Chapter XXX

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