Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-15
SOMETHING ABOUT BANK-NoTEs.


10 recent number of au English paper We
md some interesting facts respecting the
notes Of the Bank Of England. The paper
on which the notes are printed is oil made from
tue best rags by single firm. Il is made in
sheets sixteen inches long by Ave inches wide,
on each OF which two notes are printed. The
sheets are then cut in two, when each note has
three rough edges and one smooth one. The pc
cullar quality Of the paper has been found The
best protection against counterfeiting. The en-
CRAVING OF the notes has been initiated bot the
paper never. Even the paper that was stolen a
Few months ago had to be sized by the thieves.
and the work was so badly done that the coun-
leifeiis could be distinguished from the genuine
by this defect alone.
quantity OF paper, enough for making about
900 notes, is forwarded to London once a
month 1t is delivered 10 the bank-note paper
otAcer where II is counted, and then handed to
the printing Office After passing through A
machine which prints oil but the numbers, dates
and signatures, II is returned 10 the paper -oiiice
IN THIS transition state IL is kept in store as
notes are required il is again passed through
machine for completion; each sheet is then eut
in half, making two notes; the notes are counted.
and carefully examined by cashiers, whose duty
Il is TO reject those which are ndistncty print
cd, or are imperfect, iiel up ia bundles Of one
hundred notes each, and five of these bundles in
one, making large bnndle of five hundred
notes. The average daily manufacture is about
thiriy-seven thousand notes, or sevsnty-four
bundles OF five hundred notes; each bundle
weighing one and half pounds. The number
OF notes made in year will be over eleven aud
haif millions, the paper weighing more than
hfteen tons. Books are printed al the bank.
with a record of eVsry note issued. Every note
presented at the bank for payment is marked off
these ledgers on the day following, the date OF
payment being stamped on the note and in the
ledger. Should forged note chance to be
passed II Woull be detected the next day in posl.
ing the ledger.
About thirty. seven thousand notes are present. |
cd daily for payment. They are cancelled bv |
tearing OF the signature and punching, and then |
laid away in boxes, TO be kept ten years. III
terence 10 any OF those notos is required by fur
nishing the number, date, and amount, IL can be
produced in ten minutes Once a month the
notes which have completed their ten years Of
rest are taken out and burnt.
Bank-notes are subject TO many mishaps
they are puried, burned, drowned, washed TO
pieces, and eaten.
Not many years since, laborer in taking
Iowa hedge row, came across a small box I'm
Iied in the soil. Upon examining the contents.
Ihey we're found to be bank-notes, the proceeds
81 robbery which had occurred so long pre-
~ sVN9 10 " W oiniVet lOrROltOn. IL IS supposed
mat the thieves, being hard pressed by officers
u the law, hid the box where il was found, and
we're perhaps taken and hanged for some other
'rlme, and so their secret died with them.
IL IS not an uncommon occurrence for notes TO
'e thrown into the fire along with waste paper,
,nd burned. They are sometimes, too, used to
ight pipes, candles, gas, etc
Notes have been blown into a river. and al.
hough the song has it:
For guinea it will sink,
But one pound note will float
lVe-pound notes will not.
NOTES sometimes are left in pockets and
'asheu into complete wad. But the bank will
queen ihem provided they remain so nearly
sglole lhat II Is possible to identify them.
story Is told OF grazier who having return
u from market was counting his money. The
''nu tuok one oil the notes out Of the window,
nd it was swallowed by pet lamb. The ami
ial was Killed directly, and the note taken from ,
10 stomach and sent to London, with q state
rent OF the circumstances. 1t was Of course
iuoa dlseoloredi but being "All there" the !
raaier got his twenty pounds. !
Hhen note is irrecoVerably lost, the usual 4
Iacuce is-H the note be under one hundred
o9nds-to make the loser wait five years, after !,
men time application for payment will be en- n
'rlained But, with notes of one hundred
oands ana upwards sum equal to the amount
'st IS invested IN consuls in the names Of the i,
ofernor and Company Of the Bank of England. n
IT twenty years. During this time, the divf =
ehus, as lhey accrue, are paid to The loser n
No. o. the end of the term, the stock is traps =,
'rred into bis name. y