Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-13
UNCLE SANS PRINTERY
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PATENT
OFFICE GAZETTE.
Oldest Man in the Printery Tells Of
Star shoyer-Many Years
Ago-Notes.

OiHCldI NIdZeltG OI ta6 Onitcu SotdtSS PasSAAN
Office is printed. 1t is published regularly
on Tuesdays OF each week. 1t contains the
decisions rendered by the commissioner OF
patents and the United States courts. the
photolithographic claims and drawings of
the weekly issues Of patents, together with
indexes of the same. Besides these import
ant contents. 1t contains designs, trade
marks labels, prints, disclaimers, etc.
A very important branch of work is the
preparation of the indexes to the monthly
or library editions of patents This work,
by the way, as we'll as the largest portion OF
the official Gazette work, is OF such char
acter that it precludes any possibility of its
production by type setting machines. There
are a great many type changes In It's It's
preparation.
zette, the classification bulletin and the
annual report of the commissioner of pat
ents. The latter is volume containing
from 900 to LOCO pages of tabular matter.
The weekly issue of the Gazette contains
from 800 to $50 pages. The commissioner
report is job of no small proportions 1t
requires in it's production about 100000
ems of composition. over 421 ,OUO form i'm
pressions and 40 reams of paper.
Origin of Gazette.
l. may be of interest to learn that the
origin of the Gazette division of the print
cry dates back to the '70's, but 1t only be-
came a separate division on November rs.
1908, when the volume OF work, coupled
with it's Importance, demanded it.
Contemporary with the growth of the
Gazette and the designation of its par
ticular work as division has been the
service of Mr.. Theodore Hodes Of Hudson,
N. Y, who Is the efficient head OF the d.
vision since it's creation. He has been en-
gagged on patent work in the office for over
thirty years. and has seen the force OF
workmen grow from rs men to its present
number $50 Mr.. Hodes has served In the
<s,fr 10 onrn
editor, assistant foreman and foreman.
These qualifications quite naturally com
mended him to Public Printer Palmer. who
never fails to recognize good material when
considering men for chiefs promotions.
At the same time Mr.. Palmer promoted
Mr.. Harvey ]. Southwick of Albany, N. Y.
to be assistant to Mr.. Hodes. and his
recognition is also mutual testimonial of
the excellent system which obtains in the
Office of Mr.. Palmer's business shrewdness
and the employees faithfulness.
Mr.. Hodes also has for assistants Mr..
Samuel G. Kirby of the District of Co
lumbia in charge of the copy desk: Mr..
Joseph C. Kaufman of Gainesville, Pa. as
chief proof reader, and Mr.. e. l.. Scott Of
Pennsylvania as chief makerup. These
gentlemen have seen years of service on
this particular class of work, and their
promotion is also merited recognition of
their qualifications and faithful service.
The proof room contains a force of four
teen readers and copy holders. There are
nirety.
Something About Its Preparation.
The work of preparation of the Patent
Office Gazette is somewhat different from
the methods employed in other printing
work at the Office. The copy for the Gazette
is first very carefully prepared. embracing
as 1t does many technical terms, characters
and complicated parts The headings and
claims of patent specifications are set up
L.. AL
in four-page forms. These forms are al
most as large as half the size of page OF
The Star. Then these pages are delivered
to the issue and gazette division of the pat
ent office, over which Mr.. J. W. Babson
presides chief. The pages are cut up
and pasted together in certain order, with
drawings illustrating the patents. mounted
on cardboard. In this prepared condition
they are then forwarded to the lithogra-
piers, the Norris Peters Company. Here
they are reduced through Photographic
process to one-half the size of copy They
are then printed and returned to the print
ing Office, where they are folded and stitch
ed. and then gathered in with the letter.
press and weekly index, which accompanies
each issue of the Gazette and covered with
q neat paper cover.
The work is rendered very particular by
reason of the character of the composition
and the absolute accuracy required in the
arrangement of all the curious signs char
acters and drawings. 1t may be surprising
to know that very few mistakes ever occur
in the Gazette. 1t has grown to be maxim
around the division with the workmen that
1t must be absolutely correct.
Recalls Star Shower of 1888.
Mr.. Samuel K. Hail. the octogenarian
doorkeeper of the old printing Office build
ing. is one of the interesting personages
one meets in looking through the big print
cry He came from Ohio and the west
about dozen years ago to accept a po-
sition in the office. Though a native of New
York state, he resided in the west for sixty
years. Mr.. Hall is remarkably well-pre-
served man for his advanced years. He
recounts with much zest and familiarity
with astronomy the great shower of stars
which startled the country In November.
1888. He was residing at that time In north
ern Ohio. 1t remarkable astrono1ni-
cal phenomenon. The stars began to fall
about one o'clock in the morning. Nigh.
watchmen awakened the people to witness
the wonderful sight. Many superstitious
persons supposed that the world was COM
ing to end. The greatest alarm was
manifested by the colored population who
looked with awe and CONSERVATION upon
the strange scene. 1t was not until daylight
came to obliterate the brightness OF the
meteoric shower that their fears were al
layed. 1t was estimated by astronomers at
the time that the earth had entered the path
of the falling meteors at about the same
rate of speed, $500 miles an hour. which
partly accounted for few striking the earth
AS Mr.. Hall aptly puts It, the earth had
the right of way! Mr.. Hall Is ripe ir rarni-
niscences of early life and has the light
heart Of one many years his junior.
Notes
Mr.. Arthur P. Ferl, who is remembered
by many as a former employee of the treas
ury branch, Is now assistant foreman of
the government printing Office at Manila,
Philippines He is recalled to many minds
just now by reason of the reception by
friends of gifts from the faraway islands
Joseph E. Goodkey of the third division
is announced as candidate for delegate
to the American Federation of Labor.
Messrs. +. r. Razey, F. M. Claflin. Frank
r. McFadyen, w. ]. Phillips, Theodore
Gerber, Warner L. Wilmeth, William H.
Harrison and James B. Huss were trans
ferred from the third division to the night
bill ferce-Harrison and Huss temporarily
Mr.. T. Frank Hall is the third divisions
own candidate for delegate to the fnterna-
tional. He has a large circle of friends
who supporting his candidacy.
Mr.. Frank Poulson of the job department
has succeeded T. d. Murphy, deceased, in
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