Evening star., 1934-03-04

" " streets southwest, Is not an old
building at all, for its construc-
ton was not authorized by Congress until 1873.
and the bureau did not occupy it until July 8,
1880. There are ever so many people who can
personally recall when this building was
erected OF course it is the older Of the two
buildings, south of the Mall, used by the bu-
resu. for the large Dorc limestone structure,
closer to the river is of recent construction
Several years ago, when the wrlter was
spealing of that part of Washington south OF
the Mall. known to the early Washingtonian
"A "the Island" he received a letter from MIS-
Mary Lloyd Willis who said she was born ON
the southwest corner OF B and Fourteentn
streets, or where the bureaus red brick build
ing still stands, and which was the first sep
srate structure erected by the Government In
Washington for the engraving and printing Of
money.
This bureau Is of the comparatively re-
cent permanent additions to the Government
not having been provided for by Congress until
July H. 1862, in accordance with the act OF
Congress of that date, which reads:
"And be it further enacted, that the Secre-
tary of the Treasury be, and Is hereby author
he'd in case he shall think it inexpedient to
procure said notes, or any part thereof, to be
engraved and printed by contract, to cause the
said notes, or any part thereof, to be engraved.
printed and executed in such form as he snail
prescribe, at the Treasury Department in
hereby empowered to purchase and provide
al the machinery and materials, and to en-
ploy such persons and appoint such ohlcials
as may be necessary for this purpose
THE first American paper money, known as
] Massachusetts, notes, was issued in 1880,
and then came-85 years later-the Conti-
mental bills, engraved by Paul Revere, the best
of the four engravers then in this country.
ri<5a o1rcH f0n
cord on the night of April 18, TITS, to give
warning of the British expedition which was
resisted the next day at Lexington and Con-
cud-a service which has been immortalized
BY Iongfellow in his poem, "The Midnight
Ride of Paul Revere"-will cause this Ameri-
can patriot to be long remembered But this
ride was q short one compared with the one
he made in 1774, when he rode on horseback
20 New York and Philadelphia, scattering
copies of the Boston port BILL Revere subse-
quently became grand master of Masons OF
Massachusetts, filling the Office with honor and
distinction. It was previously left vacant by
Gen. Joseph Warren, when that officer was
killed at Breeds Hill, June IT, ITS.
However although the Constitution OF the
United States went into effect on March 4,
1789 yet for nearly three-quarters Of CEN
tury the Government never saw any reason
why it should make its own paper money, and
In the meantime several private firms had
sprung into existence and were making hand
some profit doing the work. In 1858 nine OF
these bank note firms were incorporated under
the title of the American Bank Note Co."
and few years later the National Bank Note
Co. was organized. The country was growing
in population, and was its business, and by
1862 the American Bank Note Co. was employ
ing about $50 persons, of whom more than 100
were women.
The Civil War, of course, made an added
demand for Government securities, and it also
made an additional charge on the country for
interest, as is shown on the face of series
Of notes issued on August 10. 1861, which place
the interest at 7.3 cents, payable semi-annually,
and the privilege to convert the note into
2o-year, per cent United States bond also is
stipulated. These notes. In the denominations
of $50, 500, $500, $1,000 and $4,000, were
printed by the American Bank Note Co., New
York
The demand notes, issued about this time,