The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-22
ALL BILLS WILL LOOK ALIKE
MITIGATION OF CURRENCY BY
SECRETARY GAGE.
New Designs For Paper Money Will
Aid the Bank Clerks - Three
Glasses of Notes.

New York, Nov. 21.-A dispatch to
the Press from Washington says: Sec
rotary of the Treasury Gage long ago
decided to have bills of the same de-
nomination look alike That is, he
wished the SIS silver certificate, the 81
United States note and the SIS Sherman
treasury note to bear a close resemb-
lance to one another
The first Of the designs under the
new system is for the 81 silver GER
tificate. The notes will soon be out.
Clearness, simplicity and protection
against counterfeits have been the re-
suits chiefly aimed at. The new
design is somewhat less artistic than
some of the present silver certificates,
but probably will be more popular
among those who handle money
The central device on the face of the
note is an American eagle with wings
partly spread, clutching the flag, and
with the dome of the capitol in the
background. Below the platform upon
which the eagle stands are small
portraits Of Lincoln and Grant, set in
medallions. Large and clear figures
are in each corner Of the note and on
the sides. The space between the
central device and the lathe work at
the ends is clear white paper except
and the denomination of the note in
another. The seal upon the silver GER
tiflcates will be in blue and the figure
in the open space will be in the same
ink. The mechanical work and the
technical finish of the engraVingS are
superior to anything ever before is
sued from the bureau of engraving and
printing. The reverse side of the note
corresponds to the face in respect to
Of Nx-hi fo
out printing or lathe work. Large
plain figures appear in each corner and
scrolls make up an attractive border
but the only remaining space upon
which printing appears is in the centre,
where the usual language regarding
the qualities of the note as tender
for public dues is set forth
The object of a clear display Of
white paper on both sides of the note
is to afford a safeguard against
counterfeiting. 1t has been found by
experts that it is easier to detect the
use of paper without the usual silk
threads where it is not covered with
printing. The device for the silver Ger
tificates is substantially the same as
that which will be used for other forms
of paper money.
The difference between silver GER
tificates, a United States note and a
Sherman treasury note of any denomi-
nation Will be indicated by the word
ing and by the color of the seal The
latter distinction will serve the pur-
poses of bank clerks who have to dis
tinguish the notes by classes. The
ordinary citizen, who cares only for
the denomination of the note, and not
especially for the law under which
it is issued, will find unification in the
denominations from 81 to $40, where
he formerly had to deal with fifteen
certificates, United States notes and
Sherman notes.
The advantage of this unification of
the currency will be great in the case
of persons handling money in large
amounts, in the case of persons of de-
fective vision and in the case of those
who cannot read and write and rely
on the general appearance of a note to
determine its denomination. The lat
ter class will hereafter be able to
identify a 81 note by the devices,
whether it is issued under the legal
tender act, the Sherman law or the
Bland law.
The designs for the higher denomi-
nations of notes are in the course of
preparation at the bureau of engrav-
ing and printing. Secretary Gage, As
sistant Secretary Vanderlip and Treas
urer lRoberts have examined and ap-
proved ali the new designs and are
much pleased with the success of Chief
johnson, of the bureau Of engraving
and printing, in adapting them to the
purposes of a convenient instrument
of circulation.