Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
THE MAKqQ OF MONEY
Methods Of Bureau Of Engrav-
ing adhfrinting.
BONDS AND CURRENCY
vIGILANT SCRUTINY OF ALL THE
PROCESSES.
Strict Accountability for ALI Materials
Used-System Of ChecksAPrint-
ing Postage Stamps.
BONDS AND CURRENCY

How are you fixed for money today?"
inquired Star reporter of Capt. Mere
dith, the chief of the big bureau of en-
craving and printing
Well replied the captain cheerfully,
pointing to a chair in an inviting manner
and giving his head nod in the direction
of a large framed collection of treasury
and bank legal tenders hanging on the
wall, I'VE are always fixed for money
but" he added, with a smile, ION the
presses
The bureau deals with the one article
that interests everybody.
IF money talks" said the captain, here
is where it makes it's debut, for we start
great many millions on the public road
for all the vicissitudes of life
The engraving bureau was started in a
small and modest way in the treasury
building back in the early eos. 1t was
small, but it met the demands of the gov
eminent quarter of a century ago.
The present substantial building, where
all the legal securities of the govern
ment are made, would not startle anybody
by it's grandeur in architecture, nor would
its interior embellishments lead one to be-
l1eve that your Uncle Samuel was expend-
ing much of the product of his bureau in
fanc1ful creations of the decorators art.
Yet it represents an appropriation of over
$750,O00. Since the erection of the original
building, in 1880, there have been two large
additions. Here one will find machinery
and equipment representing an outlay of
over 81 100000
Limited Space for Important Work.
The interior of the building is arranged
with the view to expediting work, yet it
must be confessed that more room for the
workmen could be utilized to a good adj
vantage. Indeed to an outsider it would
seem that the government should have
much more commodious structure where
5000 persons. who now work almost back
to-back could have room to work with
greater freedom and CELEBRITY.
The visitor to the bureau is accosted as
soon as he enters by Waterman, who
asks if he is visitor has business. If
the former. he is furnished with an attend
ant who accompanies him through the de-
partments. One is requested to leave his
coat and hat and any packages he has in
hand.
+ The visitor is Immediately impressed with
the sense of absolute security that
shrouds the building and before he energies
into the open again he is convinced that
there are few if any precautionary meas
ures overlooked in the maintenance of vigil
liant supervision as we'll as close espionage
on the very important work.
Now. if one will take bank note or legal
tender of any ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a 81
or $4,000 bill-and examine it carefully he
will find some distinguishing characters
that the paper is different from other
kinds. .T
All the Paper Specially Prepared.
The paper that is used for money is
special production. That used for the
money is from mill at Dalton, Mass,
owned by ex-Gov. Crane of Massachusetts.
1t is made of linen pulp. interviewer with
red and blue silk fiber. The process of its
manufacture is a trade secret whose value
one can appreciate from the great i'm
portance of the product. The paper is
shipped in standard-size sheets from the
mill direct to the Treasury Department
where it is counted again by officers in the
loan division and stored in vault. 1t is
sent to the bureau from the Treasury De-
partment on a requisition from the chief OF
the Wetting division of the bureau Mr..
John b. Murray When the paper arrives
it is counted again in the wetting division,
and, by the way, 1t becomes an object OF
great value as soon as it reaches the very
first hands in the bureau after leaving the
treasury.
When one looks at a bank or treasury
note he little imagines that it was handled
fifty-two times before it reached the treas
ury for public use. In the handling of 1t
there was an individual accounting each
time it was transferred during its approach
to money value.
After the sheets are counted they are
wet down to prepare them for the printer.
There are about 102 employees of the count
ing and wetting division. Young women,
who are experts, count the sheets, and it is
reported that other departments of the
government that sometimes obtain these
women by transfer find them superior to
all others at counting. The sheets are wet
down by colored men who work at a large
trough, one man pilng up the sheets in
sizes of about fifteen or twenty as arranged
by the counters, and the other placing
wet cloth between each layer Then the
paper is stacked up in piles and a heavy
weight imposed the moisture from the
rags percoiating through all the sheets.
No Original Plates Used in Printing
Downstairs on the main floor is where the
designing and engraving of the plates for
printing the legal securities are done. There
are about eighty-three employees. 1t is
here that the most important work In the
is- rnri int