Evening star., 1896-12-17
Mr.. Benedict's Report on the Condi.
tion of His Office.
BETTER EQUIPPED THAN EVER BEFORE
Large Increase in the Amount OF
Work Done.
A NEW BUILDING NEEDED

He iSpoTt WAS Dy fuDuC fr1Nter benedict,
who said that never before had a public
| printer been able to make SO favorable re-
port on the condition of the Office and its
work as was his good fortune to do this
year.
| Strengthening the building, and of the
printing material said:
Besides these a number Of new machines
have been purchased and erected in the Of
| flee, which has greatly added to its pro-
| ductive capacity, new type and other print
ing material has been freely supplied where
| needed, and reserve material accumulated
| suff1cient IN amount To meet the extraor-
dinary demands for hurried work to which
| at times the office Is peculiarly subject
Fully 10000 square feet of floor space has
| been added to the office by the recent ad-
| ditions and leases"
It's Present Equipment.
Again he says: "In view of the data at
| my command feel justified in assuring
| Congress that at the present time the gov
| ernment printing office is fully equal In its
equipment and organization to performing
| all the government printing as promptly
and economically as is possible until COM
plete new ard modern office buildings are
erected. While its floor space as now oc-
cupied is much divided and In some cases
| lnconVenient yet 1t is abundant, is largely
equipped with the best modern machinery
current work is promptly executed, DELAYED
work has been brought up to date, and the
accumulation OF reserve work has been
largely reduced.
Il consider that the office is now In a
position to meet all probable demands upon
| it for a considerable period Of time at least
sufficient period to enable Congress intel
| ligently and systematically to take up the
work OF providing an entire new office,
With the DurDOSe of making aI
establishment.
! while the saving in money and time as
result of enlal sing and improving the
office is an interesting and important con-
sideration, and must Inevitably within a
short period Of time, reimburse the national
| treasury for the full cost of the same and
afford continuing profit upon the work
of the future, it is but a triie compared
| to the advantages conferred upon the EN-
| pioyes by the conveniences and comforts
with which they have been surrounded.
One Apprehension Removed.
As result of the many improvements
| that have been made to the office during
the past two years, am happy to say that
| all apprehension to the loss of life from
insecure buildings is removed.
THE full occupancy of the new west
wig and of the floors of the new fifth
story of the south wing has rendered pos
Sible the removal of the overweight of ma
chinery and material from the II street
side of the office. The extensive appiica-
ton Of directly connected electric motor
power to the many machines upon the
floors of the H street and North Capitol
street wings has permitted the removal of
much weight of shafting and connections
and largely reduced the vibrations attend
ing the old method of power supply
The erection of the new boiler house and
boilers a a safe distance from the working
divisions permits the abandoning of the old
boiler plant In the court except for the
moderate use of supplying extra heat in
extremely cold weather.
The new electric power and lighting sys-
tenn, which has been pronounced model of
insulation by all electrical engineers who
have examined 1t, has largely reduced the
probability from fire and accident which
attended the cruder methods of the past
made possible better light and cleanliness
in the various divisions, and, taken in con-
nection with the new toilet and filtering
system and other sanitary provisions, re-
moved discomforts and Inconvenience that
menaced the health of employees.
A New Building Needed.
"It Is not intended to convey the impress
sion by anything previously stated In re-
gard to improvements that they affect in
any way the argument in favor of provid-
ing new government printing office at as
early a date possible. Unless Congress
proposes to eventually abolish this office
and return to the contract system it is its
unmistakable duty to provide at once for
fully equipped model establishment, in
which the governments printing can be ex-
ecuted at the minimum Of cost and of
which every American printer and book
binder may be proud. The amount Of money
expended for this wise provision would be
speedily saved to the government In small
er appropriations that would otherwise be
required, while its necessity Is apparent In
view Of the inevitable growth Of public
printing, in keeping with the rapid growth
and progress of the country.
I'm my judgment no step should now be
taken by Congress toward erecting a gov
ernment printing office that Is not based
upon the most careful plans and expert
knowledge. A proper commission should
be first appointed to procure and present
the fullest information in regard to the
larger private printing offices of the coun-
try. Every detail Of the modern progress
of the art should be mastered. The build
ing architecturally should be designed for a
printing office, and for no other purpose
whatever. The question Of site is of
minor Importance. A printing office Is q
workshop. and this is true in more par
ticular sense Of the government printing
office than Of many private concerns, which
ofttimes are mere adtuncts to publishing
houses engaged in advancing the interests
be perfectly adapted in light and floor
space, in ventilation and heating, in sani-
tary conditions, and In Its mechanical plant
to the most perfect execution Of the gov
|.
1t might. with the highest advantage to the
government. be made ideal In its appoint
ments and appliances-an exhibit Of the
progress OF the highest humanity and in
telligence in building construction, as well
as Of the highest economy and efficiency
In the printing trade.
Increase Of Work.
''The Increase in the amount Of printing
done by the ONCE during the past fiscal
year was much in excess Of the average
yearly growth Of the past. The use of
paper was the largest in its history. reach
ing total Of 5,457 151-2Oo0 tons Of book
writing, ledger. plate and other printing
papers, being go tons more than was used
the year preceding and 6S4 tons more than
was ever heretofore used In a single year.
The number Of form Impressions In the
press room of the main office-not includ-
Ing the press rooms of the department
branches-was 179,228, 46p, an increase of
IS. 5S2,3 ,361 impressions over the previous
year. The bindery consumed 40 tons of
binders board, 6,102 pieces Of book CLOTH
1900 dozen sheep skins. besides other
leather, bound and delivered DIS, ,454 oc-
tayo and quarto volumes in cloth and