Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-05-29
the GREESpAcK WHERE IT SHAFTS FROM


In the narrow, cosy llllt valley on Ch"sirg
creek, eight miles below West Chester, On the
Philadelphia and West Chester RAILROAD, is
Glen Mills--two great rambling piles Of stone
and frame architecture, Of no definite style, but
great solidlty. Here it is that all the paper is
manufactured which Is used by the government
for greenbacks, fractional currency, bonds, re-
venue, stamps, etc.
Glen Mills consist Of Two separate establish
ments, situated quarter of mile apart, on
the south side of Chester creek. They are
owned and run by Mark and James Wilcox, a
family whose connection with the manufacture
of paper dates back for several generations, be-
ing descended from Thomas Wilcox, who set
tied at Ivy Mills about three miles distant, in
1880 and who was one ortLe first to commence
the manufacture of paper in the New World.
At Ivy Mills the senior representatives Of the
family still resides, and here is sill to be seen
the small Uncovered mills in which all the
bank. note paper III the country was made for
many q year, including that used for the con-
tinental currency.
1t Is around the lower and largest MILL which
10 driven by both steam aud water power, that
the interest part of the business settles. This
mill Is run as two separate and distinct depart
ments-a paper mill, and branch of the L. S.
Treasury Department.
The Messrs. Wilcox are the patenees aud
owners Of the process and machinery by which
the peculiar red and blue mixture is made in
the fibre Of the paper used by the government,
and they manufacture it under contract ter
minable at pleasure.
The material used is pure linen rags, white,
or nearly white. Now all the linen rags that
are produced III this country would mrnishbut
q small part Of the quantity required; So a great
part of them,conne from Europe furnished by A
I. Stewart, Of New York, under IA yearly COLI
tract.
~"Distributiye fibre is a Ions red and com,
paIatively coarse fibre that may be seen run
ming proniscuously through the body Of the pa
per. We are not telling anybody what this
fibre is just now. IL is sufficient to know thai
1t is not silk, horse hair, nor pigs bristles, and
upon mature consideration we don't think lis
chicken feathers or rose leaves.
The manufacture OF this paper is attended
with great expense in time and labor. The
length of the fibre necessitates a slow motion
In the machine, or else it will not feed even.
The "localized fibre" is liable to feed too fast
or too slow, causing blotches or bare spots,
which spells the sheet. Then great deal Of
paper Is thrown out in the manufacturers in.
spection and more in the government inspec-
ton. All this goes TO reduce the quantity Of
good paper, so that the mill does not turn oul
more than one-fourth the amount that it woult
of book or letter paper, and all these drawbacks
add 70 the cost
The majority Of the paper for bank notes il
shipped to the American Bank Note Company
and the National Bank Note Company, VIII,
engraved and print the notes by contract; on
company printing the face and the other tn
hAck, and rice rersa but no one compan
printing whole note.
The note, after being printed, goes to Wash
lngton and receives the government seal an
number, when 1t is ready for circulation. II
srhai revenue paper goes 10 the Continents