Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-05-31
TgES4TIoNAL PICTURE GALL4RE
millions Upon Millions Of Pictures Dis
tributed Annually.


tributed Annually.
The visitor 10 the Totunda OF the cap |
itol, ON coming face 10 face with the
historical scenes depicted ON |
It's walls, will DO perplexed, 70 say the
least nj their familiarity. He will DO
willing 10 make affidavit that he has seen
two Of them-the Landing OF Columbus
and De Soto Discovering the Mississippi
and at the same time lac 70
aware that this Is the first trip no has
made outside the borders OF his native
State. Should he be able 70 put his hand
in his pocket and pull out banknote, the
mystery is at once solved; for there ON
the reverse Of the bill, Is an exact copy
81 the original before him, executed IN
the most approved style Of the engray-
ers' art. Demonstrating the fidelity OF
the execution Is the statement that the
plate from which is printed the note bear
ing the picture OF Columbus at the mo-
ment OF the discovery Ut the new world
was divided into no less than twenty-five
sections, or stakes, as printers define
them, and that il required about eighteen
months 10 complete its artistic beauty.
The idea Of adopting the pictures ia
the capitol as the designs for the bank
notes was born in the brain u >, u.
Clark, chief clerk Of the national cur
rency bureau, Treasury Department, in
1861. His plan was submitted 10 leading
members Of Congress, and enlnent bank
ers and tinanciers, assuming definite
shape in a letter addressed 10 Hon ). 7.
Chase, then Secretary Of the Treasury,
under date OF March -, 1868, IN which
be- says
Il respectfully suggest a. a design for
a national currency the engraving ~ ma
ti0nal historic pictures u ths full size 0f
the note 10 10 issued, and submit, as a
model u illustrative drawing, Il 81 note.
made up u copy u Weir's painting u
the Euharkation Of ths Pilgrims, with
a suitable reverse. | claim that this
style u n0te pnsaesss-s greater security
against count,Ffelting and alteration than
any device vet Ia uae,
First. III the note b. engraved ia the
highest style II art, il different poi
tiOfis, such As etching, portraits. lrttrr,
ing, drapery, executed By th1sr who have
tnsl,l,, thssC portions respective spes,tal-
ties. ii would prevent OH amount ~ ar,
tistic labor 10 b. accomplished BY thp
brain v hirh would appail anl stasger
cnunterfritrrs ia the JugsrG, even III ths'y
possessed thu requisite talent and skill 10
counterfeit 1t. "a there Il a popularity
ia the engraving - svrry prUhcirnt n
| high art la.s easily detected by an expert
as different styles ~ hardw giiingl such :
| note, properly executed, could not Is
| cOuntrrfriErd NJ a. not 81 b. Fnarlily d..
tcctetl By tbs skilitul Ti,r notes nuw ia
use, made ~ separate dies, actually AZ.
| ford facilities tpr euunieFfsislug, from
| their patchwork composition, while d
note made from single die. - is whoic
I sizg, and not repeated In parts. prsvgnla
I difficulties ~ cutintrrfritsng almost Ia
gcomctric ratio 10 Ia increased sire from
\ turrr ytgnsttc.
To make a notes gruuiHcnrss appar
cnt 10 the unaktllcd, additional nistho,i.
are suggested 70 couutegtrit Il ~ pho.
Biography, which l. tho rr.tdts,t why u
deceive ths maNasa, ron Photographic
material should b. introduced into and
b. iuseparabIc from Tho pap'r. ~ that i
photograph u phutotypr should present
a dgtacsti Or notified appearance. easily
distinguished by All.
Second | claim that my Wigesati,f
would, IL carried into effect, 81 com
plgte protection against alterations At
terntiota, "a thu secretary "a awarr ar,
the most numerous "A we'll "a the rIrsi
dangerous Of frauds, far exceeding II
number and danger All Commercials nrt
IN the mnlttfprIn isstigs which n1w I'll
the channels ~ circulation. rotnrara
lively no protection Is gigru except /,
those skilled IN tbs art, AMI make thni
detection a study But II two-yiatla
bill Is always thu picture IL tho Em
hnrkntion q the Pilgrims" and 4 t,n.,lpI
lar bill l. always the pictuTp - Wash
lngton crossing the Delaware. thu plhlic
eyeu those who cannot Rad al vgril 4
those who do not understand Dftr Ian
gnaEn, Or who cannot distinguish o.
numerals, will soon educate thntnaalvs,
w 1870 htN ~ ~ tptttHAAtlG tttF lilltNNt. 81
they could never b. deceived III takinl
one denomination. for another. though
the figures Or letters danoting thr ,louam
nation Of the note werr ever ~ clpvprIt
altered. The skilful can protect thctn
selves. but the unskilled require aorns
thing plain and potent 10 the senses.
Third. 4 lesser but not unintportan
advantage If such currency would i
that series properly selected, with thpi
subject titles imprinted on the notes
would tend to tench the MASSES the IRON
inent periods IN our couutry's history
The laboring man. who should receive
} every Saturday night q copy of the SUI
, render of Burgoyner for his weekl
wages would inquire who General Burr
oyne was and 70 whom lie SURRENDERED
His curiosity would be- aroused, and n
, would learn the facts from fellow /,
/ borer Or from his employer The sam
! would he true Of other national picture.
, and IN time many would be taught lcas
] ing incidents in our country's history
| 50 that they would soon be- familiar /
| tlOga yuhU Mould ,,...a. - J