New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washin.

Washington, Sept. II, 1886.
OF all the Cabinet officers of the pre-
sent Administration, Mr.. Bayard ap-
pears to be the most ill-starred in his
selection of men. We have long been
traduced by foreign nation because Of
theignorance and yu]garity of the mem
bers Of our diplomatic and consular
services. The Sedgwick scandal h as
scarcely been silenced, when we hear
of another in relation to our Consul at
Hong Kong, ,Ex-senatoE Robt. E. With.
! ers. The people Of the great Chinese
city must have very little respect for
| America, if they judge her by her re-
representatives.. OF late serious charges
have been lodged at the State Depart
ment against the present consul there.
1t is alleged that he defrauds American
sailors stopping at Hong Kong. A rigid
investigation will be made, and it will
probably result in Mr.. Wither's recall.
Gen. Atkins, the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, has ordered the agents at
various places at the Sioux reservation
to issue invitations to the different bands
to attend grand feasts to be held at the
agencies The object of this is to count
the Indians, and thus sarrive at some
approximate idea as to-Aow many there
are on the reservation. Gen. Atkins
believes. THAT the Government is now
furnishing rations for much greater
number of Indians than really exist,
and since Congress has failed to make
an appropriation for a census taken in
the regular way, the Commissioner
thinks that call to feast will certain
ly bring the Indians together. and en-
able every buck, squaw, and pappocse
to be counted better than by any other
method.
It is a big step from the Sioux reser-
walton to the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing, but the subject Of how to make
money is always interesting, and l pro-
pose to explain it to your readers free
of charge. The greenbacks, banknotes,
bonds, silver and gold certificates. and
postage and revenue stamps used by the
United States are printed at the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing in this city.
The engraver takes plate Of soft steel,
covered with wax, on which the design
TO be represented is transferred. He
then scratches the lines of the design
on the wax, and puts the plate into a
bath of acid, which eats into the steel
through the lines cut through the wax.
| The latter is then removed, and the
plate hardened in furnace. A cylinder
of soft steel is then rolled over the
plate, receiving the impression thereon.
From this cylinder, now called die,
any number of splates can be made.
After the plate has been carefully in
spected. it leaves the engravers' hands,
and is sent up stairs to the printer.
AS every note las two coiors of ink
upon it, it must be printed twice. Usu-
ally the outer edge is printed first then
after being dried and dampened it re-
ceives the impression of the portrait OF
vignette. Then it is mum bered, the
white edges clipped off by little ma
chine, and smoothed under powerful
hydraulic press. It is now ready to be
sent to the United States Treasurer, who
affixes the great seal, or if it is Ma
tional Bank note, it is sent to the bank
to receive the signatures of the presi.
dent and cashier.
| 1t may be thought that there is dan
ger OF some of the money being lost OF
stolen as it passes from hand to hand
But this great money mill moves even
in its most petty details with such
clock-work system, that every piece Of
money, finished or otherwise, and every
sheet of paper is accounted for. and the
leaSL lrfegularllyl IN one printer return;
would be at once noticeable.
1t may not be generally known tina
American engraving is far superior t
that of any other nation, and that il
this country the art has been brought t
such perfection that at the present tim
the notes and bonds of fifteen European
and South American pationalities ar
printed in the United States.
~p.il s<yN\A OF the good things OF thi
alA Nh aSSs life are s0rrOwf17lv le