The Globe-republican., 1893-07-21
THE PUBLIC PRINTER.
he Has to Do q Good Deal Of
Work for Snail Pay.
Origin. Growth and Present Proportions
Of the Government Print Shop-Eo--
Million Required to Run II
for Twelve Months
fspec,al Washington letter.

Especial Washington letter.
81 presume that there comes tims
in the life of every lawyer when he
entertains an ambition to be judge
saws ex-senator Moody, of South Da-
kota. 1t may probably also be truth;
fully said that there comes time IN
the life of every printer in this country
when he entertains desire or an amt
bition to secure employment in the
government printing Office at the ma
tional capital.
The public printer is at the head of
a great institution which employs over
three thousand men and women The
government printing Office is hive of
industry. and. because of the fact that
the employees in this great printing
house are not under the protection of
the civil service law, there are appll-
cants for employment on hand IN per
son every day either accompanied by
their representatives or senators. or
bearing letters from men of standing
and influence The Office of the public
printer. which is upon the second floor
of the building. is the most attractive
camping ground in the city for the I'M
employed. /
1t costs nearly $4,000, 900 to pay the
yearly expenses of this institution
Over s.. 1000. 600 are paid out annually to
the employees in wages, while the
quantities of materials consumed by
the government printing office are
almost staggering in their volume.
Last year 22S printers reams OF paper
were used. costing over S50O.O00- There
were also ten tons of printers ink,
/ twelve tons of glue. six tons of Irvine,
/ two tons Of glycerine. two tons OF anti
mouv. ore ton of bar tin. one-half ton
/ of plumbago. 500 pounds OF pumlce
stone and 30 pounds of beeswax con-
sumed in the regular business of the
government printing office: and there
were also 6.G00 gallons OF oil. 1900 gal
| Ions OF benzine. 40 gallons of alcohol,
$500 packs of gold leaf. 1000 pieces OF
/ book cloth. 5000 dozen Turkey moroc'
co skins. $50 square feet OF calfskin,
4.oGO wards of crash, 1000 dozen sheep
skins and 10000 feet of Russia leather
consumed in the regular business. II
is claimed by many that the govern
ment printing Office in Washington Is
the biggest on the face of the earth
From the expense account epitonlzed
above one would Judge that there L
some ground for that claim.
Il is not generally known. but it is
fact that the big building at the cor
ner OF North Capitol and II streets, IT
which over 5000 men and womer
are employed. is veritable fire trap
and a gigantic tinder-box- If tire
should occur in any part OF the build
ING fearful holocaust would result
Three years ago congress appropriated
$3.50. 00o for the purchase of site anc
the erection of new building for the
government printing Office: but rea
! estate dealers in this city have man
aged. by actire and energetic compcti
ton. thus far to prevent the selection
of any site. ard the old death-trap con
tinres in use. In the basement OF the
building are as huge printing presses
while on the floor above there Is al
immense complement of binding ma
chinery. appliances and fixtures capa
, bic of turning out, in phenomenaliI
short time the greatest jobs OF print
ing that can possibly be projected. IL
the basement and on the ground tiool
are the press rooms. paper wareroom
safety vaults and machine shops Oh
the second floor are the administrative
, offices. the main composition room, TIT
! Job rooms. the stereotyping and cleo
trotvpinr departments and proc
rooms. On the third floor is the bind