36th Coxgress, ) SENATE. ( Ex. Doc.

1st Session. ) I No. 14.

LETTBE

OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PUBLIC PRINTING,

COMMUNICATING The seventh annual report of his office, showing the condition of the Piiblic

Printing.

February 6, 1860.—Read ; motion to print referred to the Committee on Printing. February 15, 1860. —Report in favor of printing the usual number submitted, considered, and agreed to.

Office of the Superintendent of Public Printing,

Washington, January 16, 1860.

Sir : I have tlie honor to transmit herewith, in order that it may be

laid before the Senate, the seventh annual report of this office, showing

the condition of the public printing.

Verv respectfiillv, sir, vour obedient servant,

JNO. HEAPT,

Superintendent.

Hon. John C. Breckinridge,

President of the Senate.

Office Superintendent Public Printing,

Washijigton, January 16^ 1860.

To the Senate and House of Representatives

:

I have the honor to submit, for the information of Congress, the

seventh annual report of this office, exhibiting the condition and cost of the public printing, and such other information in connection therewith as is deemed of general interest. THE printing OF THE THIRTY-THIRD AND THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESSES. The voluminous documents ordered to be printed hj the ThirtyThird and Thirty-Fourth Congresses, in quarto form, with their numerous and costly illustrations, have been completed, with the

exception of the fourth and fifth volumes of the '' Results of the Naval

Astronomical Expedition to Chili." No additional copy for this work

has been received since the last annual report from this office, nor any

information as to when it may be expected.
REPORT OF THE

The tenth volume of the Pacific Kailroad Eeports has been printed

and bound, and the illustrations for the eleventh volume, (being the

last,) niay be expected from the lithographers in a few days, when the

work will be completed.

The second and concluding volume of the Mexican Boundary Report

has also been printed, bound, and delivered, since the last session of

Congress.

As the various items of cost in the publication of these works may

be deemed interesting, they are exhibited in detail in the

tables : following

Statement sJioiving the cost of printing and binding tlie Pacific Eailroad

Reports, in eleven volumes.

Volui

Volume I. Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper.. Binding

Total Volume IL

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding

Total , Volume III. Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper.. Binding

Total Volume IV.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper . Binding

Total Volume V.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding

Total

Senate.

$6,518 60 11,034 77 None.

9,684 20 27,237 57

#6,513 20 8,449 39 10,921 51 9,684 20 35,568 30

f6,002 69 8,144 96 19,588 96 9,684 20 43,420 81

#6,054 52 7,230 43 12,344 48 9,684 20 35,313 63

#5,683 33 7,008 88 26,038 89 9,684 20 48,415 30
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING.

STATEMENT—Continued.

3

Volume.

Vol VL

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the ietter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper.

Binding:Total. Volume VII.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding.,

Total.

Vo] VIII.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding

Total. Volume IX.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper

Binding

Total. Volume X.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding

Total. Volume XI.

Printing of the letter-press, &c

Paper for the letter-press Maps and plates, including printing and paper. Binding

Total.

Senate.

|5,793 36 7,231 66 18,072 95 9,684 20 40,782 17

p,426 12 6,341 70 13,482 64 9,684 20 34,934 66

$8,951 09 11,627 60 7,565 70 9,684 20

37,828 59

111,247 47 14,040 29 None.

9,676 49 34,964 25

$7,873 49 8,903 88 43,078 60 9,676 49 69,532 46

$480 96

299 57 26,231 55 2,774 73 29,786 81
4 REPORT OF THE

RECAPITULATION.

Volumes, Cost of print- ing. Cost of paper. Cost of maps

and plates. Cost of binding. Total cost.

$12,812 88

12,821 54 11,742 48 il,o4o O/i 11,172 11 11,315 79 10,608 72 17,531 70 22,040 57 15,402 46 844 19

$21,288 91 16,300 11 15,712 86

IQ QAQ no 13,521 71 13,924 43 12,200 08 22,338 99 27,081 04 17,173 57 489 42

$19,921 12 19,921 12 19,921 12

lO OOl lO 19,921 12 19,921 12 19,921 12 19,921 12 19,905 29

19,905 29 4,336 93

$54,022 91 70,829 54 88,294 42

94,956 07 80.025 28

68,647 42

74,454 97 69.026 90

135,749 60 56,887 49

Third

Fourth

Fifth Sixth Eighth Ninth

$21,786 77 40,917 96

0/1 oni QA /44,yui y4

50,341 13 34,863 94 25,917 50 14,663 16 Tenth

Total

83,268 28 51,216 95 138,138 76 173,980 14 347,877 63 203,516 47 863,513 00

Total cost of the eleven volumes, $863,513; or $36 10 per set.

