The Negro world., 1900-04-28
DAMAGED CURRENCY.
How 1, 1. Handled In the Redemption
Burcau of the Treasury az
Washington.


One of the most interesting depart
ments in the United States treasury
is that devoted to the redemption of
mutilatel currency. To II are sent
all varieties bills. In every eoneeiv-
able stage of mutilation. II is seldom
that the experts #cannot declpher the
burned crisps or piece together the
myriad fragments The collection is
"A curious one, changing every day with
Kaleidoscope rapidity, says the New
York Tribune.
The burning of note usually brings
out its design in sort of metallic
relief upon its surface, aud by means
of glass and other implements, and
also a full and complete knowledge
of the intricate designs-no two de
nominations being alike-on every note
issued. their fseevalue is learned with
incredible deNterity, Some arrive in
fairly good condition, some shrunken
and water soaked. others scorched
black and twisted out of shape, many
are merely thin, TINY black flakes. and
the evidence consists of small hand
full of black powder. which the atiiant
swears was $65. accidentally blown into
the fire. Often the mischief has been
done by mice, haudfuls of the tiniest
of pieces attrSting the evil ways OF
the rodent; babies are another source
of trouble. maniacs. victims of drunken
kus In Fn
the strnnges' and most unheard
of accidents are occurring all the
time. But in u great majority of eases
the money has been burned, for com
mon practice among people who are
their own bankers seems TO be the
keeping Of their funds in unused stoves.
A cold day comes, the fire is lighted
by some unsuspccting person who
"didn't know IL was loaded, and the
owner suddenly finds that he had
money TO burn in spite Of himself,
In one instance u man having $1,000
In government bonds besides notes aud
gold, kept them in tomato can which
he placed In the elbow Of his parlor
stove. While he was plowing his fields.
kindled and shortly he made the un-
pleasant discovery that his riches had
taken wings. Had he sent the money
Just as IL came from the stove, wrapped
in cotton, IL might have been saved.
but in endeavoring TO separate IL IL
became so churned and ground up that
the department was able to identify
only about 81 COO for him.
An old woman who had accumulated
about 5000 was one night al her devo-
tions, when the candle In some mysteri-
Gus manner was overturned in the
midst OF the money. Now, history does
not relate why II was there, or whether
she was returning thanks or paying
a bit OF homage 10 Mammon, but. at
any rate, II WAS destroyed, and ns she
threw the ashes away and at the In.
stigation of her friends picked them
out again there was only enough left
TO return about x1oO TO her.
But much more fortunat were an
old couple in the west The man had
been n foldier, and by the long ac-
cumulation Of years they had saved
going to look at II, found that the
mice had left only pile OF carefully
sawed fragments. Almost distracted.
she took II 10 The bank, reporting that
the last time she had counted II the
sum had been si75, mostly In tens and
twenties. IL was sent here, the tiny
bits sorted and arranged as only ex~
at-fa q Al
sary three-hfihs Of every note was
found. But the best OF all was that.
instead OF $27j II was discovered that
the old peoples savings amounted 20
$3.50. which amount was finally sent 10
them. much 10 their joy
OF course, the greatest precaution is
necessary, and the aflidavits must leave
no doubt as TO the utter and entire
destruction OF the missing parts Of the
notes. In one case Of this kind q farm
er sent from Kansas some greenbncks.
amounting 10 $50. only half Of each
note being intact. The rest, he de
clared in strong affidavit, had been
destroyed and also stated In what
manner But on consulting the books
II was found that one-haH the sum
had already been paid TO another per
son, who had sent the other halves Of
the notes from another part Of the
country. Consequently but s23 was re-
turned 10 him.
Thereupon the cashier who had
transacted the business for the farmer
wrote such m indignant letter, saying
the government had impugued the hon
eSty Of the claimant and that he would
prove him in the right. that the affair
was put into the hands Of the secret
service. the proofs exhibited. and the
imprndent farmer fined 81 900 for false
swearing.