Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-10-08
HOW MONEY IS MADE.

any other enSraVers III TIE "or III. 1ho
signal improvements in the art Of en-
craving have been made by Americans,
and it is American ingenuity that has
brought the art to such perfection that
to day the notes and bonds Of fifteen
European and South American nation
alities are printed in the United States.
The work for these countries is done by
the several bank-note engraving eom-
panies in New York City.
MODEL OF SYSTEM.
The bank.notes, greenbacks, PONDS,
silver and gold certificates, anG revenue
stamps used by the United States Blu
reau of Engraving and Printing in this
city. This Bureau is model of system,
and the immense force of 900 employees
work as one person. The Bureau is
now engaged principally in getting out
the new gold and silver certificates,
which will be the handsomest produc-
tions of the engravers' art ever turned
out, and will be next to impossible to be
counterfeited. The eDgravers have been
busy for months on the plates, giving
the most careful attention to details OF
finish, in which lies the safety for coun-
terfeiting.
THE SILVER CERTIFICATES.
The denominations OF the silver GER
tificatss are one, two and ten dollars.
The ten-dollar certificate is adorned
with the portrait of the late Thomas A.
Hendricks, set in square panel, an en-
tirely new design in bank-note print
ing. The back Of the note is solid
mass of lathe work surrounding the let
ters and numbers describing its denomi-
nation. The one-dollar certificate bears
the portrait OF Martha Washington "a
copy of Stuart's famous portrait in a
set frame OF intricate lathe-work. This
is the first time woman's portrait has
ever appeared on bank-note. The gen
eral workmanship of the note is beauti-
full, and the counterfeiter who can imi-
tate it will be a prodigy Of skill. The
face of the two dollar certificate bears
portrait Of Gen. w. S. Hancock in full
dress uniform of Major-General Of the
Army, and, with numerous new feat
ures of the engraver's skill, will be
handsome note.
AN INTERESTING WORK.
All the notes are profuse with lathe
work consisting Of designs consisting of
curved lines Of geometrical precision
made on a machine. A lathe cost 81, 900
and upwards and cannot be bought by
irresponsible parties. The process OF
engraving plates and printing money
is an interesting one. The Bureau has
staff of engravers representing Sc
lection from the skill of the country.
They are paid salaries Of So a day and
upwards, and are sure of lifelong en-
ployment as long as they preserve their
skill. The engraver takes II plate of
soft steel aud covers it with wax. Upon
this is transferred the portrait, or the
vignette, to be engraved. He scratches
the lines Of the portrait on the wax and
puts the plate in bath of acid, which
eats into the steel through the lines cut
In the wax. The wax is then removed
and the plate touched up. Next, the
plate is put ia furnace and hardened.
A cylinder Of soft steel is rolled over
the plate leaving the portrait in outline
on the cylinder, which is then hardened
and is called die. From this cylinder
die any number Of plates can be made.
Another plate bearing the lathe.work
and figures is made in the same manner
after both are "proved" and carefully
inspected by the superintendent, they
are sent up stairs 70 the printer.
THE PRINTING PROCESS.
Plates for several notes are made on
one sheet of steel, SO that a number Of
notes can be printed with one impress
ion. The printer has young lady as
sistant who feeds the press and takes out
the work, carefully examining each
piece for defects. There being two
colors of ink on a note, it must be
printed twice. Usually the tint or out
side edge of lathe-w work is printed, after
which the sheet is sent up and dried.
then dampened for several hours and
sent back to the printer TO have the por-
trait or vignette put in. Then it is sent
to the numbering division. where the
number Of the note is inserted, the nee
it goes to lady operating little ma
chine which clips of the white edges.
1t is then put under a powerful hy-
draulic press and smoothed out, after
which it is examined and sent to the
Treasurer of the United States. When
he affixes the great seal to the note it is
legal-tender. Or, If national Bank
note, it Is sent to the bank and the sig
nature of the president and cashier rem
ders it legal tender.
THE PAPER USED.
The paper 1pon which the bank notes
are printed is of peculiar texture. 1t
is made in mill at Dalton, Mass, pre-
sided over by government officials.
During the making Of the paper little
silk threads are inserted In the fabric
by q secret process, appearing like red
and blue ink marks on the surface. BY
q perfect system of checking and re-