Statement slioiving the cost of printing and binding Major Umory's

Mexican Boundary Report, in tivo volumes.

Cost of the first volume. For the Senate. For the Plouse.

6,400 copies. 11,530 copies.

Printing letter-press, folding, and insei-ting maps and

$3,264 56

193 50 12,187 41 3,320 41 1,242 84 3,861 52

$4,855 10 348 25 20,338 46 5,977 22

1,562 20 6,674 72 24,070 24 39,755 95

Cost of the second volume. For the Senate. For the House.

2,400 copies. 4,530 copies.

$2,469 46 88 50 11,403 29

1,563 38 2,485 68 766 46

$3,895 07 203 75 21,524 27

3,.328 07 3,124 40 2,288 40 Total 18,776 77 34,363 96 The cost of engraving the illustrations for this report is not included in the foregoing state- ments, it not having been executed under the direction of the Superintendent of the Public

Printing. The cost is estimated by the Secretary of the Interior at $40,729 93.—(Sec Senate Ex. Doc. No. 37, 35th Cong., 1st sess.)
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING. 5

RECAPITULATION.

Cost of printing letter-press, &c

Cost of paper for the letter-press Cost of maps and plates—Engraving, as estimated by Secretary of

the Interior Printing and paper for the illustrations, as above

$40,729 93

fl5,318 19 14,189 08

65,453 43 Cost of binding.

106,183 36 22,006 22 Total cost 157,696 85

THE PRINTING OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

Tlie documents ordered to be printed by the last Congress have been

completed and delivered. The Estimates of Appropriations required

for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1861, and the Annual Eeport on Commerce and Navigation for the year ending June 30, 1859, have

also been printed and delivered ; and, for the first time in many years,

this ofiice is enabled to report, so far as the printers are concerned, the

entire completion of the printing ordered by Congress. It is but

justice to acknowledge, in this connection, the energy and promptness

with which the requirements of this office have been responded to by

the public printers, and also by the engravers of the illustrations for the Mechanical Patent Office Eeport.

The following statements exhibit, in detail, the cost of the printing,

binding, &c., ordered by each House of Congress during the second

session of the Thirty-Fifth Congress
EEPORT OF THE

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SUPERIXTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING. 9

By reference to the following comparative statement, it will be per- ceived that the cost of the Congressional printing, engraving, and

binding, ordered through this office, has been annnallj diminishing

since the Thirty-Third Congress :

Congress and session. Senate. House of Representatives.

^342,578 44 249,793 56 169,747 70 116,312 65$589,721 42 404,314 12

.326; 862 55 277,167 40 A still further reduction may reasonably be anticipated from the

operation of the laws passed at the last session of Congress for the regulation of the public printing.

EXECUTrVE PRIXTIXG. The printing for the Executive Departments and for the Court of

Cla-ims has been promptly and satisfactorily executed. Such suggestions have been made to the heads of departments and chiefs of bureaus

as were deemed necessary and proper for the economizing of expenditure in this branch of the public service, and these have been readily

accjuiesced in. The following statement exhibits the cost of the work executed for the Executive Departments, through this office, during the fiscal year

ending June 30, 1859
10 REPORT OF THE

Statement showing the cost of planting, dc, ordered by the Executive

Departments during the year ending June 30, 1859.

Department and bureau. Cost of printing:. Costofpaper.

State Department.

Secretary's office Consular bureau

Diplomatic bureau

Agent's office Rolls office Passport bureau

Statistical office

Treasury DeTpartmenl. Secretary's office First Comptroller's office Second Comptroller's office First Auditor's office Second Auditor's office Third Auditor's office Fourth Auditor's office Fifth Auditor's office Sixth Auditor's office Register's office Treasurer's office Office of the Commissioner of Customs

Solicitor's office Coast Survey office Office of the Liffht-house Board

Interior Department.

Secretary's office Office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Office of the Commissioner of Pensions

Office of the Commissioner of the General Land

Office

Office of the Commissioner of Patents

Office of the Commissioner of Public Buildings....

War Department.

