The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-12
COUNTING THE MONEY.
A Curious Sight Around Which Is Thrown
q Good Deal of Mystery.

Curious Sight Around Which Is Thrown
Good Deal of Mystery.
Washington Special.
They are counting the money in the United
States Treasury now, and the sight is very Gu.
rious one. Around the performance is thrown
much mystery The Trophonian cave was not
more awe-inspiring in its fateful shadows than
Is the dark room where the Nations wealth is be-
ing reckoned. You go in, and afteryou eyes have
become accustomed to the darkness and gloom
you notice all around you piles Of bags full of
something that is heavy. Money is all about on
shelves, in cases, and in heaps and rows. You
see nothing but money, that thing for which
men have struggled, and scrambled. and lied
ard been damned. What an awful element in
the history of the world it is that has made some
happiness and brought SO much misery. 1t has
purchased everything we mortals believe to be
good, and bribed all things but death. 1t can
be mans best friend and his most bitter enemy
1t is well that like the genii of Solomon 50 po-
tents thing for good or evil should be under the
strongest bolts and bars of triple steel.
About 100 persons are engaged In counting the
cash now in the Treasury vaults. There are
$4,000, 900 of silver on hand in bags, each con-
tanning s., 600, weighing ifty-nine pounds three
ounces so 500, 900 in silver would pull down the
balance at almost three tons, and $1,000 600
would be nearly go 900 pounds The entire
amount of coined silver now in the Treasury
vaults they estimate will weigh $40, TOO pounds.
A pound of gold coin Is worth $240, and $3.50 900
of it weighs ton, and there nearly twelve
tons of gold S. $40 and $40 in the country s
strong box at the Treasury. Of paper money.
too, there is an enormous amount. One hun
dfed and fifty millions of dollars are in S. So
and 81 bills About five of these bills measure
yard in length SO greenback belt that would
- 4. \
10 made of the United States notessnow in vaults
nd in circulation.
The money, of course is not counted coin by
,pin; the gold and silver are weighed very care
sully on the finest and most accurately-fitted
scales that were ever made. Though LOCO
pounds can be weighed at a time. pin placed on
the balance will tip it. The hardest worked men
of all who are engaged in this count are those
who handle the money-bags. The place in which
their work has to be done is very close, and after
a forenoon down there they come up to the outer
world completely exhausted. Il have handled
Goals in the engine-room at the bottom of an
ocean steamer in the tropics said one of them
abe other day, when it was as hot as perdition,
but nothing has ever SO exhausted me as does
this money carrying There is fine. impalpa-
bic dust which displacing the bags sets afioat
Throat and lungs become nearly filled with it In
an hour OF two and the sensation is terrible
Three persons are responsible for the accuracy
of this count Mr.. Whitney, who is the person
selected by the Secretary to represent the
Treasury Department has assisted in seven
counts before this, and is always glad when the
Job is done. DIR. Cassell is present as the alter
ego of Mr.. Wyman, just retiring, whose accounts
must be declared correct before his bondsmen
sre released, and Mr.. Jordan. who win fill Mr..
Wyman's place, has Mr.. Smith to represent him.
Even with the modern plan of weighing the
coin the entire count will not be completed much
before June ], and it usually takes months
hard work to close up the business, and make q
detailed report to the Secretary.