Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-17
cant you use what 1 tell you wit.

out using my name? I don't like to b.
interviewed" she said.
/ After much persuasion Miss Grave
| finally consented to have her nam
used. and. believing he had gained /,
point the reporter then asked for he
photograph. UP flew Miss Graves!
hands.
"Goodness!" she smilingly exclaim
led Il couldn't think of having m!
Ipicture printed. Besides, haven't hac
zone taken for the last twenty years"
Saw Exciting Times Here.
Il came from Bloomville, N. Y, fif
ty-three years ago, on a visit to rela
tives," said Miss Graves TT was righ
at the eginning Of the civil war. AND
I tell you saw some exciting time.
right here in the city Of Washington
The people were always watching fol
an invasion of the city by the Confed.
crate forces.
II was persuaded to stay here by my
relatives and take position in the
treasury department. At that time the
north wing had not been built. The
state, war and navy departments were
located in a small brick building ir
the northeast corner of the ground or
which the treasury is now located.
TN what is now the old cash room
in the treasury a large stock Of arms
was kept. These were for the use oi
the clerks in the treasury in case Of ar
invasion. However, the war was ovel
when assumed my position In the
treasury department.
. You know Secretary Chase, of the
treasury department was very much
opposed to woman employees in the
government service. Francis e. Spin
,ner, then treasurer of the United
States, after much persuasion on his
part, finally secured the permission OF
secretary Chase to give the women 9
trial as government clerks. 1t had
practically become necessity for the
government to employ women. All OF
the men and boys had gone to war
and the work had to be done, so the
only course open seemed to be to give
the women chance. Mr.. Spinner told
Secretary Chase, that II, after trial
the women proved satisfactory, he
would employ more. Then, Of course
there wasn't much gold and silver, and
they had to have more Of the fraction
al currency, and they used to have te
cut the money by hand. Mr.. Spinner
also pointed out that women were
more skillful with the scissors than the
men, and this was another argument
why they should be given a chance
The redemption division was estab-
lished at that time, on account Of the
paper money. '"
Finally, after a years trial, Treas
urer Spinner went to Secretary Chase
and told him how satisfactory the
work Of the women had been, and
said that he hadn't lost a cent, and
that was more than he could say fol
the men.
Women Never Forgot Spinner.
I'VE never forgot Treasurer Spin
ner. After his death we felt that we
owed the appointment of women tc
him., so the women contributed to 8
fund, and a monument costing $4,000
was bought 1t is now located In My
ers Park, Herkimer, N. Y. We made
several attempts to get permission te
place the monument on the front steps
of the treasury, but the officials re.
fused, on the ground that 1t would
furnish precedent.
1.-THE appointment of women to tho
government service at that time, ir
my opinion, opened many fields fol
them," declared Miss Graves. Before
that time they had never thought oi
leaving home, and all they did was tc
get ready to marry"
Miss Graves is yet alive, despite hei
81 years. When the reporter called
upon her she was counting the hal
notes and placing them In packages
She gets about just as quickly al
many of the younger clerks in the de-
partment. She Is the oldest Of three
sisters, the only members Of her fam
lily now living. The other two sisters
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Menet, Of Kansa!
City, and Miss Alemia B. Graves, o
Bloomville, N. Y, are living in th'
city at this time with Miss EmmE
Graves. Her father, she says, lived II
be So.
Her father and brother both served
in the Union army during the Civi
war, both in the 9th New York, ia
miliarly known as "Conkling's Rifle
men," named for Senator Conkling
Her brother, she said, at the time n
enlisted as a drummer boy, was 81
small that he could not march, and h
had to be placed on the baggage wa
gon.