Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
PLANT TO RECLAIM
old MONEY PAPER
Machinery Being Built at
Navy Yard for Use at
Bureau.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

There is now being constructed in
the Washington Navy Yard special ma
chinery for a plant to be in operation
within six months in the U. S. Bureau
of Engraving and Printing. for reclaim
ing macerated United States paper
money which is now being hauled away
as waste to a Virginia dump. That is
the present promising status Of Spe-
cialized intensive study being made for
the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
by the u. S. Bureau Of Efficiency in an
effort to turn what is new the principal
cost of redemption Of WORKOUT cur
rency into a source Of considerable
revenue
This is entirely distinct from the eff
fort made by Representative Will r.
Wood, chairman Of the House Appro-
priationS Committee, to have legislation
passed providing for erection Of a Gov
ernment-owned and Government-op-
Grated paper mill at the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing to manufacture
the distinctive currency paper fer
which the Crane Co. Of Dalton and
Pittsf1eld, Mass, have had monopoly
for many years. That project was
fathered by Herbert D. Brown, chief of
the Bureau of Efficiency. but was de-
feated in committee hearings when Of
ficials of the Treasury Department,
Secret Service. Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing all united in opposition.
Problem OF Years.
The destruction of the distinctive
paper in the WORKOUT currency has for
many years been an important problem
for the Government. The Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing, which turns
out the currency, bonds and other ne
gotiable paper for the Government has
nothing to do with the redemption OF
the currency after it has become worn
out In circulation as 1t comes from the
banks. After it has been redeemed,
however. by the Treasury Department
it is taken in large padlocked trunks
to the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing and there dumped into tanks driven
by machinery, with soda, ash and lime
thrown in on top. The lid Is bolted
on and sealed. and with the chemicals
chewing up the paper the machinery
churns all night, reducing 1t to dis
colored, ground-up mass which Is tnen
loaded on trucks and hauled to the
dump.
Some years ago the Government
found a market for this macerated
paper which was used in cheap paper
board for book covers, in fasnioning
souvenirs. &c But the market fell OH
and prices slumped, so that 1t cost
more to prepare the macerated paper
for shinment TO the contractor who bid
for it.
Some few years ago the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing cut on one OF
The big custs OF redemption OF worn
out currency by discontinuing the use
of a lap machine. and found 1t cheaper
TO dump the macerated paper than 10
prepare it for shipment.
conference.-the machine was
operated at the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing for about year. with the
Bureau Of Standards cooperating,
which worked out so successfully that
the decision was reached TO go aheao
with the manufacture of the machinery,
which is now being made at the Wash
ington Navy Yard and at the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing.
Test Of Possibilities.
Otto C. WineStoek is engaged as
specialist by the Bureau Of efficiency
to test out the possibilities OF the pro-
posed redemption plant. One OF the
achievements has been to entirely de-
ink the macerated currency, SO that
instead of coming out blotchy blush
fluid mass 1t comes out clean and
white. AS the distinctive currency
paper is Of rag stock the reclaimed
paper Is of high quality. 1t cannot,
however, be used over ana over AGAIN
for making paper money, because 1t
has lest much of its wearing quality, |
which Is Of extreme importance in
paper money TO prevent cracking
where folded
One Of the problems which has re-
ceived the most intense study Is de-
struction Of the silk threads which are
a distinctive feature Of the currency
paper.
Part of Mr.. winestocks special JOB
IS to find new uses for the reclaimed
stock. Already he has interested
number Ct manufacturers several OF
whom have asked the privilege Of max
ing bids on the product OF the new
Government reclamation plant. 1t Is
proposed that some of the macerated
money will go into counters for shoes,
into high-class linen paper, into artin-
cial feathers and into imitation parcn-
ment on which important records can
be kept after the silk threads have been
destroyed It Is estimated that some
thing over $500 900 pounds OF pulp Will
be reclaimed each year, which, on &C
count OF its high quality, will ind
profitable market. so that the present
high cost Of redemption may be wiped
81. apd Sizah1e net profit on the Op-