The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-16
Handling Ten Million a Day

Two former governors Of North Dakota have their
signatures upon Uncle Sans currency-John Burke
and Frank White. This fact Is brought forclhy 70
mind in the January issue of National Republic
in which appears an article by Frank White on
Handling Ten Million Day"
An interesting feature of the article is repro
duction of of the signatures OF the first and
last United States Treasurers. For legiby the
signatures Of Burke and White stand out most
prominently. Carmi Thompson, whose signature is
reproduced in the group. wrote very clear hans,
but many reprinted hardly readable.
The following editors note which preccdes the
White article will be OF interest TO the former gov
errors friends in this state:
This informative article was written by
the who is actually responsible for
Uncle Sans funds, and whose name appears
all national currency. When Mr. White
took the job of Treasurer of the United
States he recepted for thirteen bill
lion dollars. Most people overlook this i'm
p0rtant position. being under the impress
sion that the Secretary of the Treasury
handles the government cash. Although
seventy years old, Mr.. White plays golf
and tennis, enjoys baseball football
game, and and then INDUCES in the
latest dances. He was born in StNlman Val
ley ILL.,, in 1856, played baseball on the
State University team, and graduated from
that institution in 1880. Two years later
he began farming in Dakota Territory, and
continued for many years. He served in
the North Dakota legislature from 1891 to
1899, and twice elected governor. In
the Spanish American War and Philippine
lnsurrection he served major, and was
cited in orders for gallantry in action
Mr.. White entered the World War at
age when most men planning to retire.
and served in France colonel of in
fantry.
The article sets forth in very concise and inter
csting style the duties Of United States treasurer
According to the author. II costs ten million dol
lars daily to run government and the handling
of the money comes under the supervision Of Franz
White
.4 What becomes of worn and mutilatcd money i.
t1ld in the following excerpt:
1s The Redemption Division of the United
States Treasurers office is charged with
the redemption of the unfit and WORKOUT
United States currency This currency con-
81 ssts of gold certificates silver certificates
and United States notes These notes are
carefully examined as to their genuneness,
are counted and finally destroyed This
money Is destroyed by passing it
through machine called macerator.
This macerator has a chemical in It which
takes all the mixing out of the paper and
also has knives that grind it up into very
fine pulp This pulp is sold to manufac-
turers of paper great deal of burnt
money and pieces OF notes are also received.
When three-fifths of a bill is re-
ceved full value is given; il less than three
fifths but greater t:.an twoffths half val
i g. ue is given The burnt money received is
in all stages Of ncineraton, from the
Z smallest recognizable fragment of burnt
bill to whole notes that are merely charred
There must always be enough of burnt
note intact even though it be burned and
charred almost beyond recognition, to iden-
u tfy 1t as to kind and denomination The
es amount Of unfit currency redeemed by this
division during the past fiscal year was
$1,17S,636,2 94 or 566 652, G92 notes of the sew
eral denominations. OF this vast bulk OF
money there were 474,766,556 one-doNar
bills alone. The average life OF a onedol-
lar bill Is about nine months