Secretary's office Adjutant General's office Cluartermaster General's office. Surgeon General's office Ordnance office Commissary General's office ... Chief Engineer's office Topographical bureau

|270 46 432 07 115 40 22 60 218 60 51 47

9 50 1,120 10

668 56

84 53

3 10 228 15 31 83 271 79

61 83 110 30 845 12 286 53

113 80

63 30

8 65 329 54 4,315 79 7,422 82

239 48 28 32 536 45

,656 06

,099 19 30 15 6,589 65

53 34

1,258 60 3,249 02

46 32

80 92

9 85

151 68

91 43 4,941 16

$484 19 312 08 26 12

8 20

71 22

29 32

17 10 948 23

312 81

14 47

1 92

173 76

15 92

105 61 34 62

67 65 623 68 120 25

69 55 24 99

1 34

137 46 1,434 39 3,138 42

105 22

12 00 250 45 1,010 43 1,542 32

14 57 2,934 99

79 89 754 87 1,278 08

9 80

47 28

3 30

59 23

51 32 2,283 77 7,224 93
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING.

STATEMENT—Continued.

11

Depai'tment and bureau. Cost of printing. Cost ofpaper. Total cost.

JS ai'!/ Department. $978 94 552 20 86 70 1,997 35

18 44

1,100 66

$585 78 105 46 25 97 324 80 23 85 956 94$1,564 72 657 66 112 67 2,322 15 42 29 2,057 60

Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repairs...

4,734 29 2,022 80 6,757 09 48,759 69 51,816 91 100,576 60

87 04 103 49 190 53

472 72 40 19 512 91 3,238 45 120 47 3,358 92

Office of the Superintendent of the Public Printing. Annual Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on Commerce and Navi104 88 25 17 130 05

6,191 17 5,590 89 13,705 32

Estimates of appropriations required for the year

ending June 30, 1860 41 86 84 76 126 62 5,793 30 4,722 59 10,515 89 2,420 75 405 22 2,825 97

PAPER FOR THE PUBLIC PRINTING. The fourth section of the printing act of 1852 makes it ''the duty

of the Superintendent to have the requisitions of the printer, and the

returns of paper hj the printer, balanced at least once in each year, and in default thereof to report the same to Congress for such proceedings as Congress may direct." Heretofore, owing to the unfinished

condition of the printing at the commencement of each session of Congress, this requirement has never been complied with ; and, even with

this obstacle removed, the statement now presented, after the most

patient and thorough investigation, is far from satisfactory. In the

language of my immediate predecessor, in his last annual report : ' ' For

a great length of time the paper purchased for the printing of Congress,

amounting in value to hundreds of thousands of dollars, had been re- ceived from the contractors and delivered to the public printers by

persons not employed by, and wholly irresponsible to this office for the

proper performance of this important duty, whose very crude memorandums, often in pencil, appear to be the only information upon which

entries have been made in the books of this office, and which have

proved to be unreliable." With this explanation, the following state-
12 REPORT OF THE

ment is submitted as the most authentic that can be prepared from, the

records of this office, viz : There have been purchased for the government from the j)assage of

the printing act of August 26, 1852, to December 16, 1859, the follow- ing quantities of printing paper:

45 lbs. reams. 48 lbs. reams. 52 lbs. reams. 56 lbs. reams. 161,274 2,948 46,574 40,306

Of which, as per records in this office, the following disposition has

been made

Of 45 lbs. paper purchased 161,274 reams. There was delivered to the printers 150,794

There was delivered to the binders 4,8822-V

Damaged 10

In the warehouse , 5,130jV

160,816if reams. Unaccounted for 457yV reams. Of 48 lbs. paper j)urchased 2,948 reams. Delivered to printers 2,478

In warehouse 470

2,948 reams. Of paper weighing 52 and 56 lbs., there has been

purchased 86,880 reams.

Delivered to printers.: 84,383^1-

Delivered to binders 894^^-

Damaged 2 In warehouse 1,500^^

86,780^f reams. Unaccounted for 992V reams. Thus it will be seen that of the 251,102 reams of paper purchased,

costing, say $1,560,652; 457 reams of forty-five pounds paper, costing

$2,445 46 ; and ninety-nine ream^s of fifty-six pounds paper, costing

$742 89, are entirely unaccounted for. Whether it has been fraudulently disposed of, or delivered to the public printers without taking

receipts therefor, there are no means of ascertaining by the records of

this office^ and consequently it may be considered as lost to the government. These results, which have been reached after a most laborious

and thorough investigation of the matter, present as full and accurate

a settlement of the account as it is possible now to obtain.

