Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-13
INTERNAL REVENUE PAPER.

"A
Watch the Process and Count the
Sheets.
The work of manufacturing $50, 900
pounds of paper for internal revenue
stamps for one year, IN accordance
with the contract just obtained from
the government. is In progress at the
paper mill at Richmond and Tioga
streets, says the Philadelphia Record.
This is the first time that such work
has been attempted in this city, and
every effort has been made to givs
satisfaction. After the mill had been
in operation for short time it was
found that the paper was being rolled
off in satisfactory manner, and the
work of preparing it for Shipment be-
gan. The paper used does lot differ
! in quality from ordinary fine paper.
1t is made from pine pulp, chiefly of
cotton stock with a sufficient proper
ton of linen stock 10 give proper
strength, clay or any other adultera-
ton being excluded Entire freedom
from thread knots, grit, or other for
eign substance is required, and the
paper is calendered sufficiently to ad-
NIT of wetting down for plate printing,
and of subse quently writing upon it
with pen and ink. With all these
conditions it is required that the paper
shall possess no greater strength than
will insure its printing and necessary
handling. The quality of the paper
is, therefore, necessarily Of high or
der, That which, apart from the IA
miljar light green tint of revenue
stamps, distinguishes this paper from
other paper materials in the letters
.. S. |. R. water-marked upon IL SO
thlckly that every square inch must
contain some portion of this sign.
This marking IS done by means of
dandy roller" whichis placed among
the series Of rollers through which
the paper is passed on it's road from
the pulp>tuo to the receiving rollers.
The paper passes over this roller while
IN a wet, pulpy condition, and the
impression of Dhe letters is then made.
This roller is furnished by the govern
ment, and was sent on under charge
of Waterman. It is never out of
sight o. some of the officials, and will
be returned to Washington as soon as
the contract is completed. The whole
operation is under tae supervision of
the government officials, who keep an
eye on the paper from the tine it re
celves ltsWater marking, which makes
it revenue paper, antil the perfected
sheets are packed and shipped or the
waste pieces are returned to the pulp.
No one IS admitted except under their
care. This precaution is taken to pre-
vent the government from being de-
frauded through engravers securing
paper upon which stamps of high de-
nominations could be printed. To
have even small piece of this paper
in ones possession will sub iect one to
criminal prosecution.
The paper is wound into rolls about
four feet lorg and weighing three
hundred pounds. After being trim
med and cut by two cutting mac hines
into sheets twelve by fourteen ioches
it is handed over to the counters.
j. Ell. Llchliter, of the internal rev.
enue department, represents the gov
erNment, and has twenty-five ladies
to act as examiners and counters, and
six men employed as iaborers and
watchmen. These ali receive 50 per
day, bearing their expenses them.
selves. Tne ladies, who were selected
for this speccI work, are from Wash
ington and Baltimore, and are quar-
tered, under Mr.. Lichliter, in private
houses Rear the mill. The sheets are
first counted by the employees of the
mill and are then passed to the e1-
aminers, who carefully inspect each
sheet, rejecting all containing any
blemish. The government counters
then count the sheets, arranging them
in bundles of one thousand sheets,
each girl attaching tag with her
name. On reaching Washington the
paper will be again counted and the
counter held responsible for any error
The completed bundles are placed by
the mill employees in shipping cases.
holding about four hundred pounds
each, when the government officials
seal the cases and receipt for the paper.
1t is then oyat of the hands of the man
ufacGurer, and the officials see to its
safe shipment to Washington, where
it will be printed in the bureau of en-
craving and printing A package OF
one thousand sheets weighs about
twelve pounds, and each counter will
coMnt and arrange fifteen packages
day,