Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18
How Greenbacks Are Made.

None Of the public institutions of the
Capital has the fascination of the
Bureau of Printing and Engraving.
1t is here where greenbacks-the pref
test 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
a few minutes a guide comes and calls,
"this way, please" Every morning
a 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
as money. Every one of these
myriad sheets is counted at the treas
ury and charged to the Bureau.
Every one must be returned in perfect
money, or even ifspoiled by some I'M
lucky 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 touches it
as honest as the conductors bell>punch
is honest, because it is impossible to be
otherwise.
In a room on the first floor are the
engravers, about score of them, bend
ing under the mellow, milk-white
shades, patiently putting features, ex>
preston, grace and language into the
resisting steel. On the walls hang
some rare specimens of their cunning.
A finished money plate is work of
art, and would cost about 1900.
The Government pays skilled engrav-
ers so well that counterfeiting loses
much of its charm. The great vaults
in 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 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
a hundred engraver's presses. The
men run these presses, while the girls
lay the papers in place and take il
away with the clear impression on il
as it smokes from the heat necessary in
the process. The pressmen are paid
by the piece, and some of them acquire
a wonderful dexterity. They are re-
quired to pay the girl $1.25 day out
Of their wages, but saw one who had
$3.50 left for himself on an average
days work. Every turn of the lever
on the press registers, and at the days
close each pressman has to account fol
every sheet he has handled.
The money is printed from bills Oh
the sheet. After being numbered ant
receiving the seal it goes to anothe,
room, where it is counted again an(
placed in drying machine, very mucl
like patent peach dryer. Whel
thoroughly dry, the sheets of four bill
each are put under pressure of six o
eight tons, and this gives new bill it
independent stiffness, so that it want
to get right out of your pocket. Tn
bills are then done up in packages Q
one thousand each. These are carrie,
to a room where the final count take
place.
All the best counters are women
Most of them are paid by the humble
and some of them have fingers {
wonderful limberness. One woman
pointed out to everybody. She has
national reputation. She can count
thousand bills in six minutes, the fas
est time on record; and in all tn
millions she has counted has neve
made a single mistake When tn
money is finally counted it goes to tn
vaults and thence to the treasury
Washington Letter in Atlanta Const
tuition.
SOMEBODY put small mud-turtl
about the size of silver dollar, in