The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-09-25
THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND.
The following is brief description of tn
interior and exterior of this mighty engine
which guides. in some measure, the com.
merce and political movements of Europe
if not of the world:
The Bank of England is an immense
structure, covering five acres of ground hav'
ing no windows in either of its fronts. but
receiving light from above, or from its courts
1t is open for business at nire in the morn
ing and continues open until five in the
afternoon-employing during these hours
between nine hundred and one thousand
persons At seven O'Clock in the evening
detachment of soldiers are marched from
the Tower into the bank, where they mount
guard until seven o'clock the next m orDing.
The bank has capital of eighteen mil
lions sterling, and is managed by governors. +.
&c. It's notes are never reissued by the bank,
after being presented for payment. They
NAV continue in circulation for any time,
and pass from one bank to another; but,
when presented to the bank for specie. the
name of the person presenting must be en-
dorsed. with his residence; then, after care
ful examination, the note is paid and can
celled.
The printing. binding, &C., required by
the bank and its branches. are done within
the building by ths most approved methods.
The steam presses and all the machinery
are the best that can be obtained in England
or Scotland.
So admirably arranged is everything from
the engine-room to the bank parlor," that
every room resembles a beautiful toy shop
No 'stoker' or engine driver is required to
attend the FIRE or look after the engine dur
ing the day. The fire is fed in the same
ma nner that wheat is ground. In the morn
lug sufficient quantity is put into the hop
per- and that sends a regular supply into
the CRATES or stoves, and nothing farther is
required. The water is supplied in the same
way; and should there be any want of water.
by accident or otherwise, an alarm is sound
ed by whistle. -,'
Each note is printed on what is called one
shee: of paper; the lowest denomination is
i've pounds, the highest one thousand. The
paper is frat counted to those whose duty
it is to wet it down. This is done by a
steam process. After the paper is in prop
er state to be worked, it is locked up in
boxes and sent to an officer, who recounts it.
1t is then counted again in parcels of one
hundred sheets, and put into boxes, which
are locked and placed in sliding case
ready for. the pressmen, who. are at work
above. These sheets are drawn up and re-
turn in the same m ner ;everv sheet worked
register itself, and is as we'll known In the
room below, what number A. B. is printing
above. as by himself. IT, by accident, A. b.
.spoils Sheet it must be marked as such,
and everv particle of the spoiled sheet sent
down. Every note or bill passes through
the hands of two sets of pressmen. First,
thew are printed without the number and
date. Secondly, the number and date are
added. when they are ready for the hnlsh-
ing touch, the signature of one OF the cash.
iers. One of the most ingenious pieces OF
mechanism have ever seen is th at used to
mark the number on each bill. There is no
change of number by hand, but all is done
by this mach inc, and by steam power.
When the bills have passed through the
hands of the printers, they are sent to the
drying room, where they are again counted
and dried; they are then put up into conven-
lent packets, and sent to the cashiers room
for signature Thence they 60 to the regis
ters department., and from that otflce are
brough back to the treasury. Here they
are kept in fire proof iron cases. which COW
ers all the sides of the room, The room
itself is fire-proof, there being only one
thing that can burn, the counter. On one
side Of this room the cases are hlled with
gold, tied up in bags, and on the other the
bills in packages convenient for the pay
ing tellers' There are two large locks to
each case, and the keys are kept by separ-
ate officers, so that hey must be present be-
fore any sum can be removed. l held in
nv hand, while in this room, two millions
sterling, all ready to be put in circulation.
Each day from thirty to thirty six thous-
and bills are printed. The ink is made in
the bank. and it is of such peculiar COM
position that, by its effect, together with
that of the highsized paper, the blankets
used on the presses require to ba washed
by steam at least once dav. The highest
number of the notes is $1,000. When that
number is reached, they return to NO. l.
with a new date. The pressmen and most
of the machinists receive f3 per week; the
females in the binding rooms, from fifteen
shillings to one pound per week.
The clerks are paid good salaries after
thew nave been some years in the service o
the bank. They commence, however, at q
low rate, but soon become higher graduates,
with an increased salery in the bank. or are
transferred to one of its branches. The plar
of personal security is frequently observed
as in the United States; but was informed
that there is an institution called the guar
antee fund. , by which an individual, pay
ing so much per m onth. becomes member
and this ns titution is security for its mem:
bers- thus securing the bank sgainst loss, o
the painful alternative of calling on person
al security in case of mal-administration
In one of the rooms ninety seven clerk
are employed, whose business it is to exam
inc the notes BY register, and SO minute an
accurate is the concern that it is known i
the bank what notes are out, and who re
ceived them; and it is the practice OF a
bankers, in town or country, to take IN
number of each note before it is paid, an
tn whom maid. This is work Of time cr