The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
JUNGLE SANS" GREAT
PRESS IN WASHINGTON
High-Speed Machine in the Gov
eminent Printing Offices Does
$4,000 Flights" an Hour.
DELIVERS THEM FOLDED

WASHINGTON. April ia printing
press which can whirl off $1,000 completed
and folded eight-page signatures an hour
is the notwithstanding wonder which
has been installed in the government print
ing office by Public Printer Palmer. This
great machine, which weighs $1,000 pounds
and cost Uncle Sam s3s,500. was built by
Hoe & Co. and is intended to be used for
printing the Congressional Record. which
now requires two presses, each printing
four-page signatures. The new press will
print four. eight or sixteen-page signatures.
as may be desired. This huge piece of
mechanism requires the services of ten
men to operate it. One of the most re-
markable features of the press is that it's
movements are absolutely controlled by the
touching Of three buttons which could be
manipulated by the touch of an infant.
There are eight stations on the press. at
each of which the three manipulating
buttons-the on button for starting the
machine. the ''stop-off button for stop
ping the press or reducing its speed and
the safety button for bringing the ma
chine TO stop in case of accident. The
first pressure on the ION" button causes
the press to go ahead slowly. then success
ton until it is going at tsp-notch speed.
The third pressure on the on button
throws the big press from the small cleo
trio motor to the large one and gives il its
highest speed
Speaking Of the speed, Mr.. Louis Espey,
pressman in charge of the great printing
machine said the record" run of the big
press far was made several DAYS ago.
when the machine, running as two presses,
printed seventeen signatures, two forms.
eight pages to the signature, in six hours,
including making ready" the forms.
The press is new and somewhat stiff
yet" said Mr.. Espey, land will make a
run on $4,000 Fights, sixteen signatures,
in day OF eight hours when the machine
gets down TO business"
Another interesting feature of the ma
chine is that II is two presses in combina-
ton. and can be operated either as one or
two presses. The buttons on a nearby
switchboard, when properly touched. will
give the press seventeen different speeds
This switchboard cost as much as an ordi-
nary dwelling house-s3,5oo. The linking ar
rangement Is novel and complete, each
roller weighing sixty pounds. and can be
regulated TO print anything from a visiting
card 10 an eight-sheet poster
Superintendent John E. Walsh. of the
Record Folding and mailing department
stated that the mail list of the Congress
s $40 daily Except Sunday contains a.
500 names. and that the local mail and that
Tor Congress must be at the city post
Office at half-past o'clock in the morn
ing Saturday morning twenty rolls of
paper were consumed in printing the Con-
gressional Record. which contained twelve
signatures. or ninety-six pages
watch force of forty men is required
TO guard Uncle Sans new printing office
The watchmen are under the command of
Captain X. II. Harlow, a veteran of the
civil war with gallant record and who
is a trained discipiinarian. On Captain
Harlows staff are Lieutenants John s
Tunniclin. John A. Barr and George c.
Harris.
There are three shifts of watchmen on
duty during each twenty-four hours. each
shirt performing eight hours of duty. and
being under the command of one of the
neutenants- The men wear a neat navy
blue uniform with brass buttons and an
ofiicers cap OF regular army design. The
legend Captain and Lieutenant" APP
pear over the visors OF the caps worn by
those officers.
Every one of our watchmen," said Cap
tam harlow is veteran soldier of the
war from 1861 TO 1865. and they know how
70 perform their duties as a soldier should
NOT Waterman has appeared for duty
unier the influence of LIQUOR or been re-
ported FOR imbibing during the last six
months L believe we have the most eff
cient watch force under the government.