Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-22
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents sketebed
on the spot.


workmen are putting the finishing
touches on the new government printing
ONCE and in q few months what is pro-
nounced the largest printing shop on the
globe will be in operation. Foremost
among the many improvements introduced
in the new printing house." writes the
correspondent OF the Brooklyn Eagle, "is the
1reproof feature, The floors are designed
to sustain heavy loads and the brick and
steel walls are two feet seven inches thick
throughout the entire height. The struc-
ture, which is 40s feet in length on the @
street side and 175 feet and three inches
on the north Capitol front, is seven stories
high beside cellar and loft, the latter por-
tions to be used as air spaces in connec-
tion with the modern system of ventilation
that has been adopted. Four hundred
thousand feet Of floor space are provided
and this is divided up in such manner as
to furnish the best facilities for the
prompt dispatch OF government work.
Statistics relating to the amount of ma
terials used in the structure are interest
ing. Twelve million bricks have gone into
the building as we'll as 1900 900 pounds Of
steel, 100000 pounds of cast iron and
$4,000 barrels Of cement. OF the 10000, 900
bricks, one-fourth are faced and e-third
is covered by tile, laid in asphalt, and, as
no plaster is used anywhere. It will be ex-
ceedingly difficult for fire to get a start
Fifteen elevators will answer all require
ments both for passenger and freight serv-
ice. Instead Of water coolers a refrigerat-
ing plant will be installed and the fluid.
after being filtered, will be run through
pipes to drinking fountains in generous
numbers throughout the building
The amount appropriated for the build
ing was S2,429, 900, but Captain SewelI, the
army engineer officer in charge OF the con-
struction, hopes to turn back S29, 900 Of
this, making the total cost 81, ,4O0, 900. AL
ready installed In the building in a very
handsome engine room are the engines
four In number, two of 500 horse power,
enc OF 400 and one of 25O There are eight
boilers of 300-horse power each. tray-
cling crane is a part Of the engine room
equipment, being there to be used in lift
ing any part of the huge machinery in case
Of necessary repairs.
THE new building, II is estimated, is
large enough for present needs, with sur
plus room for future growth. Public
Printer Palmer hopes to have the present
old printing ONCE building torn down and
new structure erected on it's site. Dur
Ahb Aoo1t Aooo duu 1oSO ana
repairs were made to the present printing
office. The site Of the new building was
purchased in 1898 and 1899.
"As now constituted the Office numbers
about 1000 employees, of which about one
third are women. The book bindery, as a
part Of the government printing ONCE, en-
ploys about 900. Compositors number
about 1,2O0. One hundred pressmen and 200
press feeders, in all branches. are en-
ployed There are about 600 folders and
26O stttchers OF stereotypers and electro
| typers there are fifty-fve. The remainder
| Of the force includes hydraulic pressmen.
engineers, hremen, electricians, boxers.
| counters, watchmen, helpers and laborers"
The amount of tobacco smoke turned loose
on the ambient air every month is not
measurable because there is no ADEQUATE
means OF putting in statistical form the
drafts Of people who hit the pipe There
are, however, accurate figures on the con-
sumption Of cigars. as practically all that
are manufactured go up In smoke. Sta
! tistics compiled by the internal revenue de-
partment show the output for the last half
Of 1901 and the first half OF 1902, as follows: