Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-18
HOW GREENBACKS ARE MADE.

None of the public institutions of the Capt.
tai has the fascination of the Beureau Of Print
ing and Engraving. It is here where green
backs, the prettiest and finest money in the
world-are made. When you enter the Bu-
reau you are politely bowed to sitting room,
where you register your name and occupation,
if you have any. In few minutes guide
comes and calls: ''This way, please" Every
morning heavy box vehicle, looking like
huge iron safe on wheels, trundles from the
Treasury over to the Bureau, bringing the
paper destined to return as money. Every
one Of these myriad sheets are counted at
the Treasury and charged to the Bureau. Ey-
ery one of these must be returned in perfect
money, or even if spoiled by some unlucky
accident. The careful account thus begun
continues through the many landings of that
precious paper, guarding every avenue OF fraud,
making every human being who handles it
honest as the conductors bell-punch is honest,
because it is impossible to be otherwise.
In room on the first floor are the engrayers,
about score of them, bending under mellow,
milk-white shades, patiently putting features,
expression, grace and language into the re-
sisting steel. On the walls hang some rare
specimens of their cutting. A finished money
plate is work of art, and would cost about
81 500. The government pays skilled engIavers
The vaults in this room holds the plates, and
there they rest every night. The locks are
set SO that they cannot be opened until seven
o'clock every morning and then only by the
presence and aid of three officials, each with a
different key.
Up stairs we see the plates in use on
hundred engravers' presses. The men run the
presses while the girls put the paper in place
and take it away with the clear impression on
it as it smokes from the heat necessary in the
process The pressmen are paid by the piece,
and some of them acquire wonderful! dexterlty.
They are required to pay the girl $l.25 day
out of their wages, but 1 saw one who had
SIS. so left for himself out of an average days
work. Every turn of the lever on the press
registers and at the days close each press
man has to account for every sheet be has
handled.
The money is printed from bills on the sheet.
After being numbered and receiving the seal
it goes to another room, where it is counted
again and placed in drying machine, very
much like patent peach dryer. When thor
oughly dry the sheets of four bills each are
put under pressure of six or eight tons, and
this gives new bill it's dependent stiffness,
so that it wants to get right out of your
pocket. The bills are then Severed and done up
in packages of one thousand each. These are
carried to room where the final count takes
place. :,
ALI the best counters are women. Most OF
them are paid by the number, and some OF
them have fingers of wonderful limberness.
One woman is pointed out to everybody. She
has national reputation. She can count
thousand bills in six minutes, the fastest time
on record, and in all the millions she has
counted has never make single mistake !!
When the money is finally counted it goes to
the vaults and thence to the treasury.