It is but proper to state that the discrepancies in the paper account can be distinctly traced to a period anterior to the 19th of July, 1858,

when they first became apparent to my predecessor. Since that time

the receiving of paper from the contractors, and its delivery to the

printers, have been under the immediate personal supervision of this

office, and the accounts are kept in a manner that will effectually pre-
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING. 13

elude errors or mystification in the future. The following is a state- ment of the requisitions and returns of paper by the public printers.

Of 45 lbs. paper delivered 150,794 reams. Keturned in printed matter 145,715yV

Allowance for waste, 3 per cent 4,372

150,087yV reams. Due the government by the public printers 707-|-f reams. Of 48 lbs. paper delivered 2,478 reams. Eeturned in printed matter 2,406

Allowance for waste, 3 per cent 72

2,478 reams. Of 52 and 56 lbs. paper delivered 84,313||- reams, Eeturned in printed matter 82,295

Allowance for waste, 3 per cent 2,467

' 84,762 reams. In excess 378^^. reams. By the foregoing statement, it appears that the public printers

are indebted to the government for 707 reams of forty-five pounds

paper, while they are entitled to a credit for 378 reams of fifty-two

and fifty-six pounds paper. This discrepancy can only be accounted

for by the irregularity, designedly or otherwise, with which the accounts

of the ofiice were formerly kept, and the allegation that at times during

the Thirty-Fourth Congress it was found necessary to use forty-five

pounds paper instead of fifty-six pounds paper for a portion of the

reserved copies of the public documents.

The printer's requisitions for paper for the post ofiice blanks have

also been examined and adjusted, and I find that he is indebted to government as follows, viz: Paper measuring 19 -}- 26 inches, and

weighing 23 pounds to the ream, 172 reams; and of paper measuring

18 4- 25 inches, and weighing 26 pounds to the ream, 425 reams; amounting in the aggregate to $1,640 37.

It will be j)erceive(i by this settlement of the accounts of the public

printers, which have been running unbalanced for several years, owing

to the unfinished condition of the public printing, that they are in- debted to the government for 329 reams of printing paper, at |5 37.3

per ream, amounting to the sum of $1,767 71 ; and for paper for the

post ofiice blanks, 597 reams, amounting to $1,640 37; the aggregate

of the indebtedness for paper being $3,408 08, which I report to Congress, in obedience to the fourth section of the act of 1852. The attor- ney for the public printers has been notified of this deficiency, and in- formed that the amount would be withheld by this ofiice from their bills for printing, until otherwise ordered by Congress.

The following statements exhibit the quantity of paper purchased

for the public printing, including that for the post office blanks, from

November 1, 1858, to I)ecember 16, 1859, inclusive.
14 REPORT OF THE

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SUPERIXTEXDENT OF PUBLIC FEINTING.

Total. nmmmimm

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16 REPORT OP THE

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SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PPJNTING. 17

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18 REPORT OF THE

I beg leave, in this connection, respectfully to reiterate the recom- mendation of my immediate jDredecessor, in the last annual report, that

but one grade of paper be used for the printing of the public documents. The present system, which requires the regular number of

documents to be printed on j^aj^er weighing 56 pounds to the ream^

and the extra numbers on paper weighing 45 poimds, is productive of

difficulty and confusion in our paper accounts, without countervailing advantages. The many improvements in the manufacture of paper

have materially modified the proportionate cost of the materials and

labor involved in its production, so that its price depends much more

upon its weight than its quality. I consider the grade of 56 pounds

unnecessary, and would recommend a uniform standard of 48 pounds

to the ream of 480 sheets, as better calculated to meet the requirements of the public service. A still further imjn^ovement, in my opinion, would be in requiring the ream to consist of 500 sheets, not only

as better calculated to simplify and facilitate our accounts with the

printer, but as being more conformable to our decimal system of currency.

I would also recommend a modification of the provision making it obligatory to open the proposals to furnish paper for the public printing in the presence of the Vice-President and Speaker of the House of

Representatives. The difficulty occasionally occurring in the organization of the House subjects this office to much embarrassment by the

delay, which would be obviated by the substitution for the Speaker of some other public officer. LitJiograpJiing and engraving.

