BILLIONS OF STAMPS.
UNCLE SAM PRINTS AN ENORMOUS
NUMBER EACH YEAR.
All Klniln unit rotors,' From the rink Two.
Center In the Lordly One llttndrpd
Ilollar Atnmllnw They Are Turned
' Out by the Washington llnrrnn.
Uncle Hum sunken ami issues in the
onrae of it year postage and other
"tamps to the iiitnihor of more th'im
four billion. The exact number for
the last year of which record is ob
tainable, says the New York World,
war 4,24.'t,2Kt,2(ll. It in hard for the
human mind to realize the magnitude
of a mini as great a four billions. A
better Men, probably, can he cttninnil
of the size of the stamp output for a
year by the statement flint if they were
pasted together, enil for end, the strip
tliiu obtained wolilil encirelo the earth
aeven times nroiuut at the equator.
There were all aorta and conditions
of stamps in this n"weu;nto of four bil
liona. There were postage atauips,
from the humhle little one-ceuter and
the familiar pink two-eotiter that every
one saos to jjt he lordly ono hundred
dollar HtAinp thnt lives an exclusive
life and never shows itself to the vul
gar herd. The latter in called a peri
odical stamp. It in sold to the pub
lishers of periodicals, who present it
to the postmaster with so many pounds
of mail matter, and the stamp is then
cancelled and kept in a book. Over
ten thousand of these were pointed Inst
year.
There were about one hundred mil
lion of the long green beer stamps used
in the internal revenue service, that
you nee the barkeeper remove from
the bunghole when he taps a fresh keg.
There were about four hundred mil
lion of the little green stamps that seal
the end of a cigarette box. There were
more than half a billion of tobacco
atrip stamps, with countless millions
of other kinds.
The everyday two-cent stamp, with
its cheerful pink color and mucilaginous
back, wan printed to the number of a
little more than two billions. If the
magnitude of this number in difficult
to grasp, it is easy enough to measure
a two-cent stamp and figure for one's
self how many thousand miles those
rniSTINO INTERNAL
two billions would stretch if pasted end
to end.
All of the stamps used by the United
States are printed at Washington iu
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing, the same institution thnt turns
out the paper money of the Govern
ment. Formerly they were mado by
the bank noto companies in New York,
ut in 1893 Uuele 8am concluded that
a he was going into the printing
business very extensivoly at his capital
he might as well save the profits on
the stamp making. The Bureau makes
the plates from which the stamps are
printed, does the press work and
pannfactnres the mucilage. Only tho
paper and the ink are purchased in
open market This preparation of tho
muoilage is an art in itself, and is con
ducted upon purely bygienio prin
ciples, for the benefit of the several
trillions of people who annually lick
postage stamps.
A STAMP BNOBAVBR.
The operation of the manufacture of
postage stamps through the several
branches is an exceedingly interesting
one to follow. A small army of men
and young women, skilled artisans, are
employed in the work, and the great
red brick building on the banks of the
Potomac under the shadow of the
Washington monur nt ia a busy bee
hire for eight hoCa in the day.
The first step in the manufacture of
postage and revenue stamps ia the
making of the plates from which they
re to be printed. The plate for the
ordinary two-oent stamp of everyday
ttae ia a sheet of steel twenty-one
inches by about thirteen inches. The
ngraver nses a sheet of soft steel upon
which he engraves the design of four
hundred stamps. . .
The custody of these plates, together
with others, ia confided is one man,
Every afternoon the plate must be
' jjl AI,L
- zzM r ' mi- Jlj.Tk. i
aeoonnted for and looked in, ft vault.
Until the last plate Is in no employ
of the divinion is allowed to leave the
building.
The plate now being finished, it is
rnP.SSINrt TUB STAMP BURETS.
sent to the pressroom. Home of the
stamps are printed upon band presses
and others upon revolving steam
presses. The (lay I visited the Itureau
the hand pressmen were working upon
beer stumps. There were twenty of
these upon a sheet, and the printer and
his assistant were enabled to turn out
from 700 to 80(1 sheets a day. The
pressman's assistant in always a young
girl, as a woman's deft touch is re
quired to handle the thin sheets of
paper and place them accurately under
the press.
