Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-16
MAKING MILLIONS.

EIaftnE-"heTet the honet ts Printed.
One of the sights of Washington is
the bureau of engraving and printing Of
the treasury department, where govern
ment bonds, greenbacks and national
bank notes are made. This bureau,
formerly located in the treasury build
ing itself, has now a home of its OWL.
which ranks among the most expensive,
il not the most imposing structures in
the capital. Hero every process neces-
sary to the production of the bonds or
notes may be seen except the manufac-
ture of the paper. The bureau IL in
charge Of Mr.. o. II. Irish. The first
step needful 10 the production Of anote
or bond after the paper has been made
is 10 engrave the design on a steel
plate. For this purpose the govern
ment employs the most skillful engrav-
ers 10 be obtained. The plate must be
propsr rly tempered neither too hard
nor too soft. II il than covered with a
thin coating OF blackened wax, after
which the engraver begins his work on
it, The vignettes and the lettering
are invariably engraved by hand, but
the borders and medallions containing
the number OF the denomination are
produced by delicate machines, which
rule the lines in the fanciful curves W.
| ana IN h.. Hp pata Ewv,n q -
machines are very expensive, and re
| quire even greater care in their con-
struction than the finest watch.
Generally four or more notes are
printed from one plate at the samc time,
and in order to do this four Impressions
| OF the die on the roller are transferred
side by side At proper intervals on the
plate. The printing is all done by
hand, the ink being rubbed into the
sunken lines by the printer, and the
paper placed on the plate by al assist.
generally girl. The printer then
forces the plate with the sheet Of pa
per on it between two rollers, soft
woolen blanket being put bet ween the
sheet and the upper roller.
As rule the vignettes, the lettering.
the medallions and the borders are en-.
graved on separate plates and then
when the steel Inns been hardened they
are pressed in their proper positions on
the surface oi a soft steel roller, which
is next hardened. The impression on
this roller is OF course the reverse Of
that on the plates, the engraved por-
tions rising above the surface, instead
OF being sunk in it, The plates from
which the notes are printed are pro.
duced by placing another sheet OF soft.
ened steel under the roller and forcing
the raised portions down into the
plate. This produces the engravings
in their original form again. This pro
cess is known a. transferring and
from the plates to which the roller has
Transferred the impression it received
from the original engraved plates the
printing is done.
The sheet containing the front side
Of four or more notes being printed
goes through the hands of an examiner,
who must see that it is perfect in every
way. Il then goes elsewhere TO have
the back printed, after which il is ex.
smined again. Then IL Is cut into four
parts by a machine having three exceed
ingly fiue and sharp knives placed in
row. Next the separate bills are num-
bered consecutively 10y a most intricate
piece of mechanism. Being numbered
they have to be finally counted and
put up in packages ready for delivery.
When treasury or bank notes are
worn out they are cut into small bits
and worn into pulp, which is afterwArd
cast into various shapes, such shapes
reprcsenting-or said to represent-so
many thousand dollars worth Of old
notes. These things are bought as sow
enirs by visitors and quite n large
trade is done in them.