Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-12
N TEE BANK OF ENGLAND.

~ IN DAM VI 44lNAA4Nbs
interesting Features Ofths worlds Great
est Financial HouSe-Scalss 80 Weigh
Wafer-Ihs Operation Of Making = BANK
OF England Note Hinutely Described
Constant Police surveillance.
One OF the first objects Of interest mp
on entering the building is the bullion
office, where all the gold and silver that
enters or leaves the bank passes through
to be checked, says writer in Harrl-
sons Magazine. On the right Is the
gold; on the left the silver The promi-
nent feature OF the room is the grand
balance" or scales, constructed by the
Messrs. Napier. This marvellous In
strument is ponderous and peculiarly
built Weighing machine, standing nearly
seven feet high and weighing about two
tons. The whole is under huge glass
cass, access being gained thereto by
sliding panel. The scale is worked by
hydraulic power, and is the most sensi-
tive weighing machine In existence.
On each side the scales are fitted with
weights amounting TO 40O ounces. The
gold is made up ia 400-Ounce bars, and
the difference Of one hOuSandth part OF
an ounce can be detected. By q manip-
ulation of the machine, so tiny thing
as a postage stamp can be weighed, Tor
on the same being placed upon the
scale the index will jump distance OF
no less than six inches. II Is the only
balance of its kind in the world, and
cost about $4,000.
THE SILVER SCALE.
The silver scale is not so finely bal
anced and the two are respectively
christianed "The Lord Chief Justice"
and "The Lord High Chancellor"
In another room are several ma
chimes for weighing soyerelgns
and half sovereignS. Each machine
consists Oh complicated syS-
tenn OF CONFERENCE.-The, aud IL Is not I'M
like a sewing machine as TO its lower
half, the whole being completely In
closed Ia glass. A long feeder, like
tube cut in half down its length, and
made OF brass, is set at an angle OF for
ty-fve degrees, and is filed with a long
roll Of sovereigns. These turn as they
slip down on to q circular movaoie
plate, slightly larger than sovereign.
If the coin is of the right weight, 1T
slips down a metal tube into a till be-
low. Should, however, il prove 10 be
lighter than the standard, the delicate
machine turns TO the left and condemns
10 90 the guilOtiue. These machines
weigh coins at the rate Of twenty-sx
per minute, and q days weighing al
the bank amounts TO about $500, OOO
TONS OF DEFUNcT CIRCULATION.
Another interesting feature is to be
found in the vault containing the de-
fupet circulation OF the bank. Some
idea can be gained OF the quantity when
we say that they are over 100000 In
number, and that they i'll 1,40O boxes,
which il placed side by side would
reach two and a half miles. II the
notes were placed in pile they would
reach a height Of FIVE and a half miles;
or IL Joined end to end, would form
ribbon IL, 455 miles long. Their super
fcial extent is little less than Hyde
Park; their original value was over
81. $50 OOO. coo, and their weight ex-
eeeds ninety and half tons. Among
them Is q note for e1, O0O 900, also the
first bank note ever issued Zone for
$500, and another for ESQ left for III
years, whose accumulated interest
raised its value toSg60,000.
MAKING A BANK NOTE.
The printing OF the existing paper
currency is an interesting process. The
notes are struck of two at a time on
handmade paper, which, upon being
cut, gives three rough edges and one
smooth one to each piece OF paper-a
distinguishing feature OF q Bank OF
England note. The paper Is maDnfac-
tured az the banks own mill, and the
production OF IL is entrusted entirely TO
the members Of one family. the ink
used in printing the notes is made from
the charred stem OF the Rhenish vine,
which is believed 20 produce the richest
black OF anv ink in the world. Each
strip OF paper has TO be strictly
accounted for, the whole process
being under effective supervision. The
bank can boast of possessing the wealth
lest room ia the world, In the shape Of
kind Of vault surrounded from floor to
ceiling by iron safes containing rows
upon rows of gold coin In bags Of &c.
600 each, and pile upon pile OF bank
notes. The amount OF specie contained
In this room is not less than $4,000, 900
sterling.
Not the least interesting feature in
connection with the bank is the fact
that the whole system from beginning
70 end is under constant police espion-
age. in addition to the military protec-
ton, and the electric ARRANGEMENTS are
so complete that Communication with
all parts Of the building can be effected
AZ moments notice.