The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-25
CREW ArlON.

=
rse MANNER. i'm which the Unised states
Treasury Destroys superfsuovrs Money
and bonds.
correspondence Chicago Tfibune.1
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE process by
which all kinds OF paper money, gov
eminent securities and stamps are de-
stroyed Ia an interesting feature to those
who have had an opportunity OF Wit
Messing the modus operd7adt, particular
ly 40 to the ladies, as many look on In
astonishment and longing. or rather
wishing that the toothfui morseis ia tne
shape OF $500 or $1,000 notes ABOUT 10 De
consigned to the huge maeerator are not
In their fair hands to place them where
they would do most good" Through
the courtesy of q member or the de-
sgtr,1ction committee, to whom our party
were indebted for the explanations, 1t
was shown that they were comparative
III yalueless, from the fact that the sig
natures were cut off at either corner.
In "a reservation OF ground situated
south OF and near the United states
known as the white Lot" on which
ID erected q brick structure wherein is
contained two large cylinders, about
twelve feet long by four feet In Diane
ter. having an oblong aperture In the
center of about ten inches, with o bed
10 which q screw IL attached, and an
iron bar running across secured by
three locks, each lock having o differ
emit key. The three keys are intrusted
Go and held by the COMMITTEES, who rep
resent the three officers OF the treas.
ury--the secretary, the treasurer ana
the register; all the gentlemen must
Enf rnnnnrnf0T
be opened. The cylinder contains
d. number OF short knives, jut-
ting out from the interior walls.
tor the purpose OF laceratingt.5 paper
money contained therein water and
some chemicals are introduced to soften
and aid in effectually destroying the
paper and absorbing the ink. The ma
sohfue, which ID worked by steam power,
Id then set ia motion, and revolves
rapidly for forty-eight hours. Next day
the committee OF three are on hand at
Tho appointed hour, each with his key,
aud opening the aperture, the contents
full into d reservoir OF water through q
sieve, and to all appearance are like tue
ashes OF Baron Won Palm shown after
cremation.
The cylinders have a capacity to hold
$500 pounds, but are seldom filled with
more than 1000 pounds. They are filled
with government securities and other
paper values, viz: United States frac-
tionaI currency, bonds, internal revenue
certificates, stamps, checks and un-
finished aud imperfect money. These
distinctions are SO arrange as to take
place on alternate days, opening one
day and filling the next, 80 that the
daily average Of money destroyed
amounts TO between SI.500,000 and $2,-
100000
The old process Of destroying was by
blrninE, but in that way the govern
ment obtained no returns, while ny the
present mode OF macerating the govern
fnent is enabled to sell the pulp tor ~ DO
per ton, 1t being fit for conversion into
new paper.
Al short time ago an interesting macs-
ration took place of a collection OF
counterfeit money from the Secret Ser
vice bureau, the accumulation or about
i've wears. Some of these counterfeit
notes were very good limitations, many
being retained by the department as
specimens. or these counterfeit notes
there were enough to represent
$1 ,O0o, 900.
TREASURY for redemption aud destTuc-
ton, are destroyed In the treasury
building, where there is erected q ma
cerator on smaller scale, similar In
construction but different In It's shape,
to that oil the white Lot" The notes,
after assortment by the redemption
agency, are delivered to the controller
III the currency, aud are first entel ed
ssiK numerical order upon q register,
upon which the counters are required
to receipt for each package delivered to
them for count. No one but the
counter who receipts for 1t is ever
permitted to break the seals OF
a package. The counters are re-
uuired TO return and obtain receipt
for the contents Of each package before
receiving another, and to verify the con-
tents Or each strap before opening the
next. The notes are assorted by de-
nominations by. the counters, and made
up, as far as practicable, into full pack
ages OF 100 notes of the same denomina-
tion. The notes fit for circulation are
retained, and, in case OF doubt, the
decision Is always In favor Of the fitness
Ok the note for circulation. The notes
unfit for circulation are Cancelled in the
presence OF the counter before being re-
turned.
The counting and asserting are done
by number Of expert ladies. and with
d rapidity that would put TO the blush
some Of the smartest bank tellers. Ger
tifacates are issued to the several banks
for all money forwarded by them for
redemption or destruction, which has
been witnessed by the committee and
bank agent.