Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-26
PUBLIC PRINTING.
Prodigious Progress from Past to Pres
ent--Ohanges Of Century.
1859 10 1881.


ACRES OF SPACE OCCUPIED-AN ARMY OF PsoPIS
BMPLoYED-Two MILLIONS OF DOLLARS YEAR
EXPENDED-sTACKS OF LITERATURE PRODUCED
The average American has but an imperfect
idea OF the gigantic proportions OF the govern
mental institutions Of his native land. and not
until he has visited and inspected the grand
central headquarters of the several departments
Of the government at the capital can he real
iZe the vast magnitude of the several parts
winch are needed to complete the whole to sup.
Ply the requirements OF nation of fifty mil
lions or people. No matter how well posted
or how thoroughly familiar with state or ma
tlonai institutions elsewhere, the visitor 70
Washington after an inspection OF our great pub
nc buildings and glance at the interior work
ings OF the several departments, invariably ex-
hausts the adjectves In calculations OF surprise
ard leaves more than ever impressed with a
feeling of pardonahle native PRIDE that he
oiniS constituent part OF 1.-The greatest nation
on EARTH" The Capitol, the Treasury, the
residents Mansion, the Army and Navy de
par'ment, the Patent Office, the Post office
tue Pension Office, the Census Office. the Agrl-
cultural department, the Smithsonian instItp-
tor, the National Museum and host OF lesser
ooects OF interest all come in for fair share Of
wandering criticism. But there ia anothe in
stltutlon In Washington which is an
ALL IMPORTANT ONE,
Which furnishes vast amount of the necessary
working material for all these several de-
partments, and which Is possessed of attrac-
tons for the stranger second to none other-at
least. 1or an those who can appreciate the
growth, perfection and development OF the art
pre- servat1ye, the art OF printing. This fnstI-
tuition Is what Is now known ana noted over the
CIVILIZED globe as "the largest OF its kind Ia ex-
lstence," and which eXciteS the wonder and ad-
mlraton of the representatives OF foreign ma
tons who come here, at the discovery of the
laeS mat the Youngest nation has taken fore.
most RANK, even among all the older ones In its
provision for the most perfect prodncfion of
government literature, or printing SUBMITTED
Inc reader may know that reference is had to
THE Q. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
the like OF which may not be found anywhere
In the known world. 1t is located in the north
eastern section of the city, not far distant from
the Capitol, and although plain and unpreten-
ilous In architectural appearance, at once
strikes the eye OF the stranger as structure
imposing IN Its vast magnitude, II not In its
exterior attracttveness. Toward the close of
the day Is p. n.y. when the ordinary lab9rs of
tne Gay are over, the shrill whistle of steam
engine In the works sounds grateful music to
the army OF skilled artizans and employees en-
gagged therein. and within few minutes host
0f'men and women-for both sexes are en-
ployed at the works-pCur forth from the many
entrance doors, and the streets and avenues
rying mass Of humans, who Wend their way to
their several homes. Count the men as they
pass by, and the number soon reaches 300, then
600. anon 1000, and ere the rear rank has passed
rienced, intelligent and skillful representa-
tiyes OF their profession In the country,
All aiVe m gSns 9 with Mingled tbs among then
energetic spirit OF push, or, as Americans are
won't to express it, go-a-head-a-tiveness:-
noticed as many as 500 to 600 females of all
Ia her teens. whose def fingers have been
handling thousands OF snow-White sheets at
the presses" Or other thousands Of printed
hages In the folding rooms" preparatory to
Tor the use OF the millions In our land. These
operatives. reader, represent at least 5000
depenoent ones, at perhaps, thousand differ
rendered sunshiny and cheerful by the pro
ceeds of their labor. The men represent every
state In the union. and they furnish rare
nsrlties; but there is a band Of Brotherhood
among them which permits no nee1y or
ailllcted one to suffer the pangs of want or the
wee OF povertyis biting hardships and priva.
them, widows OF the nations soldier heroes,
whose deaths deprived home OF bread-winner
and the widowed mother of helpless children
went Iorth to De both mother ana proVider for
her offspring.
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Before going into a description Of the great
works which sustain this army of employees it
nay not be anss to trace the early history.
ILS.Rleht growth and present magnitude OF the
m me ,iiIsL, American Congress met lu New
vas Ia session for 2l0 days. The second ses.
sion was held In New York In 1890. The third
session Ia old historic carpenters Hail" fn
teen states were represented. Congress con
unped to meet here up TO May IA, 1900. Tne
& coId session Of the Sixth Congress was held
IL Tie Old Capitol building Ia Washington, D
G., that year, and from that day to the present
has never left the Capitol. "Puolic printing"
ttgan ID lIS9 IN an awkward way, but for years
TIE United States Senate sat with closed doors,
a. q only the lower house agitated the printing
OF DEBATES, &c. In 1874 an appropriation bill
vas passed which contained a quaint and re-
neshing paragraph as follows:
FOR the expenses OF fI'elroOd StdtiOneTU and
printing trorh and all other contingent ex-
penses Of the two houses OF Congress. ten MoU-
This was fought most vehemently as an
outrageous piece OF extravaganza" In 1901
MT: randolph first proposed a 'puollc printer"
put It failed to carry. Up to 1919 the con
proceedings prevailed, both houses refusing to
create national" printing Office. About this
time 1t was decided that each house elect its
Joint appointment for both houses of Congress
They continued for several years, but In 1871 a
not ngnt was made for the Senate printing be-
tween Dun Greer, Gales Seaton, Peter Force
and Thomas Richie without a choice. At the
neXt session Duff Green secured the Senate and
Gales q Seaton the House. From this time up
TO $40 there was always contest for the work
tuCe.
THE SEVERAL PRINTERS
were Gales q Seaton, Blair & Rives, Thomas
Allen, Richie d Harris. The cost OF the House
printing alone had now reached 5000, 600 and
there was universal complaint OF extravagance
The wings wanted rates reduced 20 Der cent
and they were reduced, but under Gales d Sea-
ton were advanced again. Thomas Richie. OF
the Old Richmond Eitluiref, was the next |
printer, put was OuSted through the WING in
liuence OF Garrett Davis. who again introduced |
the contract" system under a joint Congress
ional committee. Under this renewed system |
thirgs seem to have grown from bad TO |
worse under Wendell, Van BenthuZen and |
BOY Hamilton. who was bursted and ruined |
as contractor. The public printing for the /
six years up to 1852 reached S. 500 900 as total
ana In that year superintendent OF Puoilc |
Printing was created, who Was made strictly |
accountable for all public printing uole under |
government auspices. JohG L. Towers an old |
line wing, was the first appointee. He was sue |
ceede0 by A. q. Seaman, George " Bowman |
ana Ia 1859 by John Heart, Who served up TO
May y, 1861.
NOTED QUARTETTE.
In 1852 a memorable contest was had for the
positions OF Senate and House printers. fn
which figured four prominent personages-
Gen. Robert Armstrong, Horace Greeley, VIM,
]. BrownloW and Henry j. Raymond. The
last naIned trio were defeated, and Armstrong
won the race. Ia 1856, Cornelius Wendell |
who Is really the FOUNDER of the Government
Office, had close contest against |
John ID. DefreeS, the present printer. Wendell |
was elected and expended large amounts In |
and machinery. h0Dinp in hold IF |