The subjoined table exhibits all the contracts entered into by this

office, during the last year, for engraving and lithographing maps,

charts, views, &c., required to illustrate the documents ordered to be

printed by Congress. With few exceptions, the work has all been

executed and received by this office.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING. 19

bsy

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REPORT OF THE

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SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING. 21

During the progress of the public printing for many years, a very

large number of engravings on steel, copper, and wood have accumulated in the office of the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House

of Representatives. It has been the intention of this office, in obedience

to the direction of Congress, to take charge of these engravings, to have them carefully prepared for preservation, and a schedule made of

them in such manner as to afford ready access to those that may be

hereafter required lor public use. Until recently this object has been

rendered impracticable, on account of the very limited accommodation^;

afforded to this office ; but, this obstacle being removed, measures will

be immediately taken to carry out the views of Congress.

In connection with the subject of economizing the expenditures for the public printing, it may be proper to state that a rigid adherenceto the provisions of the law respecting the kind of type to be used in

particular cases will considerably reduce the size of some of the volumes, and proportionately their cost. It is provided that the body of

all plain matter shall be printed in small pica, ''except extracts, yeas

and nays, and addenda," which shall be printed in brevier. As a. page of brevier contains at least one-third more matter than one of

small pica, a very material saving of paper and press-work can be

secured by enforcing a stricter compliance Avith the law.

A much greater saving, however, may be effected, by the substitution, generally, of long primer for small pica type, in the congressional printing, and without detriment to its appearance or legibility.

A page of small pica contains about sixteen hundred ems, and of longprimer two thousand ems, being a gain of twenty per cent., which

would be the proportionate saving effected in press-work and paper. A

page of the Agricultural Report of the last session in small pica and

long primer is herewith given in illustration.
22 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [Small Pica.

valuable, and vital to his happiness. In the works of the renowned

races of ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt, as well as the lore of that

primitive people, the Hebrews, are described, full of sublimity and

classic grandeur, vast and mighty deeds, and extensive mechanical

powers in the art of the destructive elements of war—marvelous even

to the present generation—or in the more rational arts of peace. In

books, too, are described the heavens and the firmament, the different

orders, magnitudes, and wonderful movements of the stars, or the

w^orlds and suns above; the true nature and properties of the elements

wdiich envelop our globe, the dwelling places and dominions of men

a full account of those vast treasures and gifts which grow and live upon the surface, as well as those which are deposited in its bosom;

including a description of the properties, qualities, and uses of the vast treasures of the deep, with their various orders, affinities, links^ harmonies, beauties, elegancies, and marvelous adaptations. In a word,

all knowledge is registered and deposited in their pages so far as the

first glance strikes the unreflecting mind ; but they do not regale the

docile mind of infant man with the vivid charms of all realities which

engage the innate faculties of his youthful soul. Alas, all these vast treasures of knowledge are only marked in science and black hieroglyphics belonging entirely to the order of shadows and finite things

;

whereas the vital teacher belongs to the infinite order, possessing all the brilliant, animating, electrifying and fructifying powers of a livingspirit, who alone has the faculty of producing those pleasing qualities,

and making the pupils hear, see, feel, touch, handle, taste, and smell, as well as converse, through the marvelous gift of speech, upon all the

treasures of science, and play the sweet sounds of music, and the varied

harmonies of many tongues.

In viewing our elementary school system, as it at present exists,

and as a preparatory step to entering the agricultural colleges now

going into operation in the United States, especially those of the

middle and northern sections, it is obvious that unexpected difficulties will arise from the circumstance that the young pupils, as a general

thing, on entering will not be sufficiently advanced in the rudiments

of knowledge to profit by the instructions these institutions will be

calculated to impart. For them to enter with any attempt to build

without a proper foundation, would most assuredl}^ be attended with

many disadvantages ; for in all cases, unless they are prepared to deduce their lessons, it would certainly end in a iailure. Let us be permitted, then, to suggest that these large establishments, so munificently endowed, and which promise so much benefit to the

community, be first converted into normal agricultural schools and

model farms for the education of teachers and other persons somewhat

advanced in knowledge, preparatory to their entering upon business

or other active duties of life. The success of an institution of this kind would depend, however, in a great measure, upon its principal,

who should not merely be the educator, but the constant companion

and guide of his students, laboring, resting, and playing with them,

as well as instructing and explaining everything to them ; one whom

they could love because he is amiable and kind; reverence because

of his age and character ; and respect from his possessing a fund of
Long Primer.] AGRICULTUKAL REPORT. 23

valuable, and vital to liis liappiness. In the works of tlie renowned races of

ancient Eome. Greece, and Egypt, as well as the lore of that primitive people,

the Hebrews, are described, full of sublimity and classic grandeur, vast and

mighty deeds, and extensive mechanical powers in the art of the destructive elements of war—marvelous even to the present generation—or in the more

