Ten Years in Washington or, Inside Life and Scenes in Our National Capital as a Woman Sees Them ... to Which Is Added a Full Account of the Life and Death of President James A. Garfield

CHAPTER XXX.

Chapter 30177 wordsPublic domain

INSIDE THE TREASURY—THE HISTORY OF A DOLLAR.

“Old Hickory” Erects his Cane—“Put the Building Right Here”—A Very Costly Building—The Workers Within—The Business of Three Thousand People—The Mysteries of the Treasury—Inside the Rooms—Mary Harris’s Revenge—The “Drones” in the Hive—Making Love in Office Hours—Flirtations in Public—A List of Miserable Sinners—A Pitiful Ancient Dame—Women’s Work in the Treasury—The Bureau of Printing and Engraving—Dealing in Big Figures—The Story of a Paper Dollar—In the Upper Floor—The Busy Workers—Night Work—Where the Paper is Made—The “Localized Blue Fibre”—_The_ Obstacle to the Counterfeiter—The Automatic Register—Keeping Watch—The Counters and Examiners—An Armed Escort—Varieties of Printing—The Contract with Adams’ Express—Printing the Notes and Currency—Internal Revenue Stamps—Manufacturing the Plates—The Engraving Division—“Men of Many Minds”—Delicate Operations—A Pressure of Five or Six Tons—The Plate Complete—“Re-entering” a Plate—An “Impression”—How Old Plates are Used Up—A Close Inspection—Defying Imitation—The Geometric Lathe, 303