Mountain advocate., 1912-07-19
DOLLAR BILL
TO BE MADE
SMALLER
To be I'm Size Only Six BY
Two and a Half Inches
Long and Will Save
Government
Money

Wash ngton, d. {. July IA
Despite the fact that the rise in the
cost OF living in within recent years
makes dollar look smaller to most
OF us than it did to "A decade ago,
the Treasury Department has deci-
ded to make the bills smaller than
they are at present-not the pur-
chasing power OF the CURRENCY, but
the size of the bills themselves.
1t has been decided that the paper
money Of todayis too large for con-
venient handling. A dollar bill is
now more than three inches wide
and a little more than eight and
one quarter inches long 1t is to be
cut down to six by two end one
half inches. The treasury thinks
that this reduced : re of the currency
will be vastly easier is handle and
it is certain that it will mean a
large annual saving on Uncle Sans
expense bills for paper.
The economy on paper alone tor
100000, 900 bills issued per annum)
will amount to $4,000. Then there
will be an increased output of at
! least % per cent for a given amount
of labor at the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing where all the paper
b money is manufactured. This gain,
carried through all the processes of
printing, examining. counting, dry
ing, numbering, etc, will itself rep
resent more than 5000 900 a year
The notes being smaller, less en-
craving will be required from the
plates from which thew are printed.
Less ink will be used-1n item more
important than one might imagine.
Taking other items into account it
is reck oned that the total saving to
the Government by reducing the
size OF paper money will be in the
neigl bo hood of S6l5,OOO per an
mum
In addition, it is expected that
the lite" OF a dollar bill OF the new
size will be much longer than that
OF one of the present series. Requir-
ing one less told TO be slowed away
conveniently in p"cketbook or bill
fold OF the ordinary size it will last
at least one-third longer in calcula-
ton according TO the estimate OF
treasury officials. Consequently
there will he fewer notes to be re-
deemed as unfit for future use and
the force OF the redemption division
in this city can be cut down sufh-
GENTLY to save some $50, 900 a year
in salaries
When it is considered that it costs
the Government one cent To print a
paper dollar and to put it into cir
= culation, the Importance OF prolong-
ing its ''lile" becomes manifest. For
tunarely, the treasury has had an
opportunity TO make some advance
tests, as they might be termed OF
the smaller money.
All the paper IN oney in the Philip
pires (which has replaced the old
Spanish notes, has been printed at
the Bureau of OF Engraving and
Printing in Washington. 1t is Of
xactly the size now proposed for
our own greenbacks and certificate
six by two and halt inches. Up to
date it has proved satisfactory in
all respects.
The new paper money will br
small enough TO be carried flat. c.
without iolding-iu a pocketbook Of
moderate size. Il will also be very
much easier TO handle. Experiment,
] made with bank clerks and tellers in
Washington recently have shown
that the small notes do not cram
\ the fingers as do the old ones. The,
have also the additional advantsg,
that banks can store in their vault,
twenty-five per cent more of then