Middletown transcript., 1868-05-23
The Government Printing once.

The Government Printing Once.
The especial correspondent of the Chicago
Tribune writes long letter. to that paper,
giving an account of the Government prin-
ting office at Washington, from which we
take the following.
The building is fifty by three hundred
feet, and four stories high it is situated
on North Capitol street, about mile north
ofthe Capitol. The building is an immense
narrow structure, full of small windows,
and looks like the pictures of Independence
Hall in ihe old Biographies. .s
The composition-room is on the second
story, and occupies the whole length Of the
building, except few feet at the east end,
divided off for the office Of the Superinten-
dent. In this room, during the session Of
Congress, over one hundred and fifty COM
positors are employed.
In this room all types are set for the
whole ofthe Government printing All the
Department reports, which are distributed
broadcast throughout the country, the
blanks, Executive documents, Census, Ag-
ricultural, Patent Office, Internal Revenue,
and hundl Ell other reports, beside all the
printing for both Houses of Congress, are
put in type in this room. The founts Of
type used are very large, some Of them
sufficient to set up five hundred pages, roy
al octave. As an evidence of the rapidity
Of work (which this office,,is capable, a roy
al octave volume, five hundred pages, can
he put in type in three days,
It il safe to say that this office turns out
more copies of books, every year, than any
dozen publishing houses In the country,
and the largest share of the work 10 not
bound, and cannot be counted as "books
Some of the repor.s-the Agricultural, for
instance-are printed to the extent of two
hundred thousand copies. This report,
for 1860, contains six hundred and nine
ty-two pages, including thirty six full pa
ges of illustrations,
Thepay ofthe eompositors rs four dollars
per day for eight hours work, or sixty cents
for 1000 ems, the prices fixed by the Col
umbia Typographical Union. The employ.
ces are all paid monthly,
A stereotype foundry is connected With
the somposing-room, and aii works fsqui-
ring over twenty thousand copies apester-
eotypeds, - g., ..,-.,s .-,s.-5..4s
The third floor is occupied entirely, as
bindery, and the fourth as folding-rsom-
In the bindery there are employed one hun-.
dreda males, and about the same number
of females. The machinary used is all of
the latest and most approved pattern. The
amount of work done is immense. Be-
sides the Congressional binding, all the bin
ding for the Executive Departments Of the
Government are executed here iselmiing
blank books, account books, blanks, &c.
which are all ruled and bound in this room.
In the folding-room there are eleven fold
ing machines, very perfect and automatic,
each of which folds sixteen pages with one
action. There are less hands employed in
this room than any other, and these are
mostly females.
The press-room and drying-room are on
the first floor. In the press-room there are
twenty-five Adams presses, six Hoe single
cylinder presses, number of small Job pres
ses, and one ofthe remarkable Bullock pres
ses, in all fifty-two. e' 2'a
The Bullock press is certainlya most re-
markable piece of mechanism. This ma
chine was introduced into the Government
printing Office about year ago, and Mr..
Defrees, the Superintendent Of Public Prin-
ting, and the foreman of the press-room,
speak Of it in the highest terms. In Civ
en- time, with two hands, It did the work
of twenty Adams presses, and thirty-five
hands. The cost of the Bullock press was
25 900, and of the Adams press. {. .OOO-
The Agricultural report, 1895 copies,
was the first and only book yet printed on
this press. 1t has run more consecutive
hours than any press known. In less than
four months, at eight hours day, with
two men and alaborer, it printed eight mil
lions of distinct impressions, without any
effort to crowd its capacity. The paper
for the use Of this press comes from the
mill in rolls containing thousands Of sheets
when cut into proper size. The roll is
placed on reel, and the press stated it
unwinds the paper. cuts off the required
size prints it on both sides at one opera
ton, counts the number Of sheets, and de-
posits them on the delivery board ready
forfolding, at the rate offrom eight 10 four
teen thousand per honr, OF counting both
sides, from sixteen to-twenty-eight thous-
and impressions. ,sa3 -Tis1uF aSf
a, There is also attached to the printing
Office q complete machine shop, with lsthes
and other necessary appliances, SO that all
repairing can be done in the building. 1t
has two engines-One of forty.ive horse
power and the other fifteen. These engines
run all the machinery in the building. and
the various departments are heated by the
waste steam. t.s atasa1Eu9 20 altse72
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\ Whatever rniay be the end of man, there