The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-08
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKrN, Director.
Washington, ID. C.
THE DADDIEs OF DOLLARS.

Washington, ID. Ca May 5-Filed
away in pigeen-heles in a vault of q
government building in Washington
are certain metallic plates. which. il
( they could be. dexterously removed
| from their resting places by a master
crook, would probably constitute the
richest haul that it would be possible
for such an individual to make in all
the world.
These objects are the steel plates
| from which the currency of the United
States government is printed. The
possesser of the master plate for tbs
ten thousand dollar bill, for example
should be in a better position to en-
rich himself than if he could steal the
largest package of those bills already
in existence. He would be confronted
with the mere task of oounterfeitins
paper and ink, whereupen he would
become a privately operated United
States treasury.
These plates from which the money
of the United States is made are in q
huge vault in the bureau of engraving
and printing in Washington. That
bureau some years ago built for itself
a factory which is considered a model
One of its purposes was, of course
security. and in the interest of this Sc
curity, it took great pains in the con-
struction of the holy of holies in
its money was made.
There is probably no vault in the
world that is more scientifically built
or more thoroly protected from rob-
berry than is this plate-vault of the
governments money factory. 1t is
located in the basement of the great
building, and its doors are so stu
pendous that, but for their delicate
Ringing. it would require a team OF
horses to open them Once closed 1t
would be a first class task for the ex-
plosive division of the ordnance de-
partment to work its way thru the
highly tempered steel and into this
vault IL it were given a week to per-
form the task. When this door is
closed for the night, there is ne man
in the world who can open it until
the time leek has licked off the hours
to the time set for its release.
Despite this virtual impenetrability
many other safeguards are thrown
department The vault is always
heavily guarded. A Waterman may
stand upon the bridge which is in
front of the great door to this vault
and watch all sides of it without
changing his position. He can look
down the aisle in one direction and,
because of an arrangement of mirrors
at each corner. his vision will run en-
tirely around the vault and he will see
himself at his post. Likewise he can
look over the top of the vault and
around it in that direction. So this
single. Waterman. turnout the night.
is able to assure himself by a mere
glance, that no one is near this mauso-
leum of money.
Every master plate from which ev-
cry piece of currency that the govern
ment has ever printed since its begin
ming iS dPnnEitPd in this
There one may see the master plate
from which came the first dollar bill
that the United States ever issued.
There may be seen every master plate
for every piece of paper money of
every denomination that this govern
ment has ever issued. There may be
seen the plates from which the stamps
are made and those that have pro-
duced the Liberty and victory loan
bonds that have called forth the bill
lions from the pockets of Am erica.
This business of making plates from
which TO print the money of the gov
eminent is in itself an industry of no
mean proportion. 1t is housed in the
wing of the great building beneath
which is to be found the plate vault.
The best artists of America compete
in making pictures to embellish the
backs of the bills that the govern
ment prints for use as money. En-
gravers transfer these paintings to the
steel from which the sacred plates are
to be made. Weeks are spent in cut
ting a given picture into a piece of
soft steel. One engraVer may have
spent a lifetime upon the speciality of
lettering upon this steel. Another may
do nothing but scroll work, while still
another specializes on the heads of
individuals whose pictures appear on
the money. The soft steel plate moves
from one to another of these artists
until it eventually energies in perfect
Form. From it is made master plate
and from the masterpieces are made