Sharp County record., 1891-05-21

this prevents the banker who has paid
them in from again circulating them,
although he can take them away after
they are clipped. This he never does,
but takes the weight value of the gold.
The automatic bodyguard now shows
some animation. Producing a hand
lantern from another mysterious recess,
he turns and bids us follow. We walk
in narrow alleys formed of piles of
boxes, where not ray of light pene-
trates, and find ourselves making a rap
id descent. with the lantern ahead, like
some guardian angel. We descend a
sleeper incline than the others, with
the defunct bank notes in their sar-
cophagi all around u.s. when a chill air
striking us proves that we are well un-
derground.
Then the figure in front turns and an
nounces to US in tone calculated to
strike terror into nervous persons: ''We
are now in the labyrinth" 1 begin to
feel like another Guy Fawlles going to
blow up the whole place. But the sud
den twists and turns we take always in
that bewildering maze of piled up cases
are becoming most trying to the bank
er, who is not accustomed to lodging
will-o'- -the-wisp in the catacomb.
l begin to entertain fears that he is
| leading US to some dungeon fastness
when he turns again and solemnly re.
marks. with a wave of the hand: "Au
bank notes." Some idea can be gained
of the quantity when it is said that
they are n, T45, 900 in number, and they
| fill Is. 400 boxes, which if placed side by
side would reach two and half miles.
If the notes were placed in d pile
they would reach a height Of five and
half miles: or if Joined end to end would
form a ribbon u, 455 miles long. Their
superficial extent is little less than
that of Hyde Park; their original value
was over 81, 75O 900, 900, and their weight
over 9Ol4 tons.
Thence, after being shown the books
Of the bank-the first one dated 1920
we enter the bank note printing de-
partment. A familiar buzzing whir
tells me that we are near a printing
office More glass cases, more whis-
pered words, and the mystic word pro-
nounced which admits us inside.
Six huge printing presses at work,
apparently grinding out newspapers.
A long slip of paper is handed to me,
which I observe bears the well-known
water mark. 1t is a double piece, like
| two notes Joined. The uneven edge on
three sides is the consequence Of its
being handmade, and is not artiticially
produced. The clean edge is caused by
the cutting asunder Of two notes after
they are printed. The paper is manu-
! factured at the banks own mill, and is
in the hands of one family.
Each sheet of paper has to be ac.
counted for. The boys handle it with
as much unconcern as though they were
printing handbiIls. They only feed the
machine. The double printed note
drops out into a little frame, where a
clerk keeps track of the numbers.
A dial indicates not only the number
of notes turned out, but the number of
revolutions in each of the six processes
in printing A superintendent is at
each machine. Further on is the
Indian printing machine for rupee
paper. In a department close at hand
the postal orders are struck off; but we
who are so blase with millions regard
the half-crown orders being turned off
as too trivial to waste time over
Along another passage we entA a
large room-really vault-which is
surrounded from floor to ceiling by
iron doors of safes, which, at their
opening might be ) feet high by feet
wide. One Of these is opened and shows
rows upon rows of gold coins in bags Of
e. 900 sterling each.
One is handed to me to hold, and
after doing so for moment | decide |
will not carry it home. The dead
weight is enormous. Yet these officials
handle the slipping, sliding mass as
though it were a book. Another door
is opened, and we observe a stack Of
bank notes. remark that | have seen
a lot already. For answer the manager
takes ont a parcel Of 1000 $1,000 ster-
ling notes and says;
Take hold" | do so, and am told
am holding gl,OOO 900 sterling. should
have wished to hold it longer, but they
want it, and 50 put it back.
This small safe contains R3,OOO,OO o.
continues the polite manager. "and
you are in the richest vault of the
Bank of England, and of the world.
This small room at present holds ESQ.,
I 900, COO,
BY this time my appetite for wealth
is nearly gone / am nauseated with
the atmosphere of bank notes. My
senses are dulled with the oppressive
spectacle, and | hail with delight Che
merry FLASHING fountain in the court
yard Here are the quarters of the
thirty-four guardsmen who nightly
patrol the establishment A double
sentry is posted at each gate, and, as
they load with ball cartridge, it is not
a safe place for an enterprising burglar
10 tackle The officer Of the guard has
bedroom in the bank and is provided
with dinner and bottle Of the finest
old port, and understand that the
guards are also literally treated
80 1 ia. Al. l.,