The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-11-06
GOVERNMENT PAPER.
Facts Concerning the Paper Used in
u. 4. Bonds, Greenbacks and
Revenue Stamps.


lChicago Herald.1
All the paper used in tho printing Of gov
ernment bonds, greenbacks, national bank
notes, revenue stamps tcigar, beer and
whisky, checks Of assistant treasurers and
discussing officers, is manufactured at
Dalton, Mass, under the supervision and
control of trusted agents, employed by the
government. Every sheet of paper there
made is counted and a'record carefully kept
of the number turned out each day. When
it is shipped to Washington 1t Is again
counted and delivered to the chief OF the loan
division of the treasury department, who re-
ceipts for the same and keeps it in his GUS
tody until requisition is made npon him by
the superintendent Of the bureau OF engrnv-
ing and printing, as occasion may arise.
Upon its delivery at the bureau of engrnv-
ing and printing the paper is turned over to
the chief of the wetting division, who, after
counting 1t, receipts for it, and is for the
meantime responsible for its custody. So
carefully is this division conducted that in
nine years, although almost countless bill
ions upon billions Of sheets nave been there
prepared for printing, there has been only
a shortage Of one single sheet. The office of
the wetting division Is to wet the paper and
keep it in u moist condition until 1t is called
for by the printers. This Is done by cover
ing it with layers Of wet cloths, pressed down
by heavy weights.
Various qualities of paper are used, duo
regard being had to the purpose for which
the paper is destined. Tho paper used for
government bonds, national bank notes. and
checks Of disbursing officers Is tho very best
quality OF silk-fbered, the texture Of which
counterfeiters find it very difficult to initiate
-as difficult as the engraving itself. Tho
paper, however. on which cigar and whisky
and beer stamps are printed is especially pre-
pared with a view to infefiority. In fact, 1t
Is made as rotten as 10 consistent with its
holding together. the object being to make it
tear easily when cancelled, so that the same
stamp cannot be used twice. The size Of the
sheets used in printing money is abont nine
by fourteen inches, each sheet being designed
to make four notes.
The plate printers-who, by the way, are
paid by the piece-mako daily requisition
upon the chief OF tho voting division for
such number of sheets as they think they can
cover. Each printer has a female assistant.
who divides with him the responsibility for
the safe keeping OF tho sheets delivered to the
printer. These assistants are paid SIPS a
day, which amount Is deducted from the
earnings of the printer by the government
and paid directly into the hands of t ae as
sistants. The printers, however, ave no
voice in tho selection of their assistants.
They are appointed by tho superintendent Of
the bureau and by him assigned to duty. The
usual method of obtaining sheets from the
wetting division is by tho printer making a
written order for the number desired. and 1t
is banded to his assistant, who presents it,
with the printers pass book, to the chief of
the wetting division. The number desired is
delivered TO her and her receipt, counter
signed by the printer, is taken for the same.
The number OF sheets thus delivered is also
entered upon the printers pass-book.
The responsibility OF the safe custody of the
sheet thus passes from the voting division to
the printer and his assistant, who are account
nblo for every sheet delivered to them, and
who are required, before leaving the building,
after the conclusion Of their days labor, to
render a strict account of every sheet deliv-
cred to them on that day. II there is a short
age Of but a single sheet the doors are locked,
and not a soul is suffered to leave the build
ing until the missing sheet Is found. Before
leaving the building every employe is re-
CURED to exhibit a printed pass. The printer,
being provided with paper. goes to the en-
craving division and makes requisition for an
engraved plato, which is delivered to him,
aud his receipt taken for tho same. The
plates correspond in size to the paper, and
each contains engravings Of one sido Of four
notes. The printers arc divided into various
classes, some being assigned to the printing of
faces of notes or bonds, and othors to the
printing of their backs; some to printing
bonds, Others again to cigar and whisky
stamps or beer stamps, us tho case may be.
The backs are always printed first, after
which the sheets are returned to the wetting
division, to remain in a state OF moisture un-
til called for by the face printers.