The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
PLANT SAVES MONEY.
Boston's Municipal Printing Office is
q Success.


Boston, Oct. 22.-The following report
on the expense of city printing since the
establishment of the municipal printing
plant will be sent to the board of alder
men tomorrow. 1t states that this much
discussed experiment in municipal own
ership has been a financial success. The
quality of work done by Superintendent
Whalen and his staff has spoken of it
self:
Boston. Oct. 49, 1897.
Josiah Quincy, Mayor of Boston:
Sir-As requested by you. we have made
an examination of the results of the op-
GRAFTON of the Municipal Printing Plant
for the first six months to September l.
1897, the basis being a comparison with
the cost to the city for the same work
under the contract with 4Iessrs. Rock
weH & Churchill, which existed prior to
the establishment of the plant.
We employed Mr. William Franklin
Hall. an expert accountant of large ex-
perience and high standing, to make up
the accounts, with instructions 10 make a
thorough and exhaustive report based on
original vouchers.
The prices for work have been Credited
under the supervision of Mr. Thomas P
Nichols of Lynn, practical printer
thoroughly conversant with work of this
nature, and a well known member of
sonally examined and valued the work
done, on the basis of the Rockwell &,
Churchill contract.
The cost of the plant has been carefully
calculated by us on a conservative bust
ness basis and we have charged to oper-
ating expense depreciation at the rate OF
10 per cent per annum on the total cost
of the plant.
A careful account of stock on hand and
and all unpaid bills entered in our ac-
count.
We find the actual net cost OF the plant
to the city, after deducting for deprecia-
tion as above. to have been $87. 7S749
We find the result of the six months
operation of the plant to have been a
profit to the city of ST. S6O.16.
Respectfully submitted
JAMES P. STEARNS,
GEORGE H. ELLIS,
JOHN G. COBB
Mayor Quincy will send the following
message to the board of aldermen:
Mayors Office,
City Hail, Boston. Oct. 49, 1887.
To the City Council:
1 transmit herewith for your informa-
tion a report made to me by Messrs
James p. Stearns, George H. Ellis and
John c. Cobb OF the financial results of
the municipal printing plant, from March
L to September l of the present year.
This committee was constituted at my re-
quest by the merchants municipal COM
mittee and its inquiry into the matter
has extended over more than two months.
I submit this report, based upon the
exhaustive inquiry of a committee whose
qualifications for the work must be con-
ceded by all, with much satisfaction, as
assurance to the citizens Of Boston
that the financial calculations upon which
the executive took the responsibility of
recommending the esta blishment OF mu-
nicipal printing plant have been fully JUS
titled by the results of its operation thus
far. If the showing continues to be as
good for the future, the city will at the
end of about three years own a valuable
and well equipped printing plant. which
viii have been paid for in full by the
savings effected in comparison with the
contract with Rockwell & Churchill.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSIAH QUINCY, Mayor.