The Princeton union., 1880-09-09

Counter1elung, Dy all accounts, was never
carried on with such perfect system as it
is now. The work the counterfeiters
turn out in many instances surpasses the
work produced by the government, and
so perfectly have the counterfeit
notes been executed that they have
been taken By experts for good
money. The latest counterfeit out
is q 500 bill upon the National Ex-
change Bank of Baltimore. printed from
a re-touched plate of the National Bank
OF Commerce of Pittsburg. The onlv
way in which this bill differs from the
genuine, is in the superiority of the
workmanship. Although this counter
felt was originally on the Bank of Pitts
burg, as above mentioned. the plate can
be easily modified SO as to counterfeit
the issue Of any national bank. Not
only Is the engraving of superior char
acter, but the bill is printed on an ex-
cellent quality of counterfeit fiber paper.
There is not the slightest clue as to the
locality where or the persons by whom
this work is done, nor is there any
knowing to what extent the government
issue has been counterteited in this
single case. The only way in which
the matter Can be remedied, it is
claimed, is for the treasury department
to call IN all the notes of this denomina-
ton and series, thus withdrawing from
circulation the counterfeit as we'll as sthe
genuine.
It has been for some time advocated
by persons who have interested them
selves in observing the extent to which
| ~ 1c -
country, that the government will be
forced to take some steps soon that will
insure the suppression Of the business
rot temporarily, but permanently
Some months ago, a proposition was
made by Tom Ballard, the skillful and
notorious counterfeiter: now serving a
term of thirty years in the prison at
Albany, N. Y, to impart to the govern
ment q process by which money eau d be
| made that could not be ceunterfeited.
provided in return the government would,
after satisfying itself as to the genuiness
and success OF his plan, set him at lib
erty. The offer was made in good faith,
and some effort was put forth by the
publishers of several papers devoted to
the subject Of counterfeit detecting to
have the proposal taken up. An inter-
view was arranged to come off between
George W. Casilear, the head of the bu-
reau of engraving and printing at Wash
ington, and Ballard, in the Albany peni-
tentiary, but through some hitch or 9th
er it was never carried out. Ballard has
several times since that renewed his prop
osition but without success. Despairing
lof everything after this be made two at
tempts to commit suicide, but failed in
| both. He asserted positively and per.
sistently since his Imprisonment that
there is way by which money can be
made that no man living can counter.
felt. As Ballard is known to be one of
the finest, most sklllful, most ingenious
engravers of the country, in prison or out
Of prison, there are many persons who
think the government would do we'll tc
} give him hearing. Again, it has beer
suggested that the government should
offer reward of liberal proportions
} for a design for banknotes which it would
be impossible to counterfeit. There arr
plenty ideas in the heads Of engrayers, i
} is claimed, by which such design coult
| be produced, but nobody wishes to Civ
! away that idea without a recompense. A
, the treasury department., it is understood
, there is a belief that there is too mucl
engraving on the government notes. In
: stead of so much of this kind of work, i
|, is supposed to substitute a system o
) scroll work tor either the back or face O
? the bill. The more intricate this work
the more assurance of the inability t
$ make perfect counterfeit.
: Some counterfeits are executed witt
such mastery skill, and such faithfulnes
3 to the smallest details of the original
with such perfection in every line ant
: feature that they stand out as marvels o
l initiative genius. To produce such wor
e the highest orders of artistic skill is re
/ quisite. The business Of counterfeitin
/ monopolizes some of the most fnlshe
e talent to he found in the engraver's pre-
g tession. Whether it is the incentiv
d found in the prospect of large thoug
t unlawful gains, or fascination held o
e by a business ever attended by DANCE
e the counterfeiter seems, as soon as b
y gets launched into the work, to be favor
t ed by some special genius which quick
s ems his skill and sharpens his precel
;. tions to an extent that is almost mlracu
g Gus. On the wall of the Counterfeit d
# tector's Office, there hangs splendid pi
Q ture Of the late Governor Allen, Of OH,
l. a grand face, with curves and wrinkles
IS exactly the type of face seen in the ol
q Roman cuts where Brutus and Cas,
8 s'and as models-with every point of Il
grand old head, with It's close cut VIII
= hair and dark eyes standing out in bol
J. relief. Directly underneath is the Il
e scription:
It GOVERNOR VIM. ALLEN, Of Ohio,
i Engraved by Charles Ulrich on
Is saw-blade, in the Ohio peniten-
3. tlary from photograph
lie Over, in a glass case, among a lot
is photographs Of noted eounterfeiters, the
l. is picture Of broad-faced indlvidus
with pair Of very sharp grey eyes an
i a most genial expression about a wei
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