The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-05-20
PRINTING OF BANKNoTEs.
Uncle Sans System Is Complete as
Man Can Make IT

i HbU INQ VI OHVNVO1 cSs
Uncle Sans System Is compiete as
Man Can Make II.
The system of checks employed in
the engraving division of the bureau
Of engraving at Washington to prevent
Irregularities is as complete as human
ingenuity can devise. Each die, roll
and plate has a number in sequence
stamped upon it, and by said number
it Is recorded. Each employee receiv-
Ing piece of steel to work on is
charged with the same by it's number
and description of the engraving to
be made thereon and is not allowed to
leave the building until the same has
been returned and checked into the
vaults. In the custodian's Office COM
plete records and the history of 49,
600 dies. $4,000 rolls and $4,000 plates
are on file. Once year this Office is
audited and checked up by commit
tee appointed by the secretary of the
treasury, each piece Of engraved work
being identified and compared with
the records of the Office. The system
OF checks and rules governing the Gus
tody of the work is SO perfect that in
the history Of the bureau not a single
plate has gone astray. After the plate
IS finally completed and approved
proof is taken and filed away, and if it
should ever occur that a suspicious
bill is presented comparison with
the recorded proof will readily show
whether it is genuine or not and if
counterfeit the difference between the
genuine and spurious.
The busiest room in the bureau is
that devoted to plate printing. The op-
GRAFTON looks easy, but a great degree
of skill is required to produce perfect
work, and plate printing is trade in
itself. The printer gives a receipt for
the plate form. he receipts for every
sheet of paper he receives, the press
registers every impression made, and
he cannot leave until he returns the
plate and accounts for every sheet of
paper.
With every order to print 1000
sheets of bills or stamps 1,O50 sheets
Of paper are issued, as there is the liza
bility of spelling sheets in the wetting.
printing or numbering. After the
sheets have been printed and dried
they are carefully examined by trained
experts, who separate all imperfect
sheets. and the accuracy and speed
with which they detect imperfections
are not the least interesting part of
money making" A spot, a stain, a
light or uneven impression that would
escape ordinary observation is detect
ed and causes the sheet to be sent to
the destruction committee, where it is
destroyed with the same safeguards
employed in the destruction Of old,
torn or mutilated currency.
The notes of all national banks are
alike as to the outline of the face, but
the name, place and charter number of
each bank are Of course different. while
the back Of all national bank notes in
any one state is alike, yet there is a
1882 series of notes. The more recent
designs issued by the bureau, known
as the 1902 series. have a comparative
~ clear space on each side Of the cen
Yer. such disposition being necessary
in order to show clearly the silk fiber
imbedded in the distinctive paper.
This is considered so important that
designers are obliged to conform their
work thereto. and the backs of this
series are the same for every state.
For the fiscal year ended June 80.
1908. the bureau printed 1863. .2S7 ,S05
postage stamps. worth 39.426,S11.
The stamps to be printed during the
present fiscal year will exceed those
printed for the year 1908 by 1,00O,-
OOOOO.-American Institute of Bank
ing.