Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18
UNCLE SAM AS A PRINT
Largest once OF the Kind Nearly Ready
in Washington.


in Washington.
The largest printing office in the world,
with the greatest capacity for putting out
printed matter of all kinds of any estab-
lishment on the globe is receiving the fin
ishing touches at North Capitol and @
streets, in Washington, just a few blocks
north or the Capitol, says the Brooklyn
Eagle. When the last of the carpenters,
painters and plumbers retire, the Stars
and Stripes will be run to the peak of the
flag pole for this monster building has
been put up for the sole occupancy Of
Uncle Sam.
For more than three years now laborers
have been engaged in the task of providing
a new home for the governments publish
ing house, ground having been broken on
the new site in july 1899 The work has
been watched with much interest by sena-
tors and representatives as they arrived
each day at the Capitol, from which place
the gigantic steel frames of the new struc-
ture, looking for all the world like mon
ster bird cage, could easily be seen. Before
Congress meets again the presses will be
inerrily hunming in their new home, the
public printer counting on vacatng the old
quarters in December. Tho army of COM
positors. stereotypers binders and others
under Public Printer Palmer will heaVc a
sigh Of relief as they remove their belong
ings from the old fire trap which has been
their workshop for the past 80 years and
more The fear of some terrible holocaust
in the government printing office has been
in the minds of the officials for years, for
every available foot within its four walls
is crowded to the utmost with workmen
and supplies. The foundations actually
shake under the heavy burdens they bear
when The presses are running.
Foremost among the many improvements
introduced in the new printing house is the
firpnrnOf floors o. cd
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 6
street side, and 175 feet and inches on
the North Capitol front is seven stories
high. beside cellar and loft. the latter por-
lions 10 he used as air spaces in connec-
ton with the modern system of ventilation
that has been adopted. -Four hundred thou
sand feet of floor space are provided, and
this is divided UP in such manner to fur
nish the best facilities for the prompt dis
patch of government work. Statistics relat-
ing to the amount of materials used in the
structure are interesting Twelve million
bricks have gone into the building as well
as 100000 pounds of steel, $500, go pounds
of cast iron and 5000 barrels of cement
OF the 10000 900 bricks, one-fourth are
faced and one third of this number are
enameled. The building is covered by tile
anywhere it will be exceedingly difficult
Tor fire to get n start Fifteen elevators
will answer all requirements, both fer
passenger and freight service. Instead of
water coolers a. refrigeratng plant will BE-
installed and the fluid. after being filtered
will he run through pipes to drinking
fountains in generous numbers throughout
the building.
The amount appropriated for the build
ing was 81. 1921 900 but Capt. Sewell. thc
army engineer officer in charge of the con
structiOn. hopes to turn back $50 600 ofthis
making tho total cost 2,i0o,Nn. Already
installed in the building in very hand
some :oom, are the engines, four in nun
Der. two of 500 horse power, one of 400 and
one Of $50 There are eight boilers of 30
horse powcr each. A travelling crane j.
a part of the engine room equipment, he
ing there to be used in lifting any part OF
the huge machinery in case of necessary
repairs.
The new building. it is estimated is large
enough for present needs. with surplus
room for future growth. Public Printer
Palmer hopes to have the present old
printing Office building torn down and a
rev structure erected on Its site. During
1894. 1875 and 1896 engagements and repairs
were made to e. present printing office
The site Of the new building was purchas
ed in 1895 and 1883.
AS now constituted the office numbers
about 1000 employees. of which about one
third are women. The book bndery, as a
part of the government printing office en-
ploys about 900 Compositors number about
1900. One hundred pressmen and 2o0 press
feeders. In all branches are employed
There are about 600 folders and 26o stitch
ers. OF stereotYpers and electrotypers
there are 50. The remainder of the force
includes hydraulic pressmen, engineers
tiremcn, electricians, boxers, counters