The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-04
DAYS OF CHEAP CASH.
Money Fell Like Snow and Was
Worm About as Much.

"OFth @ADOuN as Sbucns
An Ex-Confederate in the Chicago Inter
Ocean.
The first Confederate money was eagerly
sought and highly priced.
Atlantians made a rush for the new cur
rency, and we're glad enough to exchange
their gold, silver, and state bank notes for
it.
1t was not pretty, but it was new, and
better than all, 1t was Confederate!
People who We're afraid that they would
never get hold of bills of the various de-
nominations were treasured in short
time. At first 1t was feared that the
Union troops would all be wiped out be-
fore our young men could get TO the front,
and of course the temporary issue of Con-
federate notes would be stopped.
Such a currency would pot be needed
with the return of peace.
The government presses went on with
their work and the rag money of the new
republic began to reach every nook and
corner of the South.
Gold, always cowardy, scampered out
of sight; silver grew skittish, and sought
various hiding places, and the better class
OF state bank notes disappeared 30
With more than enough Confederate
timese our population, everybody caught
the craze and issued printed promises to
pay.
Little country banks, never heard of be-
fore, ffoated millions of their notes Ev
cry railway had its own currency. Store
keepers at crossroad villages in Alabama
and Mississippi flooded Georgia with their
shabby shin-pasters
These bills were frequently printed on
~ Y1np nh Ia o., ~
bic manner; but those who issued them
used cuts of some kind. when they could
get them, and the people gave the prefer
ence to notes with pictures on them.
The merchants here soon ceased to .sk
any questions. The new money came so
rapidly that it was impossible to find out
anything about t.
When a big stranger armed to the teeth
walked into store and rendered dirty
scrap of paper with figure and picture
on 1t, issued by Muggins & Co. of Pistol
vile, Tex, there was no sense, in haggling
over IL.
The thing had to be accepted as money
and that was the end of it.
To refuse would have caused the stran-
ger to resent the insult by drawing his re-
volveT, and therci was no use In making
trouble for nothing.
So the average customer accepted Mug
6hAD " ~. > 1IlilPldDNgA anu passed Il ON
the next customer.
At one time. when counterfeit Confed sr-
ate bills were detected. very strict people
examined the notes and refused the bad
ons
An issue of 800 bills gave some trouble.
There were many eounterfsits, but a de-
feet In the picture of negro, a mule, ard
a load of cotton enabled people to tell tie
false from the genuine.
But 1t took SO much time to explain the
matter 10 the ignorant that It became a
matter Of economy to accept the stuff
without a word. pW
New counterfeits appeared from time
to time. Engravers and printers in the
North produced them IN immense quanti-
ties and sent them South.
1t was one way the Unionists had OF
fighting the Confederacy.
Occasionally soldier with ragged ind
unmistakable counterfeit 500 bin would
walk into a store make a purchase, and
demand the change. 9n
When told that his counterfeit would NOT
be accepted he would fly into a rage.
Sometimes he would swear that he had
received the bill at that very store II he
happened 10 be a tough, and there are such
characters In all armies, he would resort
to bulldozing tactics, and perhaps threaten
20 call IN his comrades.
IL he honestly believed that the money