Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-06
THAT ski<I PRINTING OFFICE.
ihe Hniiding the United states Nov,
Owns and What a Needs.

10 the Editor OF The Evening Star:
Al every session Of Congress. during an.
last decade, the need Of a new priuria..
ONCE has been discussed with an earnest
ness that would lead the uninitiated TO be-
heNe the great and good men who compos.
the American Congress really intended 10
make provision for this crying necessity.
For the sake of information. it may be
well TO learn of what the present printing
office consists.
1t is located on the southwest corner OF
North Capitol and H streets northwest
The ground consists OF - $50 square feet.
with a stable and driveway on the west
end. containing S,II5 square feet. On the
south there is a strip 80 feet in width ex-
tending to q street. On this there is a
three-story brick building, 10 feet wide and
100 feet long, with a continuation or annex
of one story extending 10 feet more, end
ing at G. street
This is occupied by the carpenter, plumber.
gas filter and paint shops below, and the
two upper stories are used for storage.
The printing office building extends from
corner of II and North Capitol street west
800 feet, and has width OF as feet, is four
stories high, with a wing of same height "a
feet wide. extending 100 feet on Mort. Cap
floor is occupied by the press room and dec
ument proof room; the second floor for
office of public printer and composing
room; the third floor by bindery, and fourth
floor by folding room. On the west is 2
modern fire-proof building, 81 feet wide
extending 81 feet to jackson alley; built
in the most substantial manner. On Jack
son alley is a similar building 5GNIs feet
These are used for paper warehouse and
machine shop on first moor; composing room
on the second; bindery and stock room on
third: while the fourt.. floor is used to store
sheets for the folding room.
On jackson alley is another building of
modern construction. ~ feet long by -
feet in width, five stories high. The first
floor contains offices. rather desks. OF
superintendent of the building and store
keeper with his goods. Here is the great
Hoe press, where the Congressional Record
is printed and mailed, and the paper Tor
the Record is stored. The second moor is
the Record composing room, the third Is
occupied by the book sewers, and for max
ing and stamping the cloth covers for the
great variety Of government publications
on this floor, confined 10 space 10 feet
wide by 81 feet in length, are seventy-iiVe
women, OF whom IL may truly be said
they shall earn their bread by the sweat Of
their face"
In a sitting atmosphere they work eight
hours per day for the privilege of staying
on the face of the EARTH and supporting
aged parents helpless children and in
digent relations.
Facts are stubborn things, but neverthe-
less this is the situation directly under the
shadow of the Capitol building OF the United
States.
In all the promising fields for home mis-
sionary labor where is there a more favor
able one than inside of that very building,
which is supposed to be occupied by the
patriots who represent sixty-five millions
of people?
The fourth floor is used for storing maps
and engravings for the numerous books
issued by the general government.
The fifth floor, containing one of the best
electrotype and stereotype foundries in the
world, was built and fitted up on top OF the
warehouse above described. In the court
which is surrounded by these buildings
are located the boilers for generating
motive power to the machinery and the
electric plant for lighting this vast estab-
lishment.
There are now more than three thousand
employees packed in unsafe building.
subject to a collapse at any moment when
the additional feather which breaks the
camers back shall be added.
An examination of the II street section.
permeated with cracks over its windows
and along its walls. will convince any care
full mind of its unsafe condition, and the
risk of destruction of many human lives,
and large amount of property.
A vital question of financial loss comes in
here, for the amount which could be saved
by a judicious management on the part of
Congress would go far towards paying the
interest on a new government printing
office. PRACTICAL.