Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-09-27
MAKING oREEHsACKs.
VISIT to Glen Milis-Manufaeturs Of
Legal Tender and other Government
papar

Paper.
I Special CORES ronience Of the STATE i0rRsAL
WEST CHESTER. Sept. 18Th. 1S73.-A
/ few davs ago your correspondent visited
1 Glen Mills, where all our legal tender,
bank-note, hond and revenue paper is
manufactured Glen Mills is situated In
| Delaware county about eight miles from
| West Chester on the W. q. u p. X. r.,
| in a beautiful valley through which rms
branch Of Chester creek. From its
general appearance, to one unacluanted
with this point, the thought would never
enter his mind that All the money (paper)
of the United States had its existence in
that qniet and obscure valley hut such
is the fact The material is all manu-
factured bv the firm of Messrs. james
and Mark Wilcox. Some few weeks ago
we visited this section Of the country,
/ and in our letter to you casually nen-
toned the progenitnr Of the ahuve named
gentlemen, and that Thomas Wilcox was
the second paper manufacturer in the
new world, he commencing business
about the year 1880 at Ivy mills, about
three and a-haif miles from Glen mills.
The present works are divided into two,
situated about one quarter of mile "A
part. The one known as The "upper
mll' Is chiefly used for the manufacture
of common paper and collars, and the
CLOVER MILL" to which we will devote
this article, is the government works.
Messrs. Wilcox, some years ago. visited
Washington for the purpose of laying
before the Treasury new process for
making paper so as TO be counterfeit
proof as far as lay in the power of man
to make il, and wished to get out letters
al an1iaffnH ftta ~
to make all the paper for the government.
The former part ofthe request wasdeclined
by the government, and q most excellent
reason was given for refusing to Issue let
ters patent, to wit; That the description
would be oUen for the inspection of any
one, and that all bogus money makers
would then he placed in possession OF all
the facts in relation to its manufacture
| but that the secret would he carefully
kept and the contract given to them per-
manently for the making Of all Govern
ment paper. The material used for tile
manufacture of this paper is he best
/ linen rags, the greater part Of which are
| imported By A. T. Stewart from Europe,
and sent to Glen Mills, where they are
| picked and cleaned by girls. Then they
are placed in a large cutter where they
are cut very fine, then into revolving
boiler where they are kept for ahont ten
/ hours ia strong solution Of ilme,
| from which they are taken into wash
! ing machine and washed for about twelve
| hours, and at the same time reduced to a
pulp. The necessary chemicals are then
added, and the ''stutl," AS il is termed,
is thrown into large watts, where 10 Is
bleached. The process is much the same
as in the manufacture of ordinary paper,
4 u1t
cut short, but is kept about One-haif inch
ia length. This is the reason that the
paper money is 50 much stronger than
ordinary paper.
After the pulp is ready TO 70 on tho
paper making machine there is ncW
process, which consists Of the mixing
with the pulp a peculiar red fibre, known
as the "dstrbutivI fibre" What . is
made out of is Il secret, hut it is not SIR
as has heen asserted by some. IL feels
like linen or hair, but it is neither, nor
are we likely tO find out. This fibre is by
tubes pnt ON the pulp and gives j, the APP
pcamnCe Of red iuh cratrhes' The other
bre is termed LOCALIZED FIBRE" which
blue, Is also put on by much finer
tubes upon the pulp, but Only on the
uppcr half By a careful evam'ua ir0 ot
a uu'o the two iiGios can he easily dis
tir gui shcd. The instrument TO conduct
Jhasa f. ilIrs upon tie pulp i7 tuH'su d-
ihe Fat fdcli,r machine. after ta, nan ei
is maic 10 passes through mGth!n,
which cuts aud sizes it.. Eaeh sheet Is
then counted by an automatic counter,
which is. watched by U. 3. Treasury
Onicor. The drying is not done in Tie
! usual manner, but thepaperis is hung up to
dry By slow evaporation. IheneNl work
g.. sf..a. 4 a ID d
of one thousand each. after Whca 1T is
banded over by the Messrs Wilcox to
The government, which is represented 10y
Mr.. Luke Behius, who employs ahoHt
20 or 80 young ladies to inspect, as-url
aud count into packages Of 1000 sheets.
Each sheet is carefully, hut quickly
examined to see that it is perfect IN all
parts. The paper is counted three times,
twice by one lady and once BY auul 4tr'
These packages are then handed over u
a man who packs them into boxes which
are sealed at each corner and various
other places With red wax. II is then
stored away until an order is ISSUED iul
It's removal 10y the Treasurer. The hoe
building is very carefully guarded 10y a
stfoug force armed ID the teeth. The
paper Is shipped to the American Bank
No,e aud Natinual 3 uk Note Com
pauics of New York, where all the en-
craving and printing are executed one
company printing the face and the othei
the back Of the note. Any one eXamin'
ing Il note will sec the imprint of holf
these companies upon the note. Bes'de'
the legal tender al! the bond, bank ch'cA
and revenue is made at this place. Mucl
could be said about this Interesting estth
lishmcnt, but il would occupy too muel
space in your valuable paper. a viii
would be more to the point, hut it is et
difficult to gain access that few care t'
make the effort.