The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-27

the faces will be altered, although some
changes may be made.
The first of the new 50 certificates, which
are the most beautiful pieces of paper
money ever issued by this government,
will be in the pockets of the people some
time in November. Blank spaces
have been left upon the re-
verse for the purpose of showing
the bands of red and blue fiber, The paper
is made so that this fiber only shows on
the back of each bill, being only contained
in the outer layer of its substance on one
side as the sheets come from the mill.
Now, it happens that all the other silver
notes of the same series of 1890 are 50 COW
cred with engraving behind that there is
no chance whatever for exhibiting the dis
tinctive popularity which congress has de-
clared shall be made conspicuous feature.
Accordingly, there is nothing for it but to
make new plates for the backs of the
others, including those for $1,000, $500,
800, $50, $40, $40, SIS and 81. There will be
no mourning for the old backs.
At the treasury they have
never been regarded with very
tumultuous approval. Officials at that
institution commonly refer to the denomi-
"watermelons," because of the striking re-
semblance which the huge O's bear to the
juicy vegetable in question. They believe
that the genius of Chief Engraver Castelar,
can produce very superior substitutes.
Certainly note that is not engraved all
over is handsomer, and the best experts
are of the opinion that few scattered de-
signs, very elaborate and executed in the
+ s.x1,a .Yxvla Is Ia l.
counterfeit successfully.
1t is the running out of patent that
rendered the adoption of this new dis
tinctive paper possible. The notion of
running band of scattered fbres through
a sheet was originally proprietary one.
1t was used for number of years by the
government, but was discontinued in 1877
because the people who owned it demanded
an exorbitant royalty for its employment.
Only single band was utilized formerly,
and in the issue of United States notes of
1869 the ingenious scheme was originated
of placing it on the left hand side of
denominations under $40 and on the right
hand side of the higher denominations.
The object of this was to beat that
enterprising gentleman, Pete Mccartney,
who had deve6pped fad for
washing the ink off the small pills and
printing big ones on the blanks thus OBJ
tanned, so as to secure the real government
paper. Because such a thing as this ia
possible, and for other reasons, those who
know most about such matters assert that
distinctive papers are of very little prac-
tical use. There are several ways of imi-
tating them, but the most imortant OBJ
lection is that people have to be educated
up to understanding them, and only one
person out OF 100 ever comprehends the
point.
A million pounds Of ink are required
every year to print Uncle Sans paper
money and revenue stamps. It is all
manufactured on the premises of the
bureau of engraving, the treasury depart
ment buying the materials in the shape of
''dry colors" and linseed oil. For the
greenbacks $4,000 pounds of the finest
chrome-green are needed annually, of
other supplies OF this sort the quantities
consumed are: