Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16

of about 500 clerks in Washington and
has hundreds of others employed in the
2oO or more subordinate Offices in various
sections of the country. all of whom are
furnished with the supplies for their work
from the divisions of the custodian and sta
tionery and printing I'm the department in
this city. In the two divisions mentioned
the methods Of keeping account Of the sup
plies issued are very simple but they show
briefly and in a satisfactory manner COM
plete record Of every article purchased the
cost from whom bought and the bureau or
office to which II is issued for use. At the
end of the year. by little addition, the
chief OF the division can find out exactly
what was used In the preceding twelve
months. and thereupon base an estimate of
what will be needed for the following year.
printed schedule of the articles wanted IL
furnished each person who desires to bid.
and In many instances samples OF the
ticles to be purchased must be shown and
tested. Thus inks, paper, etc. are put
through severe trials before they are ac-
cepted. Advertisements inserted in the
daily newspapers. In the spring. for bids
for the various articles needed. and these
bids are opened at certain designated
times. the bids for one article being opened
and a decision made to the award before
another article is taken up. unless there he
several committees. These methods apply
to the consideration Of bids for the general
supplies only. Certain bureaus or divisions
frequently need special articles that are not
covered in the general schedules These
are advertised separately and examined by
committees especially appointed to con-
slider them. and are not sent to the Treas
ury Department for consideration by the
special commission referred to.
Great Variety of Goods.
The quantity and variety of goods kept
on hand for general use Is most diverse.
There are several hundred articles of sta
tiOnery alone. and each has from one to
fifty grades of excellence. 1t is probable
that there are more different kinds of pa
per found In the stationery division OF the
Department OF the Interior than are to be
found in any single paper adjustment in
the country. For instance, the yearly sup
ply of letter paper for the department h
L. LIZ reams. each ream containing 800
sheets. This is the actual amount used last
year and the estimated amount for next
year. In the same time there were ~
reams of wrapping paper and DIG reams of
blOtting paper used. each of these reams
containing 4S6 sheets. The work OF the Of
flee also demanded the use OF 2D. 40 sheets
Of drawing paper. card and bristol board.
which. with 1850 dozen lead pencils and
7,7O2 gross OF pens I'm .. 100 dozen penhold-
ers, boz quarts and 9.2i0 small bottles of
ink, ISIS typewriter ribbons. CAB typewrit-
ers. and the letter paper enumerated. are
used to maintain the correspondence and
records OF the various offices and bureaus
of the department. The typewriters noted
above are those used last year In conduct
ing the business OF the department. or
which number about 10 per cent or Xty
four. were purchased during the year.
These typewriters represent eighteen differ
ent styles of machines. There were "a
272OOO envelopes used in the department
last year. and about like amount is esti-
mated for this year.
Has Modern Carpenter Shop.
A well-equipped force of carpenters. ma
chnists. electricians, etc. Is maintained In
the custOdian's office for the purpose or
attending to the maintenance and repair
OF the various offices and bureaus. The
materel of the division includes a modern
carpenter shop with all sorts of labor saw
ing machinery: a large engineer force. a
repair shop for typewriters. and such other
branches of Industry as are required for
the maintenance of a business as varied and
large that Of the Interior Department
All the coal used in the department is fur
nished through Capt Buckingham. This
includes 5000 tons OF bituminous coal and
100 tons Of anthracite. To properly keep
up the fires and to supply the many open
ffreplaces 81 cords of wood are required
annually. and to furnish the right chill for
the drinking water 1.1J0,OW pounds OF Ice
are necessary. The department also uses
ID iron buckets. 10 brooms, I2O whisk
brooms. 240 dust brushes. 10 scrub
brushes, 10 hair brushes. 10 dozen combs
/, 76O boxes of matches. COCO cakes OF toilet
soap. 1900 pounds OF laundry soap. 1.2UO
glass tumblers. 30 wash bowls and 80 wash
pitchers. 100 dozen papers of tacks of va
rious kinds. 10 kegs of nails. 40 chairs.
1000 yards of the best quality body Brus-
sells carpet, $50 yards OF carpet lining. Ii
must be remembered that these figures
do not represent all of the articles named
that are used in the department. For in
stance. the furniture purchased Is merely
to replace that worn out during the year,
and the figures show what must be bought
annually. Thus the specification for the
bids this year call for 40 desks. II type
writer tables. 20 yards OF blue black cloth
to be used in recovering desks. ana aoo
dozen towels.
The figures give only poor idea Of The