The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-23
WORK OF AN EDITING FORCE
What is Done by the Division of
Publications.
Over seven Million Copies of Public
Documents Sent Ont i'm One Year.
The Demand Tor Agricultural De-
partment Data steadily increasing


report just issued concerning It's work by
the Division of Publications of the Depart
Tnent Of Agriculture. over the destinies
of which George William Hill, of Mime
sofa, presides as editor. This branch of
the department was established in 1889
as a section of the Division of Statistics
and in 1895 became the Division Of Pub
LEGATIONS The statement Just issued says:
The divisional force numbers more
than 100 persons. including editorial
clerks. proofTeaders, indexers, artists, en-
gravers. -stenographers, typewriters. book
keepers. folders and Iaborers-
The division edits all bulletins. reports,
and circulars submitted for publication
and has supervision of all printing done
for the department, with the exception Of
that Of the Weather Bureau 1t is also
charged with the preparation Of the Illus
trations and with the distribution of all
publications issued.
During the fiscal year ended June So
1900, the number of publications issued IN
der the supervision of the editor was 373
aggregating 10.S52 printed pages, the to-
tai number of printed copies being T,152,-
AS. The editorial and pToofrcaders' care
and revision. simple estimate shows,
was more for this work than is required
to edit one of the popular magazines for
twelve years. And this work is editorial
revision Of scientific publications, calling
for accuracy which certainly that Of the
average popular magazine Is not.
AS showing the steady growth Of the
publication work of the Department of
Agriculture, it may be noted that in 1893
the number Of bulletins and reports Is
sued was only 20. and the number Of
printed copies 1853, 04s And yet with this
small number the department came near
CT supplying the demand then for the
publication than with the more than T.
000O00 copies printed last year, thus illus
trating the rapidly increasing use Of the
publications by persons TO whom they are
OF interest, and the inability Of entirely
meeting the popular demand During the
eight years. 1893 to 1890. inclusive the
number of publications issued was 3,04Z
and the number Of printed copies 45.5I0.-
-
The regular printing fund for the De-
partment of Agriculture Is 100000, Of
which $4,000 is set aside Tor the Use of
the Weather Bureau. In addition to this,
Congress for last year appropriated $4,000
for the preparation and printing Of Far
Tners' Bulletins of which 1850, 90 copies
we're printed and distributed, two-thirds
being sent out on the orders Of Senators,
Representa- -es and Delegates IN Con
gress- The appropriation for the present
year for printing such bulletins is $3.50,
which viii permit the publication of about
:.Jf9,900 copies Under the present law
four-fifths of this number are for distri-
button to Senators, Representatives and
Delegates in Congress.
An appropriation of S30a,000 is also
made each year for the printing of 200 00G
y fYTrI,
has taken the place of the Agricultural
Report the publication Of which began
as far back as 1871,
The total of the funds for printing, IL
Illustrations. labor, etc. under the supeTvi-
sion Of the chief OF the di-'ision Is nearly
Sf00.63e which Is spent fer the diffusion Of
the information acquired by the Depart
Esent Of Agriculture in accordance with
the act creating it
IN addition to the publication work. the
div isiou has charge OF the miscellaneous
printing Of the department, and during
the year many million circulars, blanks,
Ia belS. etc. are printed
The Division also prepares and issues
advance notices Of publications IN press
and in regard 10 the work OF the Depart
mert and prints list OF publications each
month. q copy OF which is mailed 10 all
who request it. BY this means applicants
are advised of the b3IIleti7s and reports
issued, and naanE apply fer those relating
TO subjects in which they are interested
OF the scientific and technical bulletins
only small editions are issued While OF the
popular publications the widest possible
distribution is made Under the law
limited number OF copies Of all Publica-
tons Issued Is turned over 20 the Super
intendent of Documents who affixes
nominal price at which he VIII dispose of
them TO miscellaneous applicants The
number OF documents OF the Department
sold by him last year was 1886, and the
price realized 3 1875
As an evidence Of the appreciation Of
- ..v-rr-
abroad ii may be stated that Mr.. Hill re-
Gently received from the French Govern
nent an appointment as 'DfhcieT du Merite
AgTiCole.' accompanied by the decoration
of the order.
1T is by no means alone the regular or
more dignif=d publications OF the depart
ment which require the care and super
vision OF the division over Whlch EGlJOT
Hin presfdeS. 4 very considerable amount
Of attention must needs be given 10 what
nay he known as the job printing of the
department: and p brief statement Of the
enormous volume of this gives as inter
eSting an insight into the great work Of
this active branch Of governmental Gn-
deavor as anything We can CaA 70 mind
The character and amount Of the Job
work done in the branch office were as
follows
Envelopes, 800, 80; letter heads and note
heads. sos 800; cards. 81 81; bulletins, D
90, circulars, SS6, 200, blanks. 4,3ll.95D, Ia
bells and shipping tags 1.IO4.219, franks
SIC SO; monthly and other lists. 625345:
other notices, AS. 7G5; miscellaneous, 3D.,
3le. Total II rs 126.
Naturally, the jBdiCtolS distribution of
the vast volume of the publications of the
Department Of Agriculture calls for an
enormous amount OF correspondence Of
various sorts. Here again we find figures
which viii illustrate how earnestly this
division enters into the work Of ena bling
Uncle Sam to be of the greatest possible
aid 10 his great and growing family of
those who want to know or this cor
TeSpDndenCe We read
- The amount Of work devolviug on the
document section has SenSibIy increased:
especially Is this the case IN regard TO the
correspondence and answering, either by
letter or ny means of partially printed
blanks. the vast number Of applications
for publications received daily from all
parts OF the country There were pre-
pared in this section during the year = Gg2
letters for the signature Of the Secretary,
and ga communica tons for the sigma
t;re Of the editor The partially printed
blanks. postal cards and circulars bearing
printed signature numbered - ,2222 max
ing 4. total Of replies prepared. addressed
and mailed to communications received
in the document section, of 2Sl 10 Add
ing TO this number the letters and other
communications prepared in the main of
fee of the division, We have the enormous
number of 100000 separate cOmmuniCa-
tions prepared. addressed and mailed dur
ing the year or 1000 for each working
day When it is remembered that each
one or these communications involves the
consideration. handling and filing of an
order or an application. SOME idea may be
formed of the amount Of clerical and
Semi-cleEIcai work entailed upon the doc
uTntHt section. largely performed by per
sons empioyed as laboCerS, ard whose
services are consequently only incidental
" available for clerical or semi-cIerical