Arizona republican., 1899-12-30
SimpIifCatiOn of Paper
 Currency.
MORE MODEST DESIGN
The Series Of 1899 Will Be Hand some One - From an Artistic Standpoint the Limit Fixed in the Matter of the Amount of Ink to Be Used Upon the Notes Ob- jectionable.


 Washington, Dec 29.-with the re- cent issuance of the new and modestly designed silver certificates Of s1 and $Z denominations a simplification of the paper currency of the United States was inaugurated. This reform will ap- ply to the style of engraving upon the notes, which in future will not be so elaborate and massive, but manifestly more intricate and delicate. It will also affect the classes of notes in ex- istence. Whereas in the past each new issue of treasury notes, silver certif- cates and gold notes, collectively, has called for twenty-seven separate and distinct desgns. It is the present plan of the treasury department and the bureau of engraving and printing to have nine designs suffice. The same de- i sign twill be used for a common denom- ination in all three classes of notes enumerated. The national bank notes will remain the same as at present.
 The simplification process will first apply to the silver certificates. There will be nine denominations, ranging from the S1 note to $1OOO. The two smaller bills, the $1 and $2 have been issued. The $5 design is in the hands of the engravers and is nearing com i pletion, while the $10 design has been approved in most of it's details. The ! SEQ, $50, $1OO, $500 and $1 ,OOO will come in their regular order. but it will probably be some years before the is- sue is thoroughly complete.
 The same designs used for the silver certificates will in turn be employed ' in the issuance of treasury notes and United States notes, the wording be- | ing changed in each instance to suit i the character of the government obli- ! gation, of course. Another distinguish | ing feature will be the difference in color of the treasury seal; that on the 1 silver certificate being blue, with i brown and red, probably for the treas ury and United States notes. This dis tinguishing mark, it is said, will prove | of great value to bankers and others who have the handling of large amounts | of money. When the new series is com pleted and in circulation the notes or different characters may be sorted without difficulty and with great rapid i ity by means of these vari-colored seals.
 It is believed this plan will meet with the approbation of the bankers as well as the public. The smallness Tn the variety of designs will make the notes no easier of counterfeitlng- Rather the contrary, for with fewer plates to be made, more time and care may be given to the intricateness or the wonderful lathe work and delicate lines of engraving, although it would seem the maximum of bewilderinS de- tail has already been reached. Another safeguard is the policy of the admins traitor of the treasury and the bu- reau to leave exposed as much as pos sible of the surface of the silk-hber paper which is the baffling feature of all counterfeit work. The use of a minimum of ink on the notes is also in line with the desire of the bankers and merchants who had much trouble with the last issue but the present, Tn which practically the entire surface of the note was covered. This was the cause of much difficulty and annoyance in handling, the money being bulky and inclined to cling together.
 From an artistic standpoint the limit fixed to the amount of ink to be used upon the notes has decidedly i objectionable side, in that the designer is necessarily compelled to work within very narrow lines in the endeaVor to make the paper currency pleasing to the eye Despite this fact, however. i the designers of the series now well under way have evolved so far an ex- l caf nf notes all of which will have unmistakable and popular characteristics. It has been the aim to use the lathe work, so deli cate and difficult of imitation, ito a large extent, and to work it together in carrying out the design of the note, rather than to have it placed here and there in splotches, as in issues of past years. The result so far has been very | gratifying. The manipulator of the lathing machine has much to do with the success of the notes under such circumstances, as he is instructed only as to the general plan and is allowed to work out his own geOmetrical ar engagements and styles.
 l The new issue is being prepared by the bureau of engraving and printing. The details and designs, after being carefully prepared, are submitted to the secretary of the treasury. Each note in the new series, to be known as the series of 1S99 will be distinctive from a representation of some promi- nent person or object as the central ! figure of the face. In the new $1 silver | certificates the central figure is an eagle with spreading wings. This note might be commonly referred to as the Eagle note.' In the $2 certificate it is observed that George Washington ! is the central figure, hence a popular designation of this denomination as the Washington notes."