Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31
OLD BUT ENERGETIC
BOSTON UP-TO-DATE DESPITE ITS
GREAT AGE.
Perfected Transportation System, Mag
nifcent Parks and Municipal
Printing Office.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star

BOSTON, Mass, October 90, 1908.
OF the cities of the United States the
old capital of the bay state Is one of the
Oldest, If not indeed the oldest in the
land. On the seal of Boston are inscribed
the words "Bostoia Condta, A D. 1880"
and that must be admitted by even the
denizens of the old world to be ripe old
age. Let no one, however run away with
the idea that with, age have come to the
chief city of New England loss Of vigor
and a disposition to lay back on laureis
won scores of years ago. The most unob-
servant stranger within her gates must
note a strength, an indonitable energy,
courage that shrinks from no difficulties
that would be wonderful even in the wild
and woolly west. The municipality as such
may have attained what here is old age
indeed, but in nothing is wanting the
strenuous spirit that goes with young ard
vigorous manhood.
For many years the street car traffic of
Boston was conducted under difficulties that
each year became more likely to prove in
surmountable but by the exercise of the
best obtainable engineering skill, by the
expenditure of many millions of money,
an extensive subway and many miles of
elevated roadbed gave the relief needed,
and there is no longer serious danger Of
congestion that threatened to injure
trade and make traffic all but impossible.
Hand in hand with a perfected system of
transportation magnificent system of
parks for the people has been created, and
there is now at the command of the hum
bleSt in the great city a means of enjoying
the beauties of nature and art combined
that does much to make life worth living,
and that reflects credit imperishable on the
qualities of heart and head that called 1t
into being
Public Printing.
To the two thousand members of our
Columbia Typographical Union who have
the good fortune to pursue their calling
in this pearl among cities 1t will be of In
terest to learn that the city of Boston has
for several years initiated the general gov
eminent by doing it's own printing in it's
own office, and the figures show that the
proverbial Yankee thrift has been dem
onstrated in the operation.
This public printing Office was created in
1897. and has now been in operation for six
years. 1t is under the SUPPLEMENTARY of
Thomas A. Whalen, whose standing as a
printer and business man seems fiatteringly
attested by the results achieved. The man
ner of conducting the operations of the
municipal printing Office, which is the
| Bostonese for the hubs public printing es-
| tablishment. seems to be to charge for each
| item ordered the rate of prices charged in
| the days or the contracting system, and In
| this wise 1T seems easy to ascertain the sue
| cess the failure of the present method.
According to law very full report of the
| operations of the municipal printing office is
annually made by its superintendent and from
| the last resume submitted by Mr. Whalen
| gather that the different departments of
| the city of Boston in the year beginning
| February /, 1902, ordering printing to the
amount of S179,931.72 The expenses OF the
| office including every item necessary in its
| operation. amounted to $40, 6SS.O8, leaving
a gross profit over the contracting system
of S92438. OF this apparent profit, how
| ever, Superintendent WhaIen urges that 10
/ per cent of the cost of the plant. or
81. So. should be deducted which leaves
the net gain for the year trifle over a, GOO
Eight-Hour Day.
| A noteworthy fact in this connection is
| the establishment of the eight-hour day in
Boston's printing house. This is an hour
| less per day than the time that employees
| in private offices work. The entire pay roll
! for the year covered by Mr. Whalen's re-
| port amounts to SOL. 957.7S. which Is almost
| eight thousand dollars less than for the
| preceding year. Inasmuch as during the
| last year with smaller pay roll, more
| work was accomplished than for the year
| before, an explanation seemed in order, and
| this Is furnished by the simple statement
| that the present superintendent deemed 1t
unnecessary to continue In the public EN-.