The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1914-12-27
THE HAsKIN LETTER.
The Bureau Of Engraving & Printing
IA Model Factory
By Frederick J. Haslllii.

Ia sl10l
By Frederic
when last summer the issuance OF
5000 10000 Of emergency currency
was ordered to meet the financial
Crisis brought about by the European
war. there was but little discussion Of
how the currency was to be made
for the making OF money is a manu-
i Iactur1ng process. The production OF
SO much actual physical currency on
snort notice was one Of the most tre-
mendous tasks in manufacturing ever
performed.
Five hundred million dollars Is such
an immense amount that when stated
numerically it cannot be realized. Its
weight, in bills OF assorted denomin-
atoms. as they are issued BY the gov
eminent, would be over one thousand
tons; and II spread out at It would
be sufficient to carpet about four
square miles with greenbacks.
The task which was faced by the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing In
Washington was to manufacture this
titanic "wad" in the least possible
time, 80 that the business Of the ma
Ition might go forward. The situation
was compile by the fact that the
notes, had tic, be printed for many ma
tional banks; and many Of the en-
grayed plates for these were worn out
and had to be made all over again.
But the national money factory was
equal to the situation; for 1t Is a fac
tory where human and mechanical
ehciency have been brought to the
highest standards OF perfection. The
i average daily production OF money by
the bureau'is from thirty-five to forty
Thousand sheets, OF four bills each.
On the spur OF the moment, this pro-
duction was increased to 100000
sheets per day, and this rate Of out
put was maintained for six weeks. 1t
was only possible to increase the
working force Of the bureau about 10
per cent, while the product was in
creased about 400 per cent. This was
made possible only by working every
employee OF the bureau from twelve
to sixteen, hours a day.
The employees OF the bureau re-
sponded to this severe demand, and
performed the herculean task; not be-
cause they are essentially different
from other men and women but be-
cause they work under ideal condi-
ttons, which make possible the utili-
zation OF every ounce Of energy, and
naturally inspire a feeling OF pride
and loyalty. Some really heroic tasks
were performed in providing the coun-
TRY with the currency which It need
ed. One engraver worked for thirty
hours, without stopping upon plate
which had to be finished before the
work Of printing a certain bill could
begin.
There was no compulsion about this
emergency work Most of the en-
liployees were glad to do It, because
their earnings were increased Just as
much as the product OF the bureau,
and their health was safeguarded in
every possible way. There were rest
rooms to which the exhausted might
go at any time until they felt able to
resume work. In case of serious in
jury or breakdown, there is an emer-
gency hospital with male and female
physicians. And above all, there are
abundant light and air throughout the
bureau.
In outlining his plans for the new
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing,
which has been completed less than
a year, Director Joseph 3 Ralph sta
tied that it should not only be an eff
ficient government department, but
also an example to manufacturers,
\ of scientific structure and manage
4 ment; and that he has made it. In APP
! pearance, the building is monument
tai, with high pillared front 90 feet
long, finished in buff stone. In the
four wings where most of the work is
done, however, artistic appearance is
subordinated to the practical.
Light and air might be. called the
basic principles upon which this fac
| tory Is built and conducted. The
walls contain some 10000 panes Of
glass, and they constitute so per cent
OF the actual wall space. More glass
could not possibly have been used
without weakening the walls. In or
der to prevent this immense glass
surface from overheating the inter
ior, all of the rooms are built with
very high ceilings, so that there is n
free circulation of air. Artificial
lighting is provided by a special type
of mercury electric lamps, which diff
fuse radiance almost as white as
sunlight. They are set in long re-
Electors in the ceilings Of the rooms,
and are used to supplement the sum
light whenever the weather Is cloudy.
The ventilation system Of the build-
ing is designed to. supply every en-
ployee with absolutely fresh air all
Of the time. The air Of the entire
building is changed at least every six
minutes, and in walking about the
building, the visitor is no more con-
scious Of the atmosphere than he is
outdoors.
The heart OF this ventilation sys-
tenn is an immense electrical fan IN
the basement, covered by a great steel
hood. Two large chambers inter
vene between this instrument and the
opening through which it draws the
air by suction into the building. In
the first OF these chambers, one Of the
wallis "a "a cataract NJ snray The mir