Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1881-08-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.l
WASHINGTON, August s, 1881.

its enormous vaults it is money, mon
ey everywhere. The clerks and GUS
todlans handle numerous packages of
greenbacks, legal tenders, bonds and
cords of silver much the same as
workmen in a brick-yard would so
many bricks. The cash room is fit
ted up with shelves and divided into
compartments for the different kinds
and denominations of money. The
| notes, which come from the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing in packages
OF $4,000, are made up into packages
of $4,000 aud arranged systematical-
ly on the shelves. These packages
are nearly square, and better adapted
for handling than if made of larger
amounts. The gold coin is received
from the mint in $4,000 packages, and
the silver in 81, 900 packa ses. Such
as is not needed for immediate use is
packed in canvas bags, and the other
is made up into cartridges and other
convenient forms. A pink wrapping
is used to designate the gold coin,
and yellow wrapping the silver. a.
bag containing $4,000 in gold weighs
eighteen and one-half pounds. One
thousand dollars in standard silver
dollars weighs fifty-nine pounds, while
the same amount of money in frac-
tronal silver weighs only fifty-six
pounds.
The new United States notes are
sealed up in packages varying in val
ue from $4,000 to $40 600, 900 These
packages are all the same size and
contain exactly the same numb of
notes but the notes differ in value from
81 to $4,000, the latter being the
highest legal-tender note authorized by
law. Very few notes Of this denomi
nation are in circulation. They are
seldom called i,.to service in the ordi
nary transaction of business and the |
National banks generally use legal
tender certificate of deposit instead. |
Your correspondent while in the cash |
vault enjoyed the novel sensation of
holding few packages of greenbacks
in his hands. One comparatively
small package containing $4,000, 600
came near getting into my pocket !.
along with the other notes taken on
the occasion. If it had perhaps this
screed had never been written. Stand.
ing in this vault surrounded on all .
sides 10y walls of money, what dreams
of wealth, visions of golden opportu-
mites, fit through ones brain. What
is all this curiously engraved aud
stamped paper and this glitteriag coin
that the world should worship it, that
men so eagerly coyet it, and that its
possessors must SO securely guard it?
1t is truly "the root of all evil" and
still its very presence has a charm.
Standing in the midst of millions of it
without being able to appropriate a
single note or coin, one is struck more
forcibly than ever with thoughts of it's
great power and Of the equal division
existing the world over.
The silver vault contained at the
time of this visit something over two
million dollars, mostly in dollar pieces.
The Coinage is two millions per month,
and there has been quite an accumu-
lation sometimes both at the Treasury
aud at the sub treasury depository.
Silver dollars are very bulky, and there
is a general aversion to receiving them
to any great amount. The bullion for
his months coinage was not purchas.
I'd because of bull movement forcing
the price so high that the Government