The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-09-17
ABOUT TIE BANK OF ENGLAND
Interesting Facts About It's Surround
iDgS and Contents.
OCCUPIES NEARLY FOUR ACRES IN AREA.
(F. M. Holmes. in Boys Own Paper.)

and you will find to your astonish.
ment that TO window looks out from
the grim exterior to the streets be
Iowa precautionary measure agains,
burglars.
But enter the doorway, and behold
the scene is changed. Here are
courts and quadrangle with brigh,
windows in plenty: people move
briskly hither and thither; gor,
geously arrayed beadle is ready tc
answer Your questions; and, marvel
lous to behold, beautiful little gar
den flourishes delightfully."- in the
midst.
IN their season rhododendrons
bloom here in all their beauty; wide
spreading trees cast a cool shade;
even IN the winter the evergreens
try to look cheerful, and the foun-
tain splashes merrily all the yea,
round.
This pretty garden occupies the
site Of an Old City churchyard-that
Of St. Christopher-le- and the
ancient church itself was pulled
down to make room for the Bank
building.
| If we enter door marked Issue
Department. and, having 4 permit
from the Governor, are allowed t.
Climb upstairs to a certain long, mar
row room, we shall see bank-noteS
printed. There is, however, really
no great difference between the ac-
tual printing of bank-notes ard
other printing from electrotype
plates; but the paper is unique.
That is the speciality Of the Banl
Of England note,-its paper, with
its various water-marks and its pc
culiar color. There is none other
like it in the world, and its manufac-
ture is a complete secret.
A few points concerning it are
known, but they would not assist q
forger in the very slightest degree
Pure linen rag is employed and the
paper is hand made in small sheets,
which are afterwards cut into two
halves for the notes. Thus each
note has three rough edges and one
smooth.
The paper is manufactured at 6
special mill by Messrs. Portal near
Laverstock in Hampshire, but the
dies which make the important and
varied water-marks are constructed
ut the Bank itself. and the water
marks differ according to the value
of the note.
But the most amazing thing of all
IS the great strength Of the paper.
Most people are acquainted with its
crisp and cracking sound, bui
though 80 thin yet a double sheet
will bear a. weight Of many pounds
near half a hundred weight, it
is said,-a fact of which perhaps few
persons are aware. The peculiar
character of the white color is also
believed to be unique, and is part Of
the general secret; while the ink for
tie printing is also special; it is q
very fine black, and is completely in
delib,e. Furthermore, each note has
! it's own number, although total Of
some 10000 are printed every day.
: It has thus marks of it's own indivi-
! duality, while bearing strong fam
! ily likeness to its brethren.
| When / saw the notes printed they
were being produced on what are
called double-cylinder machines. the
paper being whiried round the cylin,
ders which press it on the electro
type-below, and the figures for inn
pressing the numbers on the notes
! being moved by an ingenious lever
which operates at the same time as
the cylinders revolve.
Notwithstanding the completeness;
Of arrangements for producing these
UNIQUE notes, the cost is said to be
less than haIf-penny for each one
Every note is cancelled when sent te
the Bank, no matter how short the
time it has been in circulation. The
Signature is cut off, it is registered
and is stored with its fellows for hvt
wears in boxes kept in the vaults
Finally the cancelled notes art
burnt. >,
Thousands of notes are Cancelled
every day, there being a special can
collation. office; an official memoran
dunn some time ago said, 1.-The stoci
Of paid notes for five years is aoou
e8.Ooo. 600 in number, and they nj
1a 600 boxes. which, if placed sid'
bv side, would reach two and quar-
ter miles"
Postal orders, India Government
notes. and dividend warrants al
also printed at the Bank, as wen q