoi Scto"H, WHO manufactures from II
the very nice article of paper at his mills
m that place. An approximate esti-
mate OF the quantity of pulp annually
made out of fractional currency or bonds
at this establishment, is six hundred and
Fifty tons. The proceeds resulting from
the sale Of this may be accounted as a !
a net gain over the old method, as the
burning of the money or bonds required
the expenditure of as much labor as does |
tie present macerating system, and con-
sumed great deal more coal.