Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-07
HOW GREENBACKs ARE MADE.

A COrreSpOndenf's Account Of n visit To
the Bureau of Printing and En-
craving.
UashIagtoR Letter IN the AtGRtH Constitution.
None Ofthe public Institutions of the
capital has the fascination ofthe Bureau
of Printing and Engraving. 1t is here
where greenbacks-the prettiest and the
finest money in the wOrld-are made.
When YOU enter the Iureau you are
politely bowed to a sitting room, where
YOU register your name and occupation,
ifyOu have any. In a few minutes
guide comes and calls: "This way,
please Every morning heavy box ola
vehicle, looking like huge iron safe on
wheels, trundleS from the Treasury over
TO the Bureau, bringing the paper destin-
cd to return rs money. Every one of
these myriad sheets is counted ut the
Treasury and charged To the Bureau.
Every one must be returned in perfect
money or even if spoiled by some
unlucky accident. The careful account
thus begun continues thrOughthe many
landings of that precious paper, guard
ing every avenue of fraud, making
every human being who touches 1t
honest rs the conductors bell-punch is
honest, because it is impossible to be
otherwise.
In room on the first floor are the
engraYerS, about Il score of them bend
ing under mellow, milk white shades,
patiently putting features, expression,
grace and language into the resisting
steel. On the walls hang some rare
suecimens Oftheir cunning. A finished
money plate is work of art, and would
cost about 81, 800. The gOvernmentpayS
skilled engraverS SO well that counter
feiting loses much of its charm. The
great vaults i'm this room hold the
| plates, and there they rest every night.
| The locks are set so that they cannot be
| opened until seven o'clock every morn
| ing, and then only by the presence and
/ aid Ofthree officials, each with different
| key.
in stairs we see the plates in Use on
| hundred engraver's presses. The men
| run the presses while the girls lay the
! paper i'm place and take 1t away with
/ the clear impression on it as 1t smokes
| from the heat necessary III the process.
| The pressnlen are paid blythe piece, and
/ some of them acquired wonderful
! deXterity. They are require to pay
| the girls 81 - day out of their wages,
| but | saw one who had $50 left for
/ himself on an average days work.
| Every turn of the lever on the press
! registers and at the days close each
FRESHMAN has to account for every sheet
/ he has handled.
/ The money is printed from bills on
I 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 a patent peach dryer. When
thoroughly dry the sheets of -four. bills
each are put under pressure Of six or
eight tons, and this gives a new bill
| its Independent stiffness, so that 1t 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 hnal
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 limberness. One woman l.
pointed out to everybody. She has a
national reputation. She can count a
thousand bills in six minutes, the fastest
! time on record, and in all the millions
| she has counted has never made a
single mistake, When the money Is
finally counted it goes to the vaults and
| thence to the treasury.