The paper upon which the stamps
are printed is made especially for thin
purpose, and every eheet of it is
counted. In fact, from the time the
paper enters tho press until it emerges
a sheet of stamps in the storage rooms
it passes through fourteen divisions,
every one of which registers the sheet,
and theso must tally an to totals at the
close of the day before an employe is
permitted to leave the building.
Kvery time tho pressman runs a
platn through his machine he removes
it and reinks it. Upon this largely
depends the perfection of the impres
sion. After inking the plate he rubs
tho surplus ink from the surface with
a brush. Thou he passes, his hands
ItEVENTE 8TAMPR
over a cake of chalk and rubs the pinto
briskly with his baro palms. This
cleans tho exposed pnrtn of the plate
thoroughly and leaves tue ink iu tho
linos which are to convey the impres
sion to tho pnper. The printer soon
becomes a mass of ink from his hands
to bin elbows, and sooner or later com
municates it to his face, an well an
daubing it over his apron. A carmine
colored ink is used iu printing the two
cent stamps, and the pressroom bns a
docidedly sanguinary appearance. The
young lady assistants average about
81. V! ) a day, while the pressmen run
from 84 to $0 a day iu earning capacity.
Where the steam presses are used
four steel plates, each one printing
100 stamps, work upon an endless
chain passing in front of the pressman.
In this operation his duties are con
fined to cleaning the plates with his
hands, an described above, the ma
chiuery doing the inking and press
ing. He can press about seven sheets
every sixty seconds, and has two young
women to assist him, one to feed the
press and the other to remove the
sheets.
The sheets of stamps are now ready
to be gummed, perforated and divided.
After the ink has been dried and the
sheets pressed flat they are sent to
another room, where another gang
handle .them. The gumming machine
is a Bimple apparatus which distributes
an even now of mucilage upon the re
verse side of the stamp. It is done
automatically, so that there is no
waste and no surplus of mucilage npon
any part of the sheet. The mucilage
is composed of glucose and dexterine.
mixed in stipulated quantities and ab
solutely harmless.
When the sheets are coated with
mucilage they pass upon an endless
chain through a steam chest about
sixty feet long, where they are sub
jected to a temperature of abont 135
degrees, coming out after several min
utes thoroughly dried. Then they go
to a hydraulio press to be pressed fiat,
having become warped in the steam
ehest. The sheets are are laid between
stiff cardboards and a stack of them
put into the machine, where they are
aubjeoted to a pressure of 5000 pounds
to the square inch. There are no
wrinkles left when they emerge from
this gentle squeezing.
Their next journey is to the perfora
ting machines, operated by skillful
yonng women. This is apparently a
simple piece of work, but it requires
olose attention to feed the machine, so
that the perforating wheels rnn
straight down the spaces between the
stamps. Even with the utmost care
slips ooour, and a row of stamps is
perforated down the middle. Every
spoiled aheet is preserved, however, to
be ao counted for, and if so muoh as a
corner of a stamp ia torn off it must ba
patched on again, so as to present
whole sheet to the next cheoker.
One of the most interesting placet
In the building is the room where the
stamps are exnrained And oonnted. Thl
is an immense apartment, filled with
long tables, At which several scores of
young women are working. Piled
upon the tables in front of them are
stacks of ten dollar, fifty dollar or one
hundred dollar bills, government
bonds and sheets of stamps. A rus
tling sound like the whisper of the
wind through a thousand trees fills tho
room, as the counters rapidly turn the
bills and sheets, keeping n mental tab
upon the number, while their eyes,
trained to the utmost vigilance, seek
out imperfections in the printing.
I saw one young woman at work
counting and examining the stamps
whose record wan from ten thousand
to twelve thousand sheets a day. Her
lingers seemed to fairly fly as she
lifted the sheets, and although it was
but a fraction of a second during
which the stamps passed under bet
gaze, her quick eyo would detect the
least imperfection, pnssing over two
hundred stamps in that time. For this
skillful and exacting work these young
omen aro paid from $1.50 to $2 per
day.
