Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-29

appropriations has completed the first draft
| OF the sundry civil appropriation bill, and
| IL Is IN readiness to be taken up soon as
chairman Cannon appoints the subcommit-
| tees next week. Since the original esti-
| mates upon which the bill is based were
| submitted to the House several supple
mental estimates have been received. These
| estimates, which were noted in The Star
when presented, will also be considered by
| the subcommittee when the bill is taken up.
FfreprOOf OutbuiIdings.
Among the supplemental estimates We're
| two for proposed improvements for the bu-
reau of engraving and printing. aggregat-
ing in cost $215,0O0 The supervising archi-
tect asked for $4,000 for fireproof out
buildings for the bureau, and said: The
temporary sheds now used as outbuildings.
which have been constructed during the
last twenty years as temporary structures
to meet the emergencies of the service, are
entirely unsuitable for use. The attention
of Congress has been repeatedly called to
the necessity for these outbuildingS, but no
action has been taken relative thereto, and
at this time it is considered almost impos-
Sible to longer occupy the present build
ings, they are in such condition as not to
be fit for the occupancy of human beings.
1t was necessary to abandon one during the
last year as there was danger of a col
lapse which would injure the employees
working therein. They not only men,
ace to the health and lives of the employees,
but are also a source of danger to the en-
tire neighborhood on account of their COM
buStible character.
There are in these buildings the ink mills,
the rag laundry, the carpenter and machine
shops the stable and wagon house and the
space for the storage of inks and other
supplies. The machinery is exceedingly
costly. and the supplies not only expensive,
but of very combustible nature and there
is great risk, therefore, Of large financial
loss to the government from the destruc-
tion by fire of such machinery and supplies.
besides the great inconvenience which
would result on account OF the interruption
of the work which would follow their de-
struction.'
Engraving and Printing Bureau Ex-
tension.
The supervising architect also asked for
100000 for an extension to the bureau of
engraving and printing. the necessity for
which. he sad arises from the large in
crease in the work to be executed by the
bureau in engraving printing and finishing
the securities of the United States.
The total number of impressions deIiv-
cred during the last fiscal year was nearly
20 per cent in excess of the number pro-
duced in 1898, and it is estimated that the
increase for the coming fiscal year will be
~ per cent over the production of 1898, and
for the following year 40 per cent
During the year 1899 it was found neces-
sary. In order to finish the number of
sheets produced, to considerably extend the
work beyond the regular hours and in one
branch of the service it has been necessary
to provide a double set of employees one in
service from o'clock am. until 4 oclocl,
pm ,9,i and the other from O'clock pm. until
THE increase in force has been from 1 6O5
in 1897 TO 1903 in 1899, and 1913 at the
present date, and all this addition to the
work and the force has been made since
the last addition to the building was au-
thorlZed by the acts of August IS, 1894 and
March 9. 1888.
In 1881, the first full fiscal year during
which the building was occupied, the total
number of sheets produced was 26,017, 661.
and the average number of EMPLOYEES was
Dos It is estimated that the output for the
fold that of 1881, and the average number
OF employees at present q $3.50 is over two
fold the number employed in 1881.
Crowdins of Employees.
Since 1881 the space available has been
increased by the act Of August 80 1890, I'M
der which the west wing was added, in
creasing the floor space about 20 per cent
and by acts of August IS, 1894 and March
2. 1895 under which three additional stories
were added to the center wing of the build
ing, giving an increase of 171a per cent 1t
will thus be seen that while the work has
increased fvefold and the number of en-
ployes over twofold, the available working
space has only been increased 3d. per cent:
as a result there is great crowding of the
employees of the several floors. In the bind
ing and machine divisions, mainly located
In the basement, a considerable number of
employees are put TO work in the subbase-
ment or cellar. The surface branch also
located in the Easement. has not sufficient
room, and an additional force is required to
work at night. The engraving division has
insufficient light for the number of employees
necessary. The examining division is very
much crowded, and az a result impressions
must at times be placed upon the floor In
the printing division there is insufficient
space for all the hand presses required, and
the result is that a very large force of
what Is known as chance printers must
be employed.
THE presses that are in use are very
much crowded, there being barely sufficient
space between many of them to permit the
operation of the cross handles. In the dress
ing rooms as many as three persons occupy
a single locker, a practice which is per-
sonally Objectionable to the employees, and
fnsanitary.
after a careful consideration of the pres
ent and prospective needs of the bureau it
appears that building having about $4,000
square feet of additional space will be re-
quired. which is practically the size of the
west wing added by the act of Congress
dated August 80, $780,
New Boilers for Treasury.
The supervising architect also asked for
500. 900 for new boilers in the treasury build
ing, and $4,000 for new pipe tunnels in that
building. He said:
1.-THE boilers in connection with the heat
ing plant in the treasury building are 30
thoroughly worn by long and constant
usage that it Is no exaggeration to saw that
unless new boilers are provided by the be-
ginning of the next heating season the op-
GRAFTON of those at present in use is likely
to be seriously and finally interrupted
Temporary repairs have been made from
time to time to keep these boilers in OBJ
Grafton, but the limit of such methods has
been reached. A number of these boilers
have been in use over thirty years. The
shells are badly pitted and corroded and
retubing has been resorted to SO frequently
that the original holes in the boiler heads
require hushing.
Bids have been invited for doing this
work upon two different occasions, and in
both instances the amount of the lowest
hid WAS s,,co tn nr,ar3,,da