The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-05-03
How 9reenbacks are Made.

none OI tue pIUo1c IISStltuCSOuSS ~ su0
capital has the fascination ofthe Bureau
of Printing and Engrsving. 1t is here
where greenbacks-th prettiest and
the finest money in the world-are
made. When you enter the bureau you
are politely bowed to q sitting room,
where you register your name ard Or
ii you have any: In q few
minutes guide comes and calls: ''Thts
way, please" Every morning heavy
box Of . vehicle, looking like huge
iron safe on wheels, trundles from the
treasury over to the bureau, bringing
the paper destined to return a. money.
Every one Of these myriad sheets Is
counted at the treasury and charged to
the bureau. Every one must bc re-
turned in perfect money, or even II
spoiled by some unlucky accident. The
careful account thus begun continues
through the mary landings Of that
precious paper, guarding every avenue
of fraud, making every human being
who touches it honest as the conductors
bell punch is honest, because 1t Is im-
possible to be otherwise.
In q room on the first floor are the en-
grayers. about score of them bending
Under mellow, milk white shades, psl-
grace and language into the resisting
steel. On the wallis hang some rare
s,,ecin,ens of their cunning. A finished
money plate il u work Of art, and would
cost about 81, 800. The government pays
enpravers 80 we'll that ct,unterfeiting
loses much Of its charm. The great
vaults in this room hold the plates. and
there they rest every night. The locks
arc set 80 that they cannot be opened
until seven o'clock every morning. and
then only by the presence and aid Of
three officials, each with different key
Tn stairs we see the plates in use on Il
hundred engravers' presses. The men
rnn the presses while the girls lay the
m,er in place and take II away with
The clear impression on it as 1t smokes
from the heat necessary in the pr'k.cs:.
The rressnen are paid hy the piece and
some of them attain wonderful dexter
ity. They ar, required tO l'ay the girl
81 D ,xr day GU: t.t' their wages, hut
saw ono who had $3.50 left for himself
on an average days work. Every turn
of the lever ~, the press registers ami ut
the days close each pressn'an has to ac-
.,,unt Tor every sheet he has handled.
The money is printed from bills IN the
sheet. After ia'ing numbered and re-
ceivinc the seal 1t goes to another room.
where it is counted again and placed in
n drying machine, very much like a lat-
ont in.Sch driver. When thoroughly dry
the sheets Of four bills each are put ul:
.ler i preydre Of Six Or eight tons, an'l
this rivc< new hill its independent
stiffness, ~ that it wants t"gct right out
.,f vOur pu.ket. The bills are then sew.
cred and done Np III packages OF one
Thousand each. These are carried to Il
room, v13lcee ti,e. V@} count takes place.
An the best counters are women.
Most Of them are paid by the number
and M some of them have fingers Of Won
'"'.lerft,i ll,nbernces. One woman Is point
j ell out to, every ybody., Size haAa a ;As.tinil'
al reputation: She car count :,n a tn."'s ..'.
IN record, and in all the millions sh<
has counted she has never made single
$!;as5 Wa6S IL a%asy xj .ns '"s''' '!*"t'
tettha tzes1alvv: sfhe sfht@""'" e""*''f"''''''