The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-23
THE EVENING TINES, GRAND FORKS, N. D.

He noticed during the progress Of
the work that contractors clerk
came back from the railroad station
bringing with him a walking stick
bearing a label addressed to his en-
ployer. This always happened ON q
Friday afternoon, and he became cur
iOus to know the reason.
When he asked fc- an explanation
of the mystery the contractor touched
spring in the handle, screwed OF a
headpiece and, turning the stick up
side down, rolled out on the table q
heap of sovereigns.
1t appears that the nearest local
bank could not be used in time for
weekly pay. Accordingly, the con-
tractor had the stick made, the inter-
Tor Of which was followed out in order
to take the sovereigns. The precious
freight amounted to s100, and was
dispatched every week as an ordinary
parcel. During the whole time 1t
never miscarried.
Possible more remarkable savings
bank was found during an inquest
held in London recently. 1t was dis
covered that the deceased had a wood
ell leg, within which were number
of sOvereigns wrapped in kid glove
Surely a wooden leg is one of the most
peculiar banks imaginable.
A short time ago an old miser died
at Brescia. She lately revealed a
singular boarding place for treasurer.
She had always lived as one in deep
poverty, and had carefully excluded
all neighbOrs from her apartment.
When she was taken Ill, and felt the
approach of death, she sent for no.
tary, to whom she confided the hiding
place of her money.
She had lived in constant dread of
robbery or loss, and SO for years had
preserved the whole of her money in
a hollowed-Out leg of certain table
in the room. When search was being
made before properly accredited wit
nesses a sum of $4,000 was brought
to light in money securities.
A sum of over a quarter of a mill
ion pounds has been thrown into the
ash pit by the government This extra
ordinary exhibition of waste of public
money was found out some little time
ago. 1t was discovered that scrap
brass had been used for road making
Originally the ashes from the brass
foundry and rolling mills of the Royal
Laboratory and other factories were
regarded as SO much waste material.
AS matter of fact, they were given
to the superintendent for the purpose
of making roads and pathways.
This went on for number of years,
when a wide-awake contractor got to
know Of it. He generously offered to
remove the ashes from the fire holes
and to give the government the sum
of 3s. I'D. a ton for them into the bar
gain.
After the government had been 60
ing on for some time 1t was discov-
cred that the contractor was selling
the refuse at Sc ton. Then the ordi-
nance officials took the matter into
their own hands and issued proper
tender forms for them.
Then the firm which had been used
to paying 3B. i'd. ton offered G5 and
f6 ton, while eventually as much as
81 Is. I'D. per ton was offered for the
waste ashes. This means revenue Of
10000 year, which hitherto had
been thrown into the ash pit. Actually
1t is estimated that q quarter of
million pounds has been wasted by
the military officials who thoughtless-
ly threw the refuse away.
A sum of $4,000 was found in the
mud at Liverpool short time ago.
This was in the mud behind the land
Ing stage water, where a cash box was
found containing number of bank
notes and about $4,000 in securities.