The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-04-05
AN HOUR WITH THE MONEY
MAKERS.

in Richmond
MIR Foard, the polite business man of the estab-
lishment, will take our arm and explain the nodus
operdndt of money making In its non -speculating
aspect. Here is an engraver, with fat soft piece
of steel about the size of the palm of your hand
before him. on the surface of which, polished ike
mirror, he is drawing with pointed instrument
a picture for bank note-the central picture,
| called "vignette," the denomination, termed
"eounter," for corner or portrait for one end
as the case may be; for you must know the entire
design tor bill is never engraved one piece,
because, by distributing the work out it can be
completed more rapidly; the various separate de-
signs can be combined varousy to produce differ
ent notes, and each artist brings skill to bear on
his peculiar forte-the cutting Of heads or figures,
or letters-which can never be combined by the
counterteiter who cannot all the talent ne
cessary to the production of frst-claas note
Suppose the engraver has finished his labor-a
portrait, for instance. The steel plate is hardened
IN furnace, then put under press; small, soft,
steel roller, about two inches long and as many
thick, placed on the engraving, and rolled over it
under an immense pressure, SO great that the de-
sign on the Hat plate is transferred, pressed into
the roller, sharp and distinct This roller is har.
dened, and the design on its surface is capable af
Being transferred In turn to many hundred plates,
thus obvatng the expense Of re-engravng the de-
sign as the plates out. Each design necessa-
ry to make up note is thus transferred to a sepa-
rate roller. A broad sheet of polished steel is
put under the press A roller with a vignette on
1t is rolled over is surface under great pressure,
and deposits the design on the plate; another roller
having the Counter, Is perhaps, rolled over
the plate leaving its impression in the proper place,
and so on, until the note is made up. There is
still room on the sheet of steel for notes and
they are accordingly put on by the same process.
Now We have a sheet-of steel with half dozen
notes engraved on it, sharp, clear, distinct, and
Cruelty alike; at least, nearer than any one en-
graver could possibly make them by a simpler pro-
cess, That plate would be worth something 10 a
private individual. Mr. Foard tells us it is not
for sale, SO won't attempt to negotiate for it,
kf2t go with him to the press and see the pro-
cess of making biuebacks by the wholesale Here
is large room fullof presses-simple affairs, they
are-an iron roller, two feet long, inches thick,
resting II frame iron table and revoved
by hand-power applied to the spokes on one end.
y workman takes the steel plate rests it on a box
in which there is FIRE to keep it warm, runs an
mixed roller over it several times very rapidly,
then wipes 1t off apparently clean, sprinkle pull
veriZed whiting its surface and places it on a
sliding table on the press. His assistant, 6 young
girl, carefully adjusts sheet of paper the plate
The sheet is comparatively worthless. You would
not pick 1t up in the street a turn Of the roller;
now it is an article everybody wants. You would
be glad enough if the young girl would make you
present of that Sheet specimen"
Before leaving must get acquainted with the
propretors of this money making establishment
Messrs. Archer ( Halp;n, artists of the very first
class, OF forty years experience in the business,
in the finest establishment in Europe. Mr. Archer
came to this city when Mcclellan was at its gates,
and proposed to supply that portion of Mr. Mars
anatomy without which he would be reported un-
fit for duty. 1t was impossible for him to get the
steel for the purpose Gen Lee, equal as ne al
ways is to the requirements of the occasion, came
down and seized upon lot of unclaimed baggage
marked Z. S., among which was saw mill, the |
very thing desired Nov, what saw mill has to
do with the printing of notes may appear very
singular link in the chain Of any Imaginable causa |
ton connecting the two; ; but when Mr. Archer |
tells US that the saw mill had saw of fine steel |
of the requisite thickness and proper toughnes8,
and that this saw converted into plates for
craving designs for Confederate Treasury notes |
upon, you will see how an instrument for cutting |
timber to make a good dry road right into our
capital, for the victors to march dry shod on was
made to other and remote purposes not at all
contemp lated by the original manufacturers. 1t |
is questionable whether there whip"
srip" ecross cut" circular," or any other kind of
saw instrumental IN making so much money as has
this particular one, kindly contributed by the Yam
KEGS The entire establishment is home pro-,
duction. Presses built here, intricate ma
chnery devised for especial processes, the very
workmcn taught their art, and establishment
built up which generally requires many years to
perfect under the most favorable auspices 1t is
hoped the Secretary Of the Treasury will employ
the process Of printing steel for his new issue,
and make use of real bank note paper produce
beautiful tangible and worth keeping.
We understand some denominations of the new is
sue will fulfill this demard to gratifying extent,
at least far superior to the ''oid style" design
for the ten dollar notes to make their appear
ance is described thus
Fdce-Vignette 10 the centre, heavy artillery,
the horses in sweeping gallop; scene in the dis
tance, artillery fighting az the foot OF mountsin
range; tint work in red. In the right hand cor
ner is the head Of Senator Hunter Counter" .
above the head encloses the figure 10. A great /
deal of the old work is recognized The wording
is the same as the old notes. "Fuudable and
receivable in payment of taxes" omitted
Back-In handsomely ruled blue (machiDe
work. In large letters the word 'Ten."
To cnre Scyotches IA Ho,ses.-- 5L4ko a. very
strong brine Of equal quantities Of salt aud cop.