Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-02

months. Already a few specimens of
II nave been printed in Washington,
put the treasury will not be prepared
10 issue it for a while yet, because it
taxes good many millions of notes
and certificates to fill the demand, and
AFTER they have gone through the
presses they have to dry for weeks
very slowly, so that the ink on them
may not blur in handling. Besides,
only the 81 and 50 silver certificates
nave been accepted by the secretary
OF the treasury, and the other demon
nations are to come.
The reason for preparing these new
designs for the paper currency is sim
ply that those which adorn the bills
now IN circulation are not considered
satisfactory. AS one treasury official
said the other day: "The pattern of
the present 81 note wouldn't make
decent newspaper cut
couple of years ago the govern
ment bureau of engraving decided that
what the country really wanted was
artistic money, and it hired some well
known artists to execute designs for the
various denominations of certificates
and notes. 1t was beautiful idea, but
somehow it has not proved success.
These high art bills now in general
circulation, with their allegorical pic
lures and ornamental shields, wreaths
and things, have excited nothing but
derision on the part of the public and
most particularly disgust in banks and
counting rooms, where their obscure
numbers have made them difficult to
reckon.
"a money note is piece of work
purely technical" said the treasury
official above quoted, "and the purpose
of its design is as far as possible away
from the idea which an artist has in
mind when he sits down to make a
pretty picture. One hangs a picture
a PORTFOLIO; the design of bill re-
quires first of all quality of enduring
wear with least possible injury.
1t has to pass through the greasy
hands of the butcher and across the
sloppy counter of the beer seller; it is
ductor, and there is no sort of abuse
that it is not likely to undergo. Ac-
cordingly, every element in the make
up of the pattern ought to have special
reference to durableness. The prin-
cipal lettering should be bold and
black, so as not to be esaily obliterat-
ed and a good, strong portrait is not
n nd To hllf ic no hast
safeguard against counterfeiting.
About so per cent. of the surface OF
the new bills on both sides will be left
blank-firstly, in order to show the
fibres of the paper better, and, secondly
because this arrangement brings out
the engraved designs more wildly and
clearly One trouble with the cart
notes. is that their designs confuse
the eve making it more easy actually
for counterfeit to pass. The paper
money about to be issued, on the Other
hand, is almost severely plain.
An eagle with outspread wings is the
principal ornament of the face of the
81 silver certificate, portrait of Lin
coin being engraved beneath it. The
figure one and the treasury seal are in
bright blue, and both seal and denomi
nation number will be of this color
on all of the new certificates, so thai
the letter may be distinguishable at
glance from United States and banl
notes. The 50 certificate has head o.
Washington.
The treasury people say that the
value of the portrait as safeguard
against counterfeiting lies in the fac
that we are all of US more familiar
with human faces than any other OBJ
iects in the world. We are accustomed
to recognize our friends, and very sool
we become so we'll acquainted with ;
face on a bill as to notice the Smalles
alteration in its expression. A stee
engraved portrait cannot be perfect!
initiated, and the difference of a lin
will produce change in the expression
which any one will perceive at
glance. The cart notes" have por
traits on their backs, but these beini
printed in green, are comparatively OBJ
scure. and the face of bill, anyway
is the side usually examined.
Experts admit that a note can b.
made handsomer by engraving 1t al
over, but they say that few scattere'
fragments of design, very elaborate
are most difficult to counterfeit sue
cessfully. The new bills have com
paratively simple patterns on thei
backs. but the geometrical lathe worl
used is at the same time very compIi
Gated in its traceries, so as almost L
defy imitation. All denominations
figures are made large and plain, es
pecially at the corners OF the face
SO as to render counting easy. Il
some OK the Fart notes these all i'm
portant figures are actually obscure Il
an attempt to make them decorative.
The fibre paper will be retained i
the new bill notwithstanding objec
tons made to it by some experts, VIII
urge that it is practically worthless a
protection against counterfeiting.
was used long ago for considerabl
time by the government, hut was dis
continued because the people VIII
owned the patent for it demanded a
exorbitant royalty for the privilege {