The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-08-23
MISCELLANY.
HOW GREENBAcKs ARE MADE.
A Correspondents Account If a visit 10 the
Bureau of Printing ind Engraving.

Bureau of Printing ind Engraving.
None of the public institutions of the
Capital has the fascination of the Bureau of
Printing and Engraving. 1t is here where
greenbacks, the prettiest and 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
and occupation, il you have any. In few
minutes guide comes and calls: "This
way, please" Every morning a 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. Every 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, MAX
ing every human being who handles it hon
est as the conductors bell-puneh is honest
because it is impossible to be otherwise
In a room on the first floor ARE the engrav-
srs, about score of them bending under
4 mellow, milk-white shades, patiently putting
features, expression, grace and language into
the resisting steel On the walls hang some
rare specimens of their cutting. A finished
money plate is work of art, and would
! cost about 81, The government pays
skilled engravers so that counterfeting loses
much of its charm. 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 different
key.
Up stairs We see the plates in use on a
hundred engravers' presses. The men run
the presses while the girls put the paper in
place aud take it away with the clearimpres-
sion on it as il smokes from the heat neces7
sary in the process. The pressmen are paid
by the piece, and some of them acquire a
wonderful dexterity. They are required to
pay the girl $l.25 a day out of their wages,
but saw one who had $3.50 left for him.
self on 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 he has handled.
The money is printed from bills on the
sheet. After being numbered and receiving
the seal it goes to another room, where 1t is
counted again and placed in a drying ma
chine, very much like patent peach dryer
When thoroughly dry the sheets of four
bills each are put under pressure of six or
eight tong, aud this gives new bill its de-
pendent stiffness, so TINT it wantsto get right
out of your pocket. The bills are then
severed and done up in packages of one
thousand each. These are carried to a
room where the final count takes place
All the best counters are women. Most
of them are paid by the number and some
of them have fingers of wonderful timber
ness. One woman is pointed out to every
body. She has a national reputation. SLe
can count thousand bills in six MINUTES,
the fastest time on record and in all the mil
lions she has counted has never made sings
mistake When the money is finally counted
| it goes to the vaults and thence to the
treasury Washington Letterin tie atlanta
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