The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
CASH FOR BITS OF MONEY.
Skillful Work in the Redemption Blu
reau of the Treasury.

Washington Letter in New York Tribune.
One of the most interesting departments
in the United States treasury is that de-
voted to the redemption of mutilated cur
rency. To 1t sent all varieties of bills,
in every conceivable stage of mutilation.
1t is seldom that the experts cannot de-
cipher the burned criSpS or piece together
the myriad fragments. The collection is
curious one, changing every day with ka-
leidoscopic rapidity.
The burning of note usually brings out
its design in sort of metallic relief upon
it's surface, and by means of a glass and
other implements and also full and COM
plete knowledge of the intricate designs
no two denominations being alike-on ev-
cry note issued their face value Is learned
with incredible dexterity. Some arrive in
fairly good condition, some shrunken and
watersoaked others scorched black and
twisted out of shape; many are merely
thin, tiny black flakes, and in one case.
now under consideration, the evidence con-
sists of a small handful of black powder,
which the affiant swears was So, accident
ally blown into the fire. Often the mis-
chief has been done by mice, handfuls of
the tiniest of pieces attesting the evil ways
Of the rodent; babies are another source of
trouble. maniacs, victims of drunken fren-
zy, ploughshares, sawmills-in fact, the
strangest and most unheard-of accidents
are occurring all the time. But in a great
majority of cases the money has been
burned, for common practice among peo-
pie who are their own bankers seems to be
the keeping of their funds in unused stoves.
cold day comes, the fire is lighted by
some unsuspecting person who didn't
know it was loaded and the owner sud-
denly finds that he had money to burn In,
spite of himself.
In one instance a man having $1,000 in
government bonds, besides notes and gold,
kept them in tomato can, which he
placed in the elbow of his parlor stove.
While he was blowing his fields company
arrived, his wife had fire kindled, and
shortly he made the unpleasant discovery
that his riches had taken wings. Had he
sent the money just as it came from the
stove. wrapped in cotton. it might have
been saved, but in endeavoring to separate
it il became so churned and ground UP that
the department was able to identify only
about 5000 for him.
An old woman who had accumulated
about sou was one night at her devotions,
when the candle in some mysterious man.
ner 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 bit Of homage to Man,
mon, but, at any rate, IT was destroyed,
and as she threw the ashes away and at
the instigation Of her frienus picked them
out again there was only enough left to
return about 800 to her.
But much more fortunate We're an old
couple in the West The man had been a
soldier, and by the long accumulation of
years they had saved a little sum, when
one day the wife. in going to look at 1t.
found that the mice had left only pile of
carefully sawed fragments. Almost dis
tracted. she took Ii to the bank. reporting
that the last time she had counted 1t the
sum had been S275, mostly in tens and TWEEN
ties. 1t was sent here. the tiny bits sorted
and arranged as only experts can arrange
them, and the necessary three-ffths of
every note was found. But the best OF all
was that. instead of $275. it was discovered
that the old peoples savings amounted to
$3.50. which amount was finally sent to them.
much to their JOY - - -
OF course, the greatest precautton is
necessary, and the afIidavits must leave no
doubt a. to the utter and entire 0e4tFuc-
one case Of this kind farmer sent hon