The Washington times., 1901-07-07
MODELS MADE WITH MONEY.
Miniature Busts and Buildings
Representing Large Sums.

Unique Articles Sold as Souvenirs of
the National Capital - The Syste m
of Maceration at the Treasury for
the Destruction of Greenbacks.
Among the most popular souvenirs sold
TO visitors TO the National Capital are
the statuettes made of the macerated
pulp of greenbacks 1t is impossible to
walk along Seventh Street or Pennsyl-
vania Avenue without seeing, in score
or so of shop windows, small and quaint
representations of persons or objects,
from the President to Puss-in-Boots,
manufactured from pulverized money.
What makes the articles especially strik-
ing is the apparent discrepancy between
the values placed hpon each Erticle. Take
the miniature bust of President McI[in-
iey for example The label on the figure
sets forth that it is worth $4,000, while
IT is Furthermore stated that II is to be
sold for Is cents! Machine methods of
grinding nature have effected the varia-
tion in value in these curious efforts of
art but the machinery has been of honest
steel and iron. 1t is located in the Treas
ury Department, where the pulp formed
of old money returned for new is OBJ
tanned by the artist, who fashions it into
the shapes alluded to, and furnishes it
to the dealers.
These statuettes are made by Henry
Martin, of Anacostia, one-legged vete-
ran of the civil war He has been sculp-
turing in macerated greenbacks for the
past twenty years, turning out, on the
average, a hundred statuettes day ana
consuming two tons of pulp a year 1t
is estimated that about three millions OF
these productions have been manufactur-
ed and sold in this city and elsewhere
Mr.. Martins ingenuity is considerably
taxed to conceive new designs IN accord
with the publc's taste for novelty. Lately
ne has hit upon the happy idea Of repre-
senting. in his peculiar material, the
public buildings of this city. Somewhat
handicapped by the limitations imposed on
him by the nature of the material itself,
Mr. Martin deserves all the more credit
from the results he has achieved His
little view of the Capitol, executed in what
may be called alto-relievo, mounted with
coIored ribbon, is a pretty piece of work
Not the least interesting thing about It
is that its S by inch surface represents
$4,000 in money.
The pulp in a bust Of Lincoln Of diminu-
tive size represents 81. 900. A small figure
of kitten contains 5000. A tiny jug is
estimated to hold 5000 Cinderella
slipper is valued at 5000 and the Harri-
son hat, a memento OF the campaign OF
1888, is put at $500 also.
A small American eagle scars to the
extent of S40e0. and tiny reproduction
of the Washington Monument reaches a |
height of IS COO And the chief marvel is
that one may carry of any of these things
for the modest sum OF 10 cents. 1t makes
one almost ASHAMED to take advantage Of
such bargains.
Little attempt is made TO be artistic in |
these figures on account Of the triie at
which they are sold. The manufacturer
makes the designs himself and molds |
them with his own machinery. The work |
Of macerating the greenbacks comes |
under the province of the Redemption |
Division Of the Treasury, The principle |
of redemption is simple Every old dollar |
recei<ed means that a new one must be |
paid out, and for new one paid out an
old one must have been received.
The career OF a rejected dollar from re-
demptiOn TO destruction is interesting. 1t |
comes with others in sealed packages, |
which are counted. and then put up in |
new packages. each containing 100 bills |
-Four big holes are then punched IN each |
packsg ge. huge knife cuts the package |
lengthwise, and the sections are sent to |
two different officials for verihcation. |
From beginning TO end the process is
like all those relating TO the handling OF /
money at the Treasury and Bureau Of |
Engraving and Printing. one of checking |
and ccunter-checking by different officials /
in order that absolute accuracy may be /
established. The experts are constantly /