The Washington times., 1904-01-03

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numerous sights of Washing
- ton that the average visitor is
supposed to take in when he
comes to the National Capital to see the
city in a few days. as tourists usually
count on doing is the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing After calling at
the White House. the Capitol, and the
Congressional Library. the sightseer is
apt to head FOR the large red brick
structure on the Mall for an inspection
OF the money-making. or. rather. money
printing. process Of Uncle Sam. There
he is shown the various processes
through which a particular sort of paper
must go before it is turned into Treas
ury notes, Government securities. inter-
nal revenue stamps. postage stamps,
and other similar public issues.
The home of the bureau is "a large.
factory-lihe structure. covering about
two acres. After nightfan this build
ing is probably one OF the most con-
spicuous in the city Owing to the great
rush Of business done there. day and
night force are kept busy at all times.
Its hundreds of windows are Illuminated
nightly, suggesting the Crystal Palace
10y gaslignt, and can be seen from most
all parts Of The National City.
History of the Institution.
Prior to 1862 public issues Of Govern
ment money were let out on contract
TO New York firms by the Secretary Of
the Treasury. 1t was while Salmon p.
Chase was Secretary OF the Treasury.
during Lincoln's Administration. that
the Government concluded it could save
money and time if. it would erect
building in Washington and do its own
engraving and printing So Congress was
asked TO appropriate money for such
q building. The bill was killed but the
Secretary of the Treasury decided that
be would not be defeated. He purchased
the necessary machinery and located it
on the top floor of the present Treasury
building. Several years later the appro-
priation bin for the Treasury requested
Congress to appropriate enough money
TO build separate building for this i'm
portant work This item was raflroaded
through and became part Of the law
The present site was selected and a
modest. factory-like structure. Of sed
brick. was erected Year by year addi-
lions have been made. and at present
plans have been drawn and money ap-
propriated to further expand this al
ready enormous building.
When this important bureau was first
established by Secretary Chase, II was
his intention that only United States
notes should be engraved and printed
by it, but he had such success that new
Government bonds, national bank
notes. internal revenue stamps. postage
stamps. the checks and drafts used by
the disbursing officers OF the Treasury.
and other similar issues are engraved
and printed there. The first force set to
work in this branch of the United
States service numbered about 20. This
number has been increased TO such an
extent that today instead of 90 the au-
thorized force Of employees is 2.s25 per-
sons. This includes skilled operatives
in engraving and printing. expert count
ers. helpers. and clerks, with salaries
ranging from 5000 per annum down to
the printers assistant at $50 per day.
The highest salaried employees are the
engravers. who receive from 5000 to
5000 per annum. The principal sn-
graver. who executes and designs the
decorative work and the vignettes. re-
ceives the maximum salary There are
625 printers. who average from 81 200 TO |
$500 a year by piecework Expert
counters. perforators. examiners. and /
nEmberers are paid from $500 to 500 |
year.
The remarkable increase in the sales !
OF internal revenue and postage stamps /
IS one Of the surest and best indica- |
tions Of the business prosperity Of I'm
Gle Sam. During the month OF Novem- |
Der just past. the output Of internal
revenue and postage stamps far ex-
ceeded that OF any other month in the
history OF the Government. An official /
Of the bureau who has seen thirty-four 4
consecutive years service in this de-
partment. talking of the output Of the 4
bureau. remarked: /
when the Government receipts for /
internal revenue and postage stamps /
show an increase we know that the 4