rational arts of peace. In books, too, are described the heavens and the firm- ament, the different orders, magnitudes, the wonderful movements of the stars, or the worlds and suns above ; the true nature and properties of the elements

which envelop our globe, the dwelling places and dominions of men; a full account of those vast treasures and gifts which grow and live upon the surface,

as well as those wKich are deposited in its bo:^om: including a description of

the properties, Cjualities. and uses of the vast treasures of the deep, with

their various orders, affinities, links, harmonies, beauties, elegancies, and m*ar- velous adaptations. In a word, all knowledge is registered and deposited in their pages so far as the first glance strikes the unreflecting mind: but they

do not regale the docile mind of infant man with the vivid charms of all realities which engage the innate faculties of his youthful soul. Alas, all these vast

treasures of knowledge are only marked in science and black hieroglyphics belonging entirely to the order of shadows and finite things ; whereas the vital teacher belongs to the infinite order, possessing all the brilliant, animating, elec- trifying and fructifying powers of a living spirit, who alone has the faculty of producing those jjleasing Cjualities. and making the pupils hear, see, feel, touch,

handle, taste, and smell, as well as converse, through the marvelous gift of

speech, upon all the treasures of science, and play the sweet sounds of music,

and the varied harmonies of many tongues. In viewing our elementary school system, as it at present exists, and as a pre- paratory step to entering the agricultural colleges now going into operation in the United ^States, especially those of the middle and northern sections, it is obvi- ous that unexpected difficulties will arise from the circumstance that the young

pupils, as a general thing, on entering will not be sufficiently advanced in the rudiments of knowledge to profit by the instructions these institutions will be

calculated to impart. Fur them to enter with any attempt to build without a

proper foundation, would most assuredly be attended with many disadvantages;

for in all cases, unless they are prepared to deduce their lessons, it would cer- tainly end in a failure. Let us be permitted, then, to suggest that these large

establishments, so munificently endowed, and which promise so much benefit

to the community, be first converted into normal agricultural schools and model

lariiiS for the education of teachers and other persons somewhat advanced in knowledge, preparatory to their entering upon business or other active duties of

life. The success of an institution of this kind would depend, however, in a

great measure, upon its principal, who should not merely be the educator, but

the constant companion and guide of his students, laboring, resting and playing

with them, as well as instructing and explaining everything to them: one whom

they could love because he is amiable and kind ; reverence because of his age and

character; and respect from his possessing a fund of knowledge, which it would be

useful for them to drear from on nlj occasions, and to udiom their curiosity could

cdicf.ujs opplij and he gratified. But agriculture . in its proper sense, can never he

intcUigihlij and successfuJJg taught without a tlicrrough acquaintance of the operations of Xature, hi/ ocular, oral, and tangible instruction in carhjlife. Fcjr one of the great adcantages which children derive from the studg of the natured sciences is that theg teach them to arrive urith unerring certainty at the truth : and as everything in them depends on feict^—real and sensiUe ohjects—they perceive at once thv connertion of cause and effect. Jloreover, they gain the hahit of searching minutely into a suhject, not heing content, as is too frequently the case in thr study of abstract

iderjs, icith mere wryrds. The acquirement of true agricultural h-nouledge, then, must commence in the elementary or ceymmon district schools, taught hy instructors
24 REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING.

The long primer page^ it will be j^erceived upon examination, takes

in not only the fifty-one lines of the small pica page, but also fifteen additional lines, being a gain of upwards of twenty-five per cent. Had long primer been used, instead of small pica, in the Agricultural

Keport of last session, the saving in press-work and paper in that

:single document would have amounted to $17,945 77. The change

w^ould also be desirable in considerably reducing the size of some

volumes which have grown to be cumbrous and unwieldly, but which

it would be inconvenient to divide, such as tlie Journals of Congress,

especially for the long sessions. The documents would not only be

reduced in size, but comprised within a smaller number of volumes,

thus reducing the expense of binding, while the incidental saving

'of material and labor in enveloping would amount to a considerable

:sum. Add to this the consequent reduction in the weight and volume

of the matter transmitted through the mails, and I trust it will not be

considered that I have over estimated the importance of the recom- mendation in asking for it the attentive consideration of Congress.

Kespectfully submitted:

J NO. HEAKT,

Superintendent.