The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-02-19
THE SUNNY SOUTH.

Our visit to the mint was one of real
pleasure. We Jour party of twelvel
was conducted by government official
who explained each process of minting
dollars for that is all this mint here
does. We were first shown the silver
bricks weighing 1000 ounces; then
taken to the room where they were
smelted, What heat! Here in the
crucibles four men were stirring the
molten silver. The temperature over
which they were standing while work
ing is $500 degrees Fahrenheit above
zero. They can only stand it two
minutes at a time, when man is
changed. A large pipe conducts fresh
cool air to the stirrers. His hands are
protected by gloves made of asbestos,
which admits no heat. The men re-
ceive five dollars per day for six hours
services. The process of rolling the
ingots into the desired thinness, which
is done by passing them thrc ugh Sc
ries of rollers. A dollar is not nodded
instantly. 1t is made gradually. A
machine takes the strips of silver and
cuts out of them round discs, which
are passed to an examiner, who sorts
out imperfect ones, which are sent
back and are remelted. The perfect
ones are weighed in awers,numbered,
checked and passed to others who do
the same. Thov are next sent to the
stamping machine. Here are two
monster presses or stampers at work
upon the discs. They go in simply
with the thin edge we see upon the
dollar and after being subj to a
pressure of 80 tons, came out perfect
dollars ready for the count and for the
vaults. Two new dollars go each day
by express to Washington and are
there subject to inspection. The dol
lars are selected by persons blinded.
We were next taken by the assayer to
the vaults where money is stored. In
one room we saw S3.6OO,OOO in sacks,
$1,000 in each sack. | forgot to say the
machines stamp IS discs per minute
Conductor Miner said, Philadelphia
makes pennies, nickles, DIMES, quarters
and half dollars, we make nothing but
dollars. Such rigid inspection of work
by each man, one will find only in a
mint.
The old Cathedral is open. as are
all well kept cathedrals. Here on
the inside is a beautiful room. High
art in frescoes. a mammoth organ. a
rich altar. Here is to be found the de-
vout kneeling in alteration. The peni-
tent crying for mercy from his patron
saint.
Jackson park is a beauty to an eye
accustomed to look upon palmer
things. Here in January are flowers
in bloom. bananas in blossom and in
bearing. oranges and lemons hanging
full of the golden fruit, tropical shrubs
monster cactuses and huge lilies. A
monster statue of Andrew Jackson up
on a horse from which he seems to be
about to give some command. The
base is a monster block of marble on
which is inscribed "The Union must
and shall be preserved" How inspir-
ing and cheering, while Just beyond on
the custom house fOated the dear old
stars and stripes. A sight more cheer
ing I haven't seen since [ left dear old
Minnesota Everybody here is pre-
pairing for Mardi Gras which begins
next week Evorvthing here is CAV,
for soon comes Lent when the city set
ties into quietness. Such cav dresses
as one sees uron the streets. So much
music, so manv thpators with stars of
the first, second. third and fourth Or
der; museums Of all grades. The CITY
is one great boarding house. Nearly
every one has furnished rooms to let.
The hotels are full at unreasonable
charges; ten dollars per week gets
good board and room we'll furnished.
Nothing below it. will pay to go. The
St. Charles which is the hotel of the
city gets S2S per week for it's third
floor boarders. Here the Deople live
in the cafes. They have light lunch
at 6 a. M, again at I p. m. and at 6 D.
m. comes the real meal or dinner as
they call it. The city from 8 D. m. I'M
til Y midnight is one whirl of fashion
and splondor. Here high carnival pre-
walls. Words cannot convey to your
mind the real picture. We STAY here
until February 18th when we 90 to st.
Augustine, Fla. S. j. RACE.