When the perfect sheets aro thus as
sorted and counted, they pass to tho
storage vault, a fireproof and airtight
structure. The Itureau keeps a stock
of about six hundred million stamps
on hand constantly. They are fur
nished to the I'ostolllce Department at
the rate of about twelve millions a day,
upon requisition by the Third Assist
ant 1'ostmaster General. A steel
wagon, with padlocked doors and ac
companied by a guard of armed men,
conveys the stamps to the l'nsloffice
Department. This wagon in also used
to transport currency and bank notes
to the Treasury Department, and goes
trundling along the street with mill
ions of money iitside of it.
KLONDIKE PALACE CARS.
r'lrnt l.fliirt In Put Itelmlenr In Use In
Ainprlen
Tho rush to the Klondike has boon
the means of establishing a novel
transportation line at Circle City,
Alaska. Twenty sturdy bucks have
been selected from the United Htntes
Government reindeer herd at Tellor's
Ktatioii and are now on their way to
the mining districts. Thin in the first
cll'ort to press the reindeer into the
practical commercial service of the
civilized American; heretofore tho Eski
mo dog linn been used in all expedi
tions through the Klondike country.
Thnt the reindeer possossos tremend
ous advantages over the Eskimo dog
is illustrated iu the matter of their re
spective food. That of the dog must
be carried, whilo the reindeer paws the
snow from the rootn on which ho sub
sists. Now York World.
House Without Chimneys.
It is curious, though true, that of all
tho houses, dwellings, stores, hotels
and other bnildings that dot the isl
and of Key West, l'ln., from one shoro
to the other, not one of them has a
chimney or anything that will answer
the purpose of a chimney. Handsome
residences and lowly novola are alike
in this respect, and from an eminence
gazing out over acres of roofs on all
sides one in struck with the want of
something to complete the symmetry
of the picture. Wood and coal or fuel
of auy kind are unknown quantities,
as the tropical atmosphere furnishes
all the heat required, and for oooking
purposes sticks of carbon are used,
which are sold by peddlers, who hawk
thoir wares about the streots. Atlan
ta Constitution.
PRINCE OF PICSONS.
He Few lOOO M lira In Meventy-Bve Honrs
and Hold the World's Kecord.
Pedro, the great homing pigeon
which broke the world's record for
1000 milos in his swift journey in the
air from New Orleans to Mishawaka,
Ind., is the pride of the Mishawaka
Homing Club. Pedro's superb race
was made iu sevonty-flve hours total,
or less than fifty hours of actual fly
ing. Carrier pigeons never work after
FBDBO, PRINCB OF CARRIERS.
dark. Pedro is a pretty red pigeon,
ia three years old, and is owned by
Secretory Tallens, of the olub. Pedro
is a brother of Lulu, the winner of
the 500-mile raoe in Mississippi. Both
are imported birds. When Pedro ar
rived at Mishawaka he flew straight to
his loft, seeming none the worse for
the journey.
During the year 1806 dead dogs to
the number of 10,003 were taken cut
of Chicago.
NEW AND SEASONABLE.
SOME OF THE LATEST STYLES IN
FEMININE CARMENTS.
Small llasqne of Tobarro-Rrown Ladles'
Cloth, With ontarha Braid For Itee
oration Ladle' and Mines' Jlnsalan
Blnnee Walet In the New Shade of Tan.
Tobacco-brown ladies' oloth, Record
ing to May Mantou, was the material
selected for this smart basque, with
soutache braid employed as a deeora-
r-w.
A DASQt'B WITH VRHT FRONT.
tion. The Adjustment is accomplished
by single bust-darts, under-arm and
side-back gores and a curving centre
back seam, all of which are carried be
yond the waistline in pointed outline,
LADIEH' AND MISSES'
a shaping that is universally beoomiag.
The fronts opeu upon a vest of
white satin-faced cloth, and are
trimmed with parallel rows of braid.
