The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-22

a letter followed by figure twice re-
reated, and in small characters third
figure, isolated from the others. Each
letter represents 1000 bank notes-that is,
$4,000 for the entire alphabet. The COM
bInations vary as the letter is preceded or
followed by another. The isolated figure
is the number of notes in the series, and
in this way each note has its own mark.
From the first engraving uatil the sigma
ture of the first cashier is placed upon the
note it passes through twenty-three oper-
atoms. So severe is the surveillance thatth
woTkmen cannot even take clipping of
paper. After each impression women are
employed 10 count and recount the papers
and place them in packages OF 1000. The
color of the blue ink is Interchangeable and
It's composition secret. These notes leave
The bank crisp and bright to return in less
than two years torn, sOlled, often illegble,
having made the tour OF France, perhaps
OF the world, and caused emotions more
numerous than the vicisStudes they have
experienced. As they are brought back
and judged unworthy for use after many
formalites they are destroyed IN the pres
ence Of the regents.
AT one time the worthless notes were
burned. but now they are reduced TO
paste. Two enormous cylinders receive
one ton of bank notes. Wafer is then
poured upon this mass. the orifice of the
cylinder closed and sealed, and the whole
is cooked forty-eght hours. A very fine
blue paste is the result and this is sold by
weight for the manufacture of pasteboard.
The notes now in circulation represent
$500. 900. 600 francs, and since its creation
the bank has issued notes to the value of
sc. 100000 600 francs. Everybody recog-
niZes the collecting agent of the Bank of
France, with his blue coat, his tricorne
placed over the left ear, and his pleasing
manners. He is a model of promptitude
o., n foIl ir,itr
de recettes there are $50. Many are old
soldiers, decorated with the, military medal
or the legion of honor. These agents are
responsible for their collections, and like
all the other employees, are shareholders.
Their shares are kept as security: should
they receive too little or pay out too much
money 1t Is their loss. Recently, in one
day, 136. 566. 226 francs was collected. and
for this it was necessary to visit 69.S67
d0miciles.
The great Bank of France was born with
the nineteenth century. It's capital was
10000, 900 francs. and its shareholders were
Napoleon BonaDarte, Lucien Bonaparte,
Hortense de BeauharDais, Cambaceres.
Duroc, etc. It's temporary home was the
Hotel de Massiac. Place des VICTORIES. at
the corner of the Rue des Posses, Mont
martre. In 1857 its capital was increased
to 1872, 100000 francs. and many special laws
have given privileges to this bank until
December 81. 1897-privileges renewable
after that date.
The building now occupied by the Bank
of France is surrounded by the knes de la
Croix des Petts- Champs, de la Vrillere,
Bailiff and RadZiwill. To merit the con-
fidence OF the public great precautions
have been taken, and everything is done to
render private as we'll as public property
safe. The fire brigade, composed of the
men who once belonged to the regiment of
Paris, has apartments in the bulding and
gymnasium in the garden. Under the
roof are placed two immense reservoirs,
and slxty-three armories contain lances
ready to throw jets of water. Aside from
the fremen no night-watchmen are en-
ployed, and the Sc walk through the long
corridors, always two oy two.
The Hotel de la Vrilliere, the present
home of the Bank OF France, was built in
1886, after the designs of Francois Mapsard.
1t is one of the finest buildings of Paris.
In the DAYS Of its splendor it contained the
Hall OF Admirals ard the Hall of French
Kings, SO named because of the portraits
therein. The private rooms were arranged
in royal luxury; In one was state bed
hung with red velvet EN- broidered in gold :;
in another were wonderful tapestries.
The bedroom Of the Duke de Penthievre
was decorated with embroidery in gold,
aud everywhere were paintings signed
Van Dyck, Paul Veronese, Philippe de
Chamhagne, etc. But among all these
wonderful rooms the most wonderful was