Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-09-16

ART IN PAPER MONEY
THE oELlcATEwoRk DONE BvuNcLe
sAM's' ARTISTS.
Care and Caution That Prevail In b Bu-
reau Of Engraving and PrintinE--Ths Pa.
ersThat u Used. For All Government
1ssues-As Complicated Process.
The making Of the artistic green and
black notes Is more complicated than
might be imagined from o casual glance
Ut their gracefully lined surface. Tho
lengthy process IL most unique and inter-
esting, and a visit. to the bureau of on
craving and printing In Washington.
where it may be seen, is very entertain
ing n There Is q great deal of work
accomplished hero, Al this bureau issues
tho government bonds, legal tenders, sill.
yer certificates, bank notes and internal
revenue and postage stamps. Tho largest
face value Of any issue Is registered bond
OF 300, 600 and tho smallest u l cont stamp.
All OF the engrayers arc specialists in
their particular department., aud the deli
cate figures and intricate designs of their
work are often marvols Of artistic skill.
Portraits of living persons arc mover put
on the notes, and all tho figures, vignettes,
borders, ctc., are engraved separately bo-
$NNn $hory ttoSy n~r ,o,,k IN Ah- ~I,k- Ha
The engravers sit, each one below
window, with q screen Of ground glass
around them, and another of white linen
above their heads. Their work is 80 fine
and delicate that tho greatest precision
which they work is not open to visitors.
First tho engraver works out his design
Of face or figure, and after transferring It
BY hand to a plate Of soft steel tho plate is
hardened and a soft steel roller takes tho
impression from 1t. After this roll Is
chilled another impression is taken upon
another steel plate, and after this latter
has been hardened it is ready for use.
The geometrio lathe which makes the
borders is 80 complete and wonderful q
piece of mechanism as to seem almost
alive. The graceful lines for the bordero,
backs and other conventional designs seen
on the notes are made by this machine, II
indeed 1t may bo called one After a cal
oulation the machinery is set in motion
by steam power, tho tiny diamond and
steel points begin their work, and the re-
suit Of this mathematical calculation
shows on the small section of steel IN in
tricate border of the undulating, circular
lines, with their strange effect of light and
shade. This lathe work Is one of the
surcst guards against countorfciting, for
each bit Of work represents an abstruso
problem. q
In the engraving room are two large
vaults, in which are kept all tho plates,
rolls and other implements, tho position Of
head Of the department. being o very i'm
portant and trustworthy ono, US it Is one
Of the fow offices where great confidence
10 placed In tho honesty of ono man.
The paper for all tho issues is manufac-
tured at Dalton, Mass, under tho super
vision OF government officials, md that
used for the bank notes, silver certificates,
etc., is sont out in sheets largo enough to
contain four notes. In appearance it Ia
like any other very heavy linen paper,
ccpt that 1t has two perpendicular lines of
short, uneven silk threads running
through it.
On being received it is taken with the
blue and white papers for the internal
revenue and postage stamps (both water
MARKEDLY to the "wetting department., % as
it is called, where it is counted and ne,
counted, and a receipt given for 1t. Then
1t Is put between wet cloths and pressed,
boing shifted about every six hours to in.
sure each sheet an equal amount Of mois.
tnre. This process lasts about three days;
then. after another counting, it is deliver
ed to tho printer, who must give q receipt
for tho sheets given him. At the end OF
the day he returns another check, stating
the quantity received, the number Of notes
he has printed and tho blank or spoiled
sheets to be returned.
Tho printing room is a scene Of great
activity, with its many presses and work
ers. Hero the paper is again moistened by
applying it to q We board, then it is laid
on q steel plate that has been carefully
prepared with tho ink, which also is made
on the premises. There arc two workers
at each press, usually q ma and a woman
The man fills the plate with ink from &
roller, then wipes it of and finally, aftel
busting his hands with chalk, he gives II
q last polishing. Then, after wetting the
paper, the woman lays it on tho plate
the press is. applied, and behold the
clear, clean back of the notes. which must
be carefully examined before they leave
the printers hands This process Is re
peatcd each time. Tho press is a self reg.
istering ono, and the employees are III.
lowed to spoil a certain percentage OF. theil
work, but If they exceed it their labor II
deducted.
Then tho lbtes arc sent down stairs, and
Tor IL hours are subject to great heat II
an alright room. In the room adjoining
they are again examined, assorted and
sent back to- receive their ''face value
from tho plates prepared, showing the.d de
nomination and the facsimiles Of the sig
natures Of the proper officers.
Then ctAnes the 'swet COUNT as II II
called, and after being dried tho notes an
put in o solution Of sizing, which gives d
greater durability to the paper. After this
short process they are again sent to the
numbering room, where the edges are
trimmed, and the number is put on by q
machine whose every revolution auto.
matically throws the figures one digit
higher. In this room they are given the
last count and are then sem to the treas
YY~v HopArk,rork ,,,l,r~n <l,o ~o:a, no~1 - Az.