The vest is included in the shoulder
and under-arm seams, and closes
throngh the centre-front with button
holes and small buttons. The neck is
cut in V shape, displaying linen chem
isette and white satin tie. An attrac
tive feature is the neat coat collar, of
the regulation tailor cut, the free edge
of which are trimmed with braid. The
sleeves, presenting a decided change
from last season's models, are two
seamed, finishing with a slight pnff at
the shoulder. Cloth, serge, cheviot,
novelty and other similar fabrics are
all suitable, with braid or machine
stitching as a fiDish. The model is
admirably adapted to early autumn
wear, and, in conjunction with a well-
cut skirt, will complete that most
practical and economical of costumes,
a tailor-made gown.
To make this basque for a woman
of medium size will require two and
one-half yards of forty-four-inch ma
terial. Banian Bloat For Ladles and Misses,
The stylish basque exhibited in the
large illustration, and described by
Mary Manton, is made of silk and
woof novelty in the new shade of tan
known as beige. The trimming ia
black ribbon velvet that la applied to
the edge of tha right-front in a single
btnd that holds to position strap of
the same width velvet having mitred
points. The sleeves are decorated at
the wrists with a band of velvet and
deep frill of lace, and a fanoy belt en
circles the waist The hat accompany
ing ia brown straw of sailor shape, the
severity of which is somewhat re
lieved by a veiling of spotted chiffon.
The blouse bodioe is arranged over
a glove-fitting lining that reaches to
tha waist line and closes in tha centre
front. The fronts of the material are
smooth-fitting across tha shoulders
and bust, with tha fullness at tha
waist arranged in gathera and droop
ing over tha narrow belt in alight
blonne effect The rlght-fronl over
laps the left and closes Invisibly on the
left side, which flushes with a full
ruffle of bntter-colored lace. Tn
back is seamless, with ft scant fnllness
at the waist laid in close overlapping
plaits.
The lyodel shows an added basque
that is joined at the waist to the blouse
proper. These basques, or pcplums,
promise' to be exceedingly popular
during tho coming season, being ex
hibited in the latest of Parisian impor
tations. At the neck la a plain collar
covered with a stock of ribbon edged
with a divided frill of lace. The
sleeves are narrow and fit the arm
closely from the wrist to the elbow,
above which the effect is slightly
wrinkled or monsqtictnire. They are
finished at the top with puffs of the
name that are caught on the shoulders
in graceful and stylish effect.
Waists of this description can be
mado of novelties, plain, checked,
striped or plaid woolens or light
weight cloths, and may be trimmed
with either ribbon, braid, pannemen
terie or velvet. Hilk, velvet and cor
duroy are also applicable to the mode.
To make this waist for a lady in the
medium size will require two anil
three-fourths yards of forty-four-luch
material.
Child's Apron.
Figured dimity, embroidered edg
ing and insertion were the materials
used in making this neat and simple
apron, but dotted Swiss, cross-barred
muslin, striped and plain rambrio,
percale and gingham are equally suit
able. The upper portion consists of a
short fitted body having a straight
lower edge, the neck being out in low
rounded outline.
The skirt portion is simply gathered
at the upper edge and joined to the
body, ft hand of needlework concealing
the seam. A belt of insertion encir
cles the waist and is carried forward
RUSSIAN BLOUSE WAIST.
to the centre, cloning with button and
button-hole. The skirt is hemmed
deeply at the bottom; narrow hems
finishing the back edges where tho
closing is effected. An attractive fea
ture is the fanciful bertha, out in two
sections, that ia included in the neck,
falling deeply over the sleeves and
forming an epaulette that adds to tho
breadth of ahoulders and is univer
sally beooming. Both it and the neck
MEAT AMD 8IMPLB) CIUU'S APBOS.
are finished with frills of embroider
headed by bands of insertion.
To make this apron for a child of
eight years will require three yards of
thirty-six-inch material.
Florida, of all the States, has tha
most water within i boundaries, 4440
aojuaro miles.
