Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-08
GOVERNMENT PAPER.
Facts Concerning the Paper Used in
q. s. Bonds, Greenbacks ard
Revenue Stamps.
TChicago Herald. I

AL ole paper uoeu III Tue pruning or gov
eminent bonds, greenbacks, national bank
notes, revenue stamps Cigar, beer and
whisky, checks OF assistant treasurers and
disbursing 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 record carefully kept
OF the number turned out each day When
1t Is shipped to Washington it 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 engrav-
ing and printing, as occasion may arise
Upon its delivery at the bureau of engrav-
ing and printing the paper is turned over to
the chief of the wetting division, who, after
counting it, 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 have been there
prepared for printing, there has been only
shortage of one single Sheet. The office of
the wetting division is to wet the paper and
keep it IN moist condition until it is called
for by the printers. This is done by cover
, 81,
by heavy weights.
various qualities of paper are used, due
regard being mad to the purpose for which
the paper is destined The paper used for
government bonds, national bank notes, and
checks OF disbursing officers is the very best
quality of silll-fibered, the texture of which
counterfeiters find it very difficult to initiate
as difficult as the engraving itself The
| no hOvxya ~ -.
aneabeer stamps are printed is especially pre-
pared with view to inferiority. In fact it
is made as rotten as is consistent with its
holding together, the object being to mako it
tear easily when Cancelled, so that the same
stamp cannot be used twice. The size Of the
sheets.used in printing money is ahont uine
BY fourteen inches, each sheet being designed
tomake four notes.
The plate printers-who, by the way, are
paid by the piece-nake: daily reqaisition
upon the chief of the wetting division for
suchnumber of sheets as they think they can
cover. Each printer has female assistant,
who divides with him the responsibility for
the-safe keeping Of the sheets delivered to the
printer. These assistants are paid S1.25 a
day, which amount is deducted from the
earnings of the printer by the government
and paid directly into the hands of tie as
sistants The printers, however have no
voice in the selection of their assistants.
They are appointed by the superintendent of
the bureau and by him assigned to duty. The
usual method of obtaining sheets from the
wetting division is by the printer making a
written order for the number desired, and it
is handed 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 wetting division to
the printer and his assistant, who are account
able for every sheet delivered to them, and
who are required, before leaving the building,
after the conclusion of their days labor. TO
render strict account of every sheet deliv-
cred to them on that day. If there is q short
age OF but q 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-
ouired TO exhibit printed pass. The printer,
being provided with paper, goes to the en-
craving division and makes requisition for an
engraved plate, which is delivered to him,
and his receipt taken for the same The
plates correspond in size to the paper, and
each contains engravings of one sideof four
notes. The printers are divided into various
classes, sornebeing assigned to the printing of
faces Of notes or bonds, and others to the
printing OF their backs; some to printing
bonds, others again to cigar and whisky
stamps or beer stamps, as the case may be-
The backs are always printed first, after
which the sheets are returned to the wetting
division, to remain in state of moisture I'M
til called for by the face printers.