The times., 1899-12-29
SHEDS 4 MENACE TO LIFE
The 0utbuiIdings of the Bureau of
Engraving Dangerous.

Old Structures That May De Replac-
ed Mt This Session of Congress
Secretary Cages Statement-NaIua-
bile Property stored in Them said
10 BE Not Adequately Protected.
There is strong reason to believe that
Congress viii comply with the recon-
mendation Of the Secretary OF the Treasury
and appropriate SI15,0O0. for freproof out
buildings for the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing In recent communication 20
the Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tfves the Secretary says:
II have the honor TO cali your attention
10 the necessity for ireproof outbuildings
in connection with the United States Bu-
reau Of Engraving and Printing building,
al Washington, d. C., arising from the fact
THAT the temporary sheds. now used as out
buildings, which have been constructed
during the last twenty years as temporary
structures 70 meet the emergencies Of the
service are entirely unsuitable for use.
The attention Of Congress has been re-
peatedly called TO the ne Esity for these
outbuiidings. but no action has been taken
relative thereto. and al this time il is con
sidered almost impossible to longer occupy
the present buildings, as they are in such
condition as not to be fit for the occupancy
OF human beings. II was necessary 10
abandon one during the last year. as there
was danger Of a collapse, which would in
jure the employees working therein They
ren- only ~.
lives OF the employees, but are also q source
Of danger 10 the entire neighborhoOd on ac-
count OF their combusuble 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 exceed
ingly costly and the supplies are not only
expensive but OF very combustible nature.
and there is great risk, therefore. OF large
financial loss to the Government from the
destruction by fire OF such machinery and
supplies. besides the great inconvenience
which would result on account Of the in
teTruption Of the work which would follow
their destruction.
In view of the foregoing. ] have the
honor 10 recommend that Congress be re-
Quested at an early date. TO appropriate
Sll5C8J for freprOof ouubuildings for the
Uuited States Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing
The Secretary also requests an appro-
priatiOn OF S1ee-0e0 for an extension Of the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing. The
present building is totally inadequate be-
cause of the large increase in the work 10
be executed by the bureau IN engraving
printing, and finishing the securities Of the
United States.
The total number OF impressions dcliv-
erred a7frfrp he 4ncF Fer-l z-aar. E4-ae vea4-1.-
70 per cent in excess Of the number pro-
duceG in 1885. and ii is estimated that the
increase for the coming fiscal year will be
= per cent over the production Of 1888
and for the following year 40 per cent
During inc year 1899 iI was found neces-
saTy, IN order 10 finish the number os
shee-s produced. 10 considerably extend
the work beyond the regular hours. aud iu
one branch cf the service il has been
necessary TO provide a double set of en-
pi0yes, one in service from S o'clock
a M until 9 O'clock 2. M. and Ihs other
from 4 o'clock ?. m until midnight.
The increase in force has been from
1.6g5 IN 1881 10 1903 in 1893 and ls35
al the present date, and all this addition
70 the work and the force mas been made
Eince The lasl addition to the building was
authorized hy the acts OF august is, 1881,
and March 2, 1885.
In 1851. the first full fiscal year during
which the building was occupied, me total
number of sheets produced was IT. t-11- -5tl,
and the average number Of employees was
S5S I'll Is estimated that the ouIpu for
the year 1861 VIII be I36. .lzl. .559 sheets or
fyeicld THAI Of 1881, and me average NUM-
ber Ct employees al present t1-a5S is over
tWof0ld the number employed ln 1851
Since 1881 the space available mas been
Increased b5 Lhe act o. august 80 1880
under Hhlch the west wing Was added,
increasing tEe floor space ab0at 20 per
cent and by acts Of August IS 1893 and
March q 1885 under which three addition
al stories were added 10 The centre Eiuz
Of the building. giving an Increase o.
II I-2 per ceuL IT VIII thus he seen thai
while the work has increased tveiCld aud
the number of employees over fTufoid. the
available working space has only been In
creased 81 IL per cent? as result here
is graat erOwding Gt The employees O.
the several floors.
tt the binding and machine divisions
mainly located ID the basement a co8sid-
cradle number Of employees are put - work
il the subbasemenL or cellar. The surface
branch also located Ia the basement has
not sufficient room, and an additional force
is REQUIRED 20 work al night The engrav-
Ing division has insufficient light for the
number Of employees necessary. The ex-
aiming division is very much crowded
and as result impressions must at tlmes
be placed upon the floor. IL the F-intue
division there is insufficient space for all
he hand presses required and The result
is thar very large force Of what Is known
as -ehance printers must be employed
The presses thar are in use are very
much crowded there being barely uffi-
cieDt space between mauy Of them 10 per-
mit the operation OF fhe cross handles
In The dressing rooms as many as Jhre'
persons occupy a single locker a p1aetic,
which IS personally Objectionable to the
employees. and uusanitary
After a careful consideration af th,
present and prospective needs OF the bu,
reau. it appear rhat a building having
about l5 GG0 square feet Of additional spac,
viii De- required which is practically To,
size Of the west wing added by the ACT o
Congress dated August 30, 1880
ASPHYxIATED IN a HOTEL.