KEYSTONE STHTE MS CONDENSED
The following Pennsylvania, pensions
have been granted: llenevell i laugh,
Prescnttvlllc: Albert 8. Palmer, Horn
by; Henry Zimmerman, Mines; John
Lenstire, Alverton: Hdwnrd Connery,
Johnstown; Kll 1'. TatP, Fillmore; John
H. MeCurdy, Alliums; John Patterson,
Allegheny; Wllllnm II. Musser, Helle
fonte; Judson J. t'nrsonn, Mnrlonvllle;
flcorge W. Htuller, llrlsliln; Frederick
Itlcgor, Denny; minors of David M.
Howe, Pittsburg; Fnhlna Itlggln.
firnddnck; Mnry K. Oray, f'lttsliura",
minors of Thomas Million, Htrongstnwn
and Khcnsbiirg; Daniel Nlekens, Pitts
burg; HhiiiiicI Wiley, Allegheny; F.d
ward V. Hlye. Cony; Wllllnm Butter,
I. lndsey; HhiiiiicI A. Alms, long Hun;
Jneoh Hush. F.rlc; John T. Flthlnn,
Kruln; Michael Fnrrlll, Chest Haven;
(leorge W. Urmson. Clnrks; Lewis
rOcphcns, Asheville; William II. (llll.
Julian; Kinmn I)eer, Plllslniio;; Kllsa J.
Johns, Htewarda: Mnry J. Kis k, Hhar
on; Hannah Miller, Parkers Landing;
Kidney Ann free, (lien Hope; Psmtiel
Hnoke, Clearfield: Wllllnm Kln k.
Ilellefoiite; Hllilmrd Itrown, FlKart;
Jmnes A. Myers, ItlilRwny; Panlel H.
Allien, Krle; Alexander Wnlklns, Os
renla Mills; Alexander Pycr, Krle; Al
Ired I. Firmer, (Irsnvllle Center;
Anrou ImiKhiHHir, ConcmniiRh; Peter
tliilfe, WnshlnKton; Henry Pletseh,
Champion; Adriixlna French, Hheshe
iiiln: Hcnjnmln Davis, North Knst;
(uren M. Flnher, Cnnton; Wllllnm
Hriinder, Mendvllle; Hiunuel II. Grif
fith; Axeman; Klchnrd M. Horkwell,
Troy: KusseM H. Thurston, Powell;
Charlotte Watt, Chester Hprlnprs; mi
nor chjld of Joseph It. Parks, Coehran
ton; Hnrbnra K. Hoof, Indiana; Itehec
ca Judy, Jennerstown : He rah A. Pat
terson, Mercer, lsnlan Kllnffensmlth,
(ilnde Mills; Arnold VerMi, Culmer
vllle: Chnrlen II. Veil, Wellshoro; Pnrn
tiel (Ireelman, Pittsburg; Itoliert Wat
son, I-nrlmer; John Krnpp, Allegheny;
Knniuel O. Cook, Kcho; Chnrlen 8.
Hinlth, Cnlontown; Wllllnm Mnrkln,
F.henshurp;: James 8. Hnsson, 1'tlea;
Klmon V. Case, Troy: Alfred Hnsheraft,
Westfleld; Anna Weaver, Caldwell;
Anna Mary Cannn, Tyrone.
Wllllnm and Charles Williams, both
under 10 years of aire, were In court at
1 nlontown rerently charged by John
(latiton wllh stealing potatoes from his
gnrden. Witnesses testified that the
family wns on the verge of starvation,
that the father had told the hoys they
could get some potatoes and they were
Ignorant ttmt they were stealing. The
lads were acquitted, and the costs put
on (lauton, who In default of payment
wan sent to Jail, Judge Mcxtreat say
ing (lauton should have given them
something to eat.
An a result of the Taxpayer's asso
ciation Investigation, warrants have
been sworn out at Pottsvlllc against
Commissioners Kent and Martin and
ex-Commissioner Allen, County Con
troller Hevern and ex-Commissioners'
Clerk Conned, charging them with be
ing parties to tho misappropriation of
tlo.O'Xf of county funds, which it in
said, never reached the treaaury after
county notes had been discounted at
one of the locaf banks. The commis
sioners gave ball in the sum of Ji.imk).
