Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-09-16


dollars in paper money ne sent to New
York and had the prcttiest kinds of
notes printed in handsome design on
fine paper and admirably lettered in
choice Haytian French, says the New
York Recorder In due course that par
ticular ruler succumbed to n rival, and
the latter promptly made n new issue of
paper money and had it printed by the
same firm that did the like work for his
predecessor. Neither Haytian ruler
omitted to pay the market rate for his
printing, and it is unlikely that either
was permitted to pay in the currency of
his own authorization. Haytian money
is just as pretty as that of any other
government, and there is no reason to
suppose that the currency of the
deposed ruler was less beautiful than
that issued by his successor. Doubtless
most of us will live to see new ruler
in Hayti, and it is altogether likely that
he in turn will appeal to the New York
printer that did so handsomely by his
predecessor.
This town prints every year n great
many millions of money that its in
habitants never handle. There are
Colombian pesos, and Haytian francs,
the Brazilian milreis, and Peruvian soils,
and nobody knows what not besides.
The bank-note printers of New York
probably do most of the currency en-
craving for the South American re-
publics. Beauty of workmanship is
characteristic of such work in the
United States, although the business
in it's most artistic development scarce
ly dates back beyond the war of the
rebellion. To be sure, the old state
banks had their notes engraved with
considerable care, but that was before
the day of the geometric lathe, with it
intricate scroll work almost de flying tn
counterfeiter.
Most of Our own governments print
ing, whether of annual reports or notes
and bonds, is done ut the bureau of en-
craving and printing in Washington,
although the earlier issues of paper
money were printed by private hands
in this city.
A government goes about having it's
money made much as it would 60 about
having guns cast or uniforms manufac-
tured. Perhaps bids are obtained for the
work or perhaps not. The resident consul
or Il special agent furnishes the copy"
decides upon designs, quality of paper
and other details, has the "proofs" read
just rs he would if the matter printed
was play or sermon, and in due time
pays for the money and sees it safely
shipped to it's destination. Such notes
are usually packed in tin boxes and sent
by steamer. When they leave here
they are worth no more than the paper
they are printed on and the price of
printing. A blank is usually left to be
filed in with the signatures of the
proper government officials.
The plates from which foreign money
is engraved arc trustfully left behind in
the hands of the engraving companies,
for the unsigned bills would be of little
avail, and, besides, in this business it
pays to be honest. Wholesale counter
feiting of the necessary signatures
would probably soon be detected, and Il
single instance of the kind traced to an
engraving house would mean ruin. The
interest of the banll-note companies is
all on the side of honesty in such mat
ters. Nevertheless, the plates would
be dangerous implements in the hands
If skilled worlmcn, and all plates are
;dfclully SIo"ci away Ill NaulIS W
which very few persons Lave access.
The immense engraving business of
governments, railway companies and
various corporations that issue sccuri-
tics has resulted in educating a large
corps of skilled commercial engravers.
AS the artist engraver has given way
before the etchcr and before the inven'
tiOn of various cheap processes Of photo
engraving, the commercial enSraver
h2G cone to the front.
The stock exchange lists no bond
that arc not engraved. The cost O
bond printing machinery is so grea
that counterfeiting is hardly profitable
and thc stock exchange regards an en-
gravrd bond rs a guarantee arains
fraud. The price Of wcll-engrave,
bond plate alone is about fifteen hun