The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-06-04

due the erection of building especially fitted
up for the work of the Bureau, which placed il
upon firmer footing than it had before ell
.joyed. Mr.. Mcpherson resigned and was sue
ceeded by Col. o. II. Irish in October, 1873
Col. Irish had entered the Bureau as Assistant
Chief with Mr.. McPherson and had been init
mately associated with him in all the re-
forms instituted, and so in his administration
he carried out the policy already adopted
making such changes and improvements
as increased experience dictated. He died
while in office, and Capt. t. \. Burriil was APP
pointed his successor on Jan. "a 1853. This
gentleman had been for some time connected
with the Bureau. and had gained the conf
dence and respect of the employees, and his
conduct of affairs has been marked by signal
success. With an executive capacity and an
integrity fully equal to either Col Irish or Mr.
Mcpherson, nc has the advantage of greater
suavity of manner and a tenderer regard for
the feelings of his employees. so that, while
there has been no relaxation in the rigid dis
cipline necessary in the management of a force
of 200 people, he has exhibited greater hu-
mainly in the enforcement of rules, and this
has gained for him a kindlier feeling on the
part of his employees than was enjoyed by his
predecessors.
The Bureau is a vast workshop and is diyid-
ed into various Divisions necessary in the per-
Torrance of the varied character of the work
intrusted to its care. First in the order of I'M
portance comes the Engraving Division. Here
are to be found the most skillful workers in
every department of portrait, ornamental, and
letter engraving; certainly in this country and
probably in the world This is the starting
point of a United States note. Take a one
dollar bill aud look at it. The portrait, the
picture, the ornamental and script lettering
the lathe-work counters, the signatures of the
Register and Treasurer, and the numbering
tablet are all first engraved upon separate dies
and by separate people, for each engraver has
his speciality. Then these separate dies are
hardened by being heated to a high tempera-
ture and then suddenly plunged into bath of
oil. They are then handed to q transferer,
who takes roll of soft steel, and by subject
ing it to a heavy pressure over the hardened
die on the transfer press, obtains an exact i'm
preston of it ON the roll. This roll is hard
ened, and so the work goes on until all the dies
have been transferred to the rolls and the rolls
hardened. Then these rolls are used to transfer
to steel plate and the whole note is formed
The plate is hardened and is then ready for
printing. There is one part Of the original en-
craving that is not done by hand, and that is
the lace-work counter of involuting lines. so
intricately combined that it is impossible to
tell where they begin and where they end.
These are the product of the geometric lathe,
a machine which Is capable of infinite combi-
nations of curved lines, and which never re-
peats the same design. This geometric lathe
work presents the most serious obstacles to the
ingenuity of the counterfeter. The Engrav-
ing Division has in stock the portraits Of all
the Presidents as well as such OF the Presi-
dents and members of the Cabinet of whom
photographs could be obtained The work of
this Division has received the highest praise
and whenever it has been placed i'll cOmpeti-
ton with similar works from private establish
mcntS it has always received the prize This
was so at the Centennial Exhibition in Phiia-
delpha and at the international Exhibitions
in Paris and Vienna.
Next in order comes the Printing Division,
which is divided into three hranches-the wet
ting, the plate and surface printing. In the
wetting-room the distinctive paper upon which
the notes and securities are printed is counted
and then placed between damp cloths to mo!Sten
it so that it will receive and absorb the ink
from the surface of the plate. The paper is
then given to the printer in the plate branch.
The room occupied by the plate printers is in
the top of the building, and covers the entire
area of one wing Each printer is supplied with
a female assistant, who lays the sheets of paper
on the press and then removes them when they
have been printed. The plate is first heated
upon gas stove at the side of the press, the
ink is then relied on, and with q soft rag all
wiped off save where it has imhedded itself in
rubs his hands with whitening aud skillfully
goes over the plate to see that no surplus ink is
found OH any part. The plate is now placed
upon the press, the assistant lays paper upon it,
n swift movement of the long arms turns the
roller and the quick assistant removes the sheet
with the printing completed. In the surface
branch the printing is upon Hoe presses, and
it is here that the big brown seal is placed upon
the note
r, tIo F,o,,,;n;,r Di,-;-;o, tbo ,,r;,,toJ ~
is taken as it comes from the press and first
counted to see if it TALES with the automatic
register upon the press. The sheets are then
placed upon racks and put in dry-box, where
they are allowed to remain until they are
thoroughly dry. They are then taken out,
counted again, submitted to hydraulic pressure
until all the crinkles are taken out and they
are perfectly smooth, and then counted again
In the Numbering Division the numbers are
placed upon the notes; they are trimmed and
put up in packages ready for transmission to
the Treasurer of the United States to be issued
as money. In this Division, as i'll the Examin-
ing Division, the employees are women, men
only being utilized as helpers and machinists.
The skill of some of these ladies as counters,
examiners and numberers is something quite
remarkable, but it has only been gained by long
years of laborious experience.
The Vault Division contains all the white
securities upon which partial printings have
been made and all the completed work which
is ready for the Treasury. Through the Vault
Keeper the acquisitions and deliveries are made.
Closely connected with the Engraving Divis-
ion are two immense vaults, which contain all
the plates, rolls and dies which are used. These
vaults are under the control of custodians ap-
pointed by and responsible to the Secretary of
the Treasury. and who are independent of the
Chief of the Bureau. The issues of engraved
stock are made to the Engraving and Printing
Divisions upon acquisitions stating specifically
for what purpose the plates and dies and rolls
are wanted. Zach piece of stock Is counted and
checked upon the requisition rs it goes out in
the morning, and is counted and checked oil
when it is returned at the close of work. Each
engraver and transferer is charged with the
stock issued to him, and in case of the latter
his press is in charge of a Waterman, who will
unlock it and permit its use only upon rcqul-
sition stating the work to be done.
There is a Binding Division, which is fitted
up with all the appliances of 4 bindery, and
where certain Revenue stamps and checks arc
bound. Here also the Internal Revenue stamps
are perfected. There is also a completely
equipped Machine Division, where repairs TO
any of the complicated machinery of the Bureau
may readily be made, and where if necessary,
the most intricate machine may be constructed.
The system of checks against dishonesty on
the part of the employees is as near perfect as
long experience and ingenuity can suggest. At
every step of the work record is kept of its
progress the counts of one Division must har-