Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13
PATENT OFFICE GAZETTE
The Norris Peters Company Make the
Lowest Bids.
The Award Has Not Yet Been Made
and There is Some Doubt as TO
What Secretary Smith VIII Do.

The contest last year between Patent
Commissioner Seymour and the Norris
Peters Company over the method and cost
OF printing the Patent Office Gazette has
assumed an amusing phase this year.
Bids were advertised for and when
opened the other day there were but two
concerns in competition-Andrew B. Ora
ham and the Norris Peters Company-and
the latter had the lowest figures.
The specifications as advertised were as
follows:
Glass A, current drawings. For pro-
ducing 100 copies each OF 200 sheets OF
drawings Of the weekly issues of patents,
printed on one side OF sheets 13-16x11 SO
inches, per set OF 100 copies of each sheet;
=. For producing "a copies each of 90 sheets
OF design patents and trademark certih-
Gates, per set Of "a copies of each sheet;
3. Two copies Of same on thick paper, per
sheet; 4.Two copies of same on Whatmans
paper, per sheet: D. One copy of same on
Cranes parchment paper, No. 81, per sheet.
Class b. library edition-6. For producing
go copies of each of the drawings men,
TONED in preceding paragraph. class A, i,
excepting trade marks, reduced to scale
to give four drawings and suitable margin
on page, l3-lGxI1 3-s, printed on both
sides and in signatures for folding, per
page.
Class c. exhausted copies-7. For produce
iHB lJv copies OF eacn Sneet oil exhausted
patents, per set If 100 copies of each sheet
Class ID, pending applications and copies
OF foreign patents for publications.. For
producing u copies each OF drawings, size
l3-lGxl1 3-S or 1ox15 inches, per set of u
copies of each sheet. o. Silver print photo
graphs, either 13-l6xl1 3-S or l0xl5
inches, per copy.
Glass L. Official Gazette-10 Tor photo
lithogralhing and printing 1900 copies OF
each OF the pages, illustrated portion of
Gazette, 14o pages weekly, per page.
The bids of the two nthographing con-
Germs were follows:
Andrew b. Graham. 1870 Pennsylvania
avenue, Washington, ID. C.-Class a, item
], SIC: 2, SOC; 3. 1-2c.; 4. 1-2c.; ;, l-2c
Class b. item 6. 50. Glass c, item 4 65c
Class ID, Item S, &c; ., Coo. Class E. item
10, S475.
Norris Peters Company, Washington. d.
C.-Class A, item !, SOC; ., Coo; 3. lc.; 4,
le.; 8 ! l-2c, Class b, item 6. 81. Class c.
Class L, item 10, $3.50.
Modern Methods Urged.
The commissioner in his recent report to
Congress for the year ending December
81. 1895. has the following to say in re-
gard to the printing of the Gazette:
Under somewhat amended provisions in
the appropriation act for the current fiscal
year, the office advertised for bids for
producing the Official Gazette entire by
printing the text of the illustrated pages
from type or from electroplates for pro-
duclng the illustrations by photO-engraVing
or by any other appropriate process, and
for producing the copies of drawings of
the current issues of patents and other
kindred work, by photolithography. Bids
We're also invited for producing the illus
trated pages of the Official Gazette by
photolithography according to the methods
heretofore obtaining The bids received
from responsible firms for the production
or the Official Gazette entire including title
pages. text Of opinions and indexes. as
well as the illustrated pages, by printing
from plates throughout, fully Justified the
Recommendation heretofore made that the
of1cial Gazette should be produced in that
manner, rather than by the antiouated
processes now employed, and showed, fur
ther that by so doing a saving of at least
$4,000 year could be effected in the pro-
ouction OF the Gazette alone. l know of no
puohcatlon of the character of the Official
Gazette which is produced by the process
| now praeuced in its production.
Saving Suggested.
| Were more modern process adopted
| there would result not only greater econ
omy, but undoubtedly better work Should
| ii be considered advisable however not TO
| make the change, / have the honor to
| recommend that the commissioner be au-
thorized, with the approval of the Sec
rotary OF the Interior, to make contract
for printing the Official Gazette for long,
er term than one year. The plant required
for producing this publication is valuable
anu tADtlISlNc' anu IL Is DcllcNed lldt COM
petition, to the advantage of the govern
ment, would be greatly encouraged if the
commissioner were given authority TO en-
ter INTO contract for longer period than
one year.
Il refer with interest to the fact that for
three successive years the contract has
been awarded on competitive bids to the
lowest bidder, and at prices progressively
lower, the present contract having been
awarded TO Andrew b. Graham of the city
Of Washington, the lowest of eight bid
derS'
What the Gazette Costs.
The commissioner gives the following
statement as to the contractors and the
amounts paid them for notwithstanding
| the Gazette since 1854, together with the
| price per page:
Other