The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-01
The Mint.

Visitors to Phlddelpha miss very niEn GraunCalOn
if they neglect to call Colonel Snowden, and view
the mechanical miracles which momenty going on
under his supervisors transmitting with touch truly
magical great ugly wedges OF gold, and whole shot
full of Clipped worn out, uncouh and unettered
barbarian coins, of all times cimes and people, into the
gay, sweet faced American currency with Its splendid
figure of Liberty, riyaing in execution the classic grace
and majesty OF the antique statues on one sde and on
the other the proud emblem bird of national great
This process Of ansmuaton appears to us exactly
like that of translang the crude anguarles OF some old
Gothic Saacenc inspiration into the melodious music,
the ocean like rhy thin of modern poetry 1t strikes us
that Longfellow, now, must be exactly the sort of fellow
to coin good money out OF the musy old supersttous
and rude Legendary lore of the Norsemen and the in
visible Vsgoths. OF all things should like to have
and other experiences OF bag full OF Dutch gulders for
instance during the process of melting, recasng, assayng,
drawings rolling cutting, milling, and coming until they
shape of Yankee Doodle half eagles and without
Of their sauerk autica pedigree twould be next TO lifting
the OF editors brain and seeing him think; which,
take it, is quite the highest species of intellectual re-
creation that has yet been conceived.
The machinery in the Philadelphia Mint is the ideal of
less symmetrical and polished engines with something of
the intense spirit OF admiration inspired BY the highest
order Of stauary or painting The mere outline although
not filling the eye with complete OF beauty yet
not only neat but gracefully and tremendously disposed
beaying the hand and eye of the artist well the
highly endowed mechanician But there is something in
the utter silence with which these engines traverse their al
otted arenas and the unhesang certainty and with
which they perform their busy and incessant functions
to their silent pulsatons, and seem to derive as il were
of strength and confidence from the unerrin the
nfalble regularity OF these dumb ministers to the will
and genius Of man. One unconsciously repeats to him.
self, elias indeed created this and what, them
may ne dare not attempt?'
The two most interesting processes Of the mint, to
low boys) are the milling and stamping Milling, as
every lover Of the ring will tell yoa is altogether an
ring is the neates and naest thing imaginable. First
whole basketball OF what appeared to be the heads of
copper ship nails are taken possession of by with
bright golden coloed face, who proceeds to pile them
atwise into brass candesck sitting closely against
steel milestone that goes swiftly and noiselessy round
candesck and turning it out in the shape Of pearl
edged dead gold button These are given to the die
where, oddly enough, they first authorized to live
Here, being popped into another candlestck, they
taken by inevitable thumb and finger, which hold them
each quarter of second under the foot OF steeheeed
demon-Lever, believe he is called-who keeps stamp
stamping away as if beating time to perpetual soldiers
hornppe. The last process is the Understanding
the dead and dingy butonmole into golden, glowing
brghaced -onalty dear to every behoders hopes
and memories.
AS matter of impartial justice, we must not for
get to mention the spendidy built series of scales
wrought up to such exquisite senstveness is quite
impossible without ocular proof, to believe unrea-
soning metal to be capable of. We pair of large
scales built Of Gothic gold which in daily and hourly
use, In weighing lots OF $4,000 in vedollar pieces turn
ed papably from the horizontal by piece of fine letter
paper, not so big dime
We have no time 10 describe all the other processes of
coming; but as all readers know how to make mo-
ney great deal better than do, presume they will
not regret our hurry.
We are informed that the great perfectness of the
chinery and the scales Gall manufactured within the
mnt) which orcbly arrests the attention of every
vster is the direct result of the genius and laborous APP
pcaton OF Franklin Peae, esq, who has been connected
with the mint for several years. and has gradually
brought its mechanical processes such intelligent and
harmonious play, absolutely impression,
first that they endowed with sentence To his polite
ness, and that OF Col Snowden the polished of
he mint we are indebted for agreeable and nsruc-
ia Ma 1,s~
McCLrSrocK YouNa--We have frequently heard citizens
Louisiana, who had business be transacted at the
Treasury Office at Washington speak with gratitude and
of the facilities afforded them by the chief Gle
of the department. Mr. McCntock Young whose
practice 1t s informed, aid every man i'm
bringing his affairs speedy settlement; he does this
with urbanity and grace OF which leave the nd
vidua satisfied, though his object may not have been
attained These traits oil character appreciated by
those who have had business transact at the public offices
in Washington.
The duties of the head Of the Treasury Department are
more onerous than those other public officer the
the general government and becoming and
so every day Few could have borne the fagues Of
the Office rs they have been borne by Mr.. Walker and
him they have nearly overcome. The intelligence and
ability with which they have been discharged evnccd
in the present condition commerce. hourishing in
higher degree than any former period of history
and this commercial prosperity, well general pros
perity of country, universally conceded by men of
sense is justly attributable, great measure the meas
ures recommended the adoption of Congress by tn.
Secretary of the Treasury, under the direction Of the Pres-
dent
Some one moved year since in Congress that nm
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury should be created We
know MOI how the project but the necess,v
Tor such office appa rent to leave doubt that Con-
sress Will resume the subject at its session
Nsr Orleans Cevytsr