The Dickinson press., 1898-03-05
WASHINGTON LEnER.
The Fumisation Of Old Bills-Precau.
tions Against Contas1on-0amphor
Trees In This Country.
Especial Correspondence

l9VSSAdA VAACbQOAOSAIosl
Speaking about the fumigation Of old
bills which arrive at the treasury de-
partment from the New Orleans sub.
treasury, Assistant Treasurer Meline
said to me recently that this wat abso-
lutely necessary for the protection Of
Che clerks who handle this old currency.
"These clerks" said Major Meline,
'are constantly exposed to danger in
their handling and counting Of old cur
rency. Sometimes the smell Of these old
bills is nauseating. I don't remember,
however, a case where any clerk has
ever been attacked by disease from
the handling Of this money. This may
be due to the fact that every precaution
Is taken. Whenever money has come
here from points infected by contagious
diseases 1t has always been fumigated.
The clerks frequently wash their hands
with d~isinfecting soaps and take other
precautions. I consider that they have
been remarkably fortunate"
Found Upon the Dead.
There have been cases at the treasury
II money sent in for redemption in a
terrible state. In several instances this
money has been taken from the bodies
Of people found mysteriously murdered.
The bodies lay for weeks or months
without discovery until the clothing
which contained the money would be
alive with putrid matter. Money thus
discovered is not handled by the author
tiles, but rushed to the treasury for re-
demption. It is sometimes in such con-
dition that the odor is almost unbeara-
bic. This is only n Of many instances
Of a similar nature. Dogs and goats
which swallow money are often killed,
disseoted and the remnants Of the money
sent to the treasury for redemption
The department. Of agriculture has
issued a very readable pamphlet con-
corning the camphor tree and its Guilt
walton for profit in the United States.
The tree is a broad leaved evergreen and
is related to the red bay and to the sas-
safras Of this country. In it's native hab-
itat, eastern Asia, Formosa and south
esn Japan, it attains q height Of from
go to 100 feet and has q trunk 20 to 40
AAouoS IL uAaAeGo1' i
It's Range Under Cultivation.
Notwithstanding the comparatively
narrow limits of its natural environ
ment, the camphor tree grows well
In cultivation under widely differ.
emit conditions It has become abun'
dainty naturalized in Madagascar. II
aourishes at Buenos Ayrea. It thrivel
IN Egypt inssthe Canary islands, il
southeastern France and in the sa1
joaquin valley in California, where thu
summers are hot and dry. Large trees
at least 200 years old, are growing il
the temple courts at Tokyo, where the,
are subject to q winter Of 20 to 81
nights Of frost, witha an occasional mini
mum temperature a. low as 10 to II
degrees 3. The most northern localitie
in the United States where the campho
tree has been grown successfully out o
doors are Charleston and summerville
in South Carolina, Augusta, Ga, an,
Oakland, Gal
At Charleston, summerville and An
gusta the trees have withstood a mini
mum temperature Of 16 degrees f., bu
they have been protected by surround
ing trees and buildings. At Mobile th,
trees have grown and fruited in protect
ed situations, while in exposed place
they have been repeatedly destroyed b,