The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-12
The RousTARoUT.

THE RouSTABoUT.
1--WE would like to buy some new
money" said the Roustabout to the
man behind the counter at the United
States mint in New Orleans. 1--WE
have none for SALE" came the reply,
but the reassuring twinkle in his eye
suggested that he was "jest foolln'."
"If you have any legal tender" went
on the official, "the government will
be glad to make the exchange with
you and give you new coins" The
legal tender in small doses was forth
coming and the swap was consum-
mated. The Roustabout asked for a
silver dollar coined in 1906, but the
man behind could not accommodate
him. None have been coined here
for five years, but there are seven mil
lion piled up in the vaults whichwill be
exchanged with you if you desire"
The Roustabout did not have quite
that much with him so the best ne
could do was to take look at the
big stacks. Silver dollars, by the way,
are drug at all the minis, and there
has been no "crime of '79" committed
lately either. Fact is, aside from
sufficient number to make change,
people do not want the big silver
coins, and the Dollar of our Daddies"
is almost entirely side-tracked in all
the large cities by one and two dollar
gold and silver certificates. The
Roustabout is not up on architecture
very far, so he will not venture an
opinion as to what style the mint be-
longs. Suffice it to remark that he
never saw more brick and stone put
together in the same amount Of space
in his life. 1t looks like the govern
ment had surplus of material on
hand and had dumped it here and
hammered it together with pile
driver. The building cost about $780,
900 and every room is vault in it.
self 1T was erected in 1927 and is
fitted up with the best machinery in
existence, capable or turning out five
million dollars per month. 1t occu-
pies the site of an old Spanish Fort
and is wreathed in historic incidents.
In 1914 General Jackson stood on its
site and reviewed his army as they
marched to meet and conquer the
British in one of the most memorable
battles in the history Of warfare. In
1862 Capt. Mumford was hung by
General Butler in front of the build
ing between the two center columns
that support the enormous porch, for
tearing down the stars and stripes
from the roof of the building.
No souvenir of New Orleans is COM
plete without picture or an engrav-
ing of the "Cabildo," or old Spanish
government house. Aside from the
cathedrals and cemeteries 1t is the
most historic structure in the city;
and although in constant use for ITO
years, is little the worse for the wear.
Like all edifices erected by the Span.
iards, it is constructed in heavy and
solid manner, three stories high and
about 120 feet square. Within its
walls the transfers of Louisiana by
the representatives of the King OF
Spain to France, and Of France to the
United States were made. There the
proud seigneur, in big wig and knee
breaches, representing the King OF
Spain, absolved with lofty condescen-
sion, in his masters name, his vas
sails from their oaths Of fealty, and
transferred them to France. In 1903
the colonists were turned over to the
United States in the same building,
and Governor Claiborne welcomed
them as free citizens of great Re.
public. In 1926 General Lafayette
was entertained by the city, and the
cabildo was fitted up as a residence