Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON n e. Nov IN -

Hon. Edward Mcpherson, Supt. Of
the Government Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing, in his arguments before
the Committee on Banking and Curren-
cy last February and March, resisting
the efforts Of private corporations to
again secure to themselves portion of
the printing and engraving of the pub
lie securities, pointed to the continuous
improvements in our currency and the
high rank it has taken among the ma
tons, yet scarcely led us to full con-
ception OF the consummate art displayed
in the new silver notes. We called up
on him recently, and it was with a JUS
tifiable pride he exhibited to us the
$500 and the 81 900 notes, yet in proof.
Since the world began no nation has
given to its people, as the insignia of it's
Indebtedness, so fair promise to pay"
and in whose perfection is Swallowed
the permanence of it's institutions. As
it is yet some little time before these
notes will appear, short description of
the $500 denominations may not be I'M
interesting to your readers. If there is
any difference, this one, if taken alto
gether, is perhaps the finest of the two.
AS if to add that sense Of security
which comes from looking on a great
man, the embodiment of bold and pure
principles, the artist has set the face of
Charles Sumner in the upper right cor
ner of the note, where it looks from
most perfect likeness into the depths of
his own seriousness. Upon the extreme
left coils beautiful oval counter" the
work of the wonderful geometrical lathe
which so successfully defes the coun-
terfeiter. Embedded in the center of
this are the figures 500 in fine, arts
tic design, each of which has the appear
ance OF having a recess, in which myth
illogical characters have stationed them
selves in the attitudes of their peculiar
signifcations. In the lower center is
series of five joined geometrical lathe
counters" in each of which appear a
letter making the word silver Just
above this traverses the UNCONVENTIONAL
words, Five Hundred, " which to the
naked eye show only an artistic blend
inc of lights and shades, but under a
magnifying lens discloses in each letter
the words 'The United States of Amer
lea" These, with the additional neces-
sary wording, repetition of the 900"
and handsome border made from woven
flowers, vines and scrolls, make up the
face of the note. But if the face be a
elimination of art and beauty, not less
so is the back Here the artist, seem
ing to free himself from the restraint of
a business contract, fairly leaps into the
open fields of flowers and vines and the
poetry of architecture, and blends to-
gether in border twined vines and
flowers and scrolls upon which the eye
may feast. Then from the word 'sil-
yer" he takes the sound of coin, and
leaves instead the freshening kiss Of
flowers, and the cool shades of twining
foliage across the note from left to
right most exquisite chase the ample
floral letters. A bed of flowers and
scrolls invite the eye to the upper left
corner, in which is a shield bearing the
motto "E Pluribus Unum" Just above
this, and belonging to the group, as if
not to be entirely forgotten Of the COM
mercial interest, is denominative
800" Continuing this same thought
fulness to the right hand corner, an in
imitable counter presents the numer-
al ID" which seems to smile in the ut
most sense of security. Attached to
the left border are three circles con-
tanning stars, while corresponding on
the right are three hearts enclosing
each an oak leaf. These, with much
more equally fine, make up this rare
piece of workmanship, which is the
crown of the bank note engraving art,
and sets at defiance the highest skill of
the counterfeiter
The Engraving Room in charge of G,
w. Cassion, is the fine art Depot of the
Bureau. Here is collected the finest
skill in the country, in the engraving art,
the result OF many years OF cutting
and education. This is one of the di-
visions of public affairs not affected by
political changes The passport here is
talent, which politicians cannot afford
to tamper with. Venerable grayhaired
men, and youthful faces, alike feel the
glance of the visitor, which again sug-
gests the two avenues to the upper
round of the ladder-labor and genius.
One of these is a young man whose APP
titude as an engraver Of heads, aston
ishes the older artists, although but
twenty-five years OF age. Three OF his
heads have been sent as part Of the
exhibit of National currency to Paris
this year. The most interesting fea-
ture of this department is the Geomet-
rical lathe, which is separated from the
main room by screen, and requires a
special permit to see 1t would be use
less to attempt description of it in a
letter. Suffice to say it is more simple
than one would suppose, considering the
work accomplished. By referring to
any piece of our present currency, your
readers will understand the nature of
the work of this machine, by examining
the beautiful counters, in which is
the UNCONVENTIONAL numbers, made up
of coils of fine lines. When it is set in
motion it works out some beautiful pat
terms, partially independent of the oper-
ator He can only give it general di-
rection. and never can exactly repro
duce pattern. 1t is the work of this
machine that counterfeiters cannot sue
cessfully initiate, and is looked upon as
the most valuable feature of the Bank
note Engraving art There is tenden-
cy, as we stand watching this machine
weave it's beautiful thoughts into the
hard steel, to exalt it near to the level
of those busy minds on the other side
of the screen, as they carve human emo
tons in the tedious metal. Mr.. Cass-
lier, himself fine engraver, combining
with his artistic rare executive ability
All the government engraving is first
designed by him. He has been in this
capacity for many years, and was large
ly instrumental in bringing it to its
present perfection. Mr.. McPherson's
staff consists of 0. H. Irish, Assistant
Supt; V. J. Sullivan, accountant, and
G.. W. CASHIER, Supt of engraving, and
the efficiency, economy and great sue
cess of his Bureau is due to the large
and executive ability of his associates
FELIX.
The Real Issue.