John i:. Diillols, the millionaire lum
berman, and the wealthiest man In Iu
Hols, wan married the other day to Miss
Willie (inmble of Itonnoke, Vs. Mr.
I u Kols is about :r, years of age. For
the past twelve years he has success
fully managed the great lumber Inter
ests and numerous other enterprises, to
which he fell heir at the death of his
bachelor uncle, the late John DuMols.
The latter built his mammotH saw
mills here and founded this city In this
pine wilderness In tile seventies.
Kdward flilleeee, an R-year-old Arn
old hoy, met with nn experience which
may cost him his life. Ho climbed a
tall chestnut tree to seenre nuts. The
boy is subject to epilepsy, and while In
the tree, fully 30 feet from the ground,
he was attacked with a fit. In falling
he became. CHiight In a crotch of the
tree, and, wedged in there, he con
tinued his epileptic struggles until res
cued by men who hud been summoned
by his companions.
Henry M. Myers, an F.rle conductor.
In charge of nn eastbound freight, was
making the trip from Kent to Mead
ville when the fourth car back from the
engine lost a whole set of trucks. The
accident was not discovered until the
end of the trip was reached, the strong
coupling having held the car lip. One
of the wheels remained under the car
In the center of the track, where It had
been running from the time the acci
dent happened.
Klutta Itodgers, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. 8. It. Itodgers, of Cool riprlng
township, was united In marriage to
I-Anslng Davis, of iloston, Mass., In the
Mercer Cottage Hospital a few dnyt
ago. Miss Kodgers was out riding re
cently with her betrothed husband
when they were thrown from the bug
gy. Miss Kodgers sustained a broken
leg, and rather than have the wedding
day deferred the ceremony took place
In the hospital.
W. C. Olebner, head salesman for a
clothing firm of Fredonla, went violent
ly insane the other evening, and the
probabilities are that his case la hope
less. He suffered a sunstroke about
two years ago and has had trouble with
his head at periodical times since. He
Is very violent and Imagines he has a
commission from the Lord to kill three
men, and has attempted the life of
one. He will be removed to Warren.
Frank Slneosky. a traveling pack
peddler, made an attempt on the life of
Miss Hose Cross at Scrubgrass, near
Franklin a few days ago. Miss Cross
was walking along the principal street
of that place when HlneoHky confronted
her with a knife upraised. He would
probably have killed her had he not
been seized by bystanders. Hlneosky
imagined that Miss Cross had been
following him. He appears demented.
Pittsburg capitalists are In a move
ment to erect a lliio.OOO tin plate mill In
Ebensburg. A new invention, whereby,
it is claimed, tin plate can be manu
factured at a cost of 50 per cent, lesa
thaa at present, was recently patented
by an Ebensburg man, and It la hi
desire that the plant be located there.
Capitalists interested with him are now
considering the detail.
Captain Henry Donaldson, of Com
pany K. Fifteenth Ketlment, National
Guard Pennsylvania, the other' day
tendered his resignation as Captuin of
the company, the same to take effect
at once. About 30 privates are also dis
missed and the company will be re
cruited with new men and an effort
made to bring up its rating.
Mrs. Jacob Schick, A widow, aged 70,
of Lyclppus, died the other day from a
dose of rat poison. Ill-health bad
caused her to be melancholy.
At Meadvllle a thief stole a horse and
buggy from the barn of C. M. Brawley,
A harness from Mrs. Achilla Pauz and
A horse from Dr. William Mott. The
Brawley horse was turned loose, but
the other property taken away.
Mrs. Alex. Maruskt of Johnstown was
fatally Injured, her clothing' culchlrm
fire at A stove a few days ago. Her
husband. In attempting to aid her, was
seriously burned.
Drought la causing; a water femlne In
Fayette county. Reservoirs and well!
are going dry and crops drying up.
Independent Itepubllcana at Pitts
burg have nominated W. R. Thompson
for State Treasurer.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
proposes a magnificent station at
Pittsburg. i