The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-08
Is VIRGINIAN KEPT BUSY in
WINDING CLOCKS FOR UNCLE SAM
Mr.. Fleming. Official Time
Keeper for Government.
NEW ONES GIVE TROUBLE
The Great Variety Of New Clocks Intro
Y ducad Makes the Care Of Them
Much More Troublesome
than of Yore.
Especial to The yimes-Dispatch.)

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.)
Is WASHINGTON, Nov 1.-The official
umeAeeper for the Department In Wash
ington is Mr.. Edward S. Fleming, resi-
dent of Alexandra. Va. who has his
den deep down in a small room In the
endorsement OF the Treasury building.
and here he has personally supernlend-
sd tho regulating Of teh lln,e pieces for
Uncle Sam for almost a hall century.
There is not in ali Washington q mora
dignifIed and distinguished appearing gen.
tleman than this oinclal tmc-piece rcsu.
later, who is Il native of the ancient city
of Alexandria. just beyond tho Potomac,
and who learned his trade In Philadelphia
from which city he received his appoint
nent as CLOCK winder' for the governs
ment. Al the time Mr. Fleming first en-.
tered upon hsf duties tho majority Of
clocks used In the departments were OF
the good oldtime eght-day kind. and It
was not very dfiicul, matter for him
TO see that the penduiums were kepl In
good running order, and that each clock
received It's regular eighth day winding.
some OF the old lime pieces then doi..s uuty
in the main corridors and in the rooms OF
the chief bosses of the several DEPART
ments. Electrical clocks and those which
get-all-you-can-oul-of clerks, chiefs had
introduced later. We're then unknown. and
the Official clock wiHder found his place
not very difficult one to fill However.
with the introduction Of various and sun
dry makes of time pieces, Mr.. Fleming's
troubles and duues Increased. and he,
as expressed by himself, was practically
Forced TO learn the business over" The
introduction OF the new style clocks put
the old-timers out of commission, and the
result is that now there are only a pre-
cious few of the old familiar faces Of the
eight-day and grandfather clocks TO greet
the chief surgeon as he goes on Ills daily
rounds OF clock winding and repairing.
Yes, yes, l miss the dear Old Clocks"
said Mr. Fleming as he settled himself
back in his chair In his den and there
are percious few of the new tangled
clocks which can keep better time than
the old fellows, These new ones seem
eternally troubled with backache, collie,
govt, cramps, corns, bun!ons, or SOME
other ailment, and needs be doctered fire.
quently. II was not this way with the
old tellows-they just seemed naturally
to want to so righ, ahead and tick OF
the time, They were not much for show,
but when II came down TO kecpng tine
they were there on the spot. Some OF tile
clocks OF the present day are only for
dress parade" and not foractusl SER
vice. am not infrequen,ly called upon
10 doctor one Of the many costly clocks
Ia The departments or at the While
House and sometimes ] am forced u X
myself the question. how does the peaK,'
thing manage to tick lime, anyhow? The
outsiGes ale as pretty as country sirl
AT camp meeting, but the inside. my.
my. my.
but must not speak OF these State
secrets'--it Is 'unprofessionai.' you know.
and VIC must let the outside World believe
ta5 W
the government Is just simply perfect.
There are number OF very expensive
clocks which have been gwen the United
Etates by other countries, and It would
not be exactly polite, TO shy the least.
10 gay that these elaborate clocks are
not a. good as the oid-timers. Sumo o,
{. .he new ones are very excellent time
pieces. but not all Of them. no. no,
Myself and assistants are kept pretty
busy looking after the clocks in the de-
partments and seeing that they are or
duty II would not co TO let the clerks
have any chance 70 say thai the CLOCK
"a thkl room was not keeping correct