Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-25
AN UP-TO-DATE PLANT
The Government Printing
Office Attracts Visitors.
WHIRRING MACHINERY
EQUIPMENT OF THE ENaINE AND
BOILER ROOMS.
Reelection Of Chairmen Of Chapels-
Large Force Still in Old
Building.
WHIRRING MACHINERY

A~&~>>~>9'
The great engine and boiler rooms Of the
new government printing office with their
whirring machinery and polished surround
ings, are most interesting places to visitors.
The entire equipment is strictly up to date,
and Mr.. H. K. Collins, the chief engineer,
takes pride in this important branch of
Uncle Sans big printery. Public Printer
Palmer placed Mr.. Collins in charge of the
work of installing the engine and boiler
plants, and he also had charge of designing
and installing the plumbing, heating and
ventilating of the building. After the COM
pletion of the structure Mr.. Collins was
given the additional charge of the watch
force and the cleaners, and he can really De
designated as superintendent Of the build
ing, in addition to his title of chief engineer.
When seen this morning he gave an inter-
esting description of some Of the massive
machinery under his charge In the boiler
room there are eight 30O-horse power Scotch
type marine boilers, with econom1zers ana
circulating pumps. They are fitted with
Morrison suspension furnaces ana McSiave
sha king CRATES. The average steam pres
sure is 100 pounds, the limit being 15O. An
account is kept Of all coal used and there
is a meter for ascertaining the Consumption
OF water. Inc DOlleTS are uSeu loi LII Hioli-
ing steam to the engines, heating ana man
ufacturing purposes. The average con-
sumption of coal when heat is not on IN the
building is nine tons per day, ana twenty
two tons when steam is being useo ior
heating purposes The boilers are twelve
feet in diameter end thirteen feet long; the
economizers seven feet in diameter and ZEN
feet long.
The 'fiue gases, by means of BATTLE plates
In the economizers, are utilized to the ut
ayte THAR fpmDeratur6
ing into the stack being an average OF oCo
degrees Fahrenheit. The stack Is 100 rect
high. and is lined inside with friedrich TO
within thirty feet OF the top. . ~ Is ser a
supporting and constructed to Withstand a
wind pressure of 100 miles velocity an nour.
All condensation of heating and manufac-
turing purposes is returned to the poliers;
Any additional water that may De Iequli e =.
first passed through filter, which removes
all foreign matter, but none of the chemical
properties
The Engine Plant.
The engine plant consists of four cross
compound condensing engines, one W.
horse power, one 450-horse power and two
sOO-horse power and are directly connected
to the generators. The steam main con-
Meeting them to the boilers is of sufficient
capacity to supply any sudden demand on
the engines. This obviateS the necessity OF
using any steam drums. This main is made
of extra heavy wrought iron pipe screwed
through steel f1anges and riveted into re-
cess; f1anges turned true on pipe and made
male and female. The joints consist of one
piece of sixteen-inch packing, seven-eighths
of an inch wide. All fittings are of mild
steel The stop valves used on the main
are of special design, which insures clear
opening and prevents what Is known as
wire drawing"
The connections between the boilers and
90 r1,,ne-
of copper. This prevents the use of expan-
sion joints. The engines are so constructed
that either side can be run Independent of
the other. Thus. In case of necessity, one
half of the horse power can be obtained
from the engine.
New Features introduced.
Some new features have been introduced
in the office for the convenience Of the en-
ployes. Two in particular are noteworthy
and praiseworthy. The first Is a cold
drinking water plant all the water being
filtered. cooled and circulated throughout
the entire building to numerous fountains
placed in convenient locations The next,
a crematory where all the refuse is burned
and the heat from the same utilized to
furnish hot water in all the toilet rooms.
At night, when but few persons are in the
building, the surplus water from this
source is again used in the boilers
The water used in the condensers is
pumped from a hot we'll to tanks placed in
the loft of the building, and from there
used in all the toilet rooms. The two
pumps used for this purpose are of 1000
gallon capacity each per minute, and are
also connected to the fire system through
out the building, and are at all times ready
for instant use.
There is still quite force of compositors
and other employees working in the old
building on II street. separate watch
force Of ununiformed guards is also main
tanned there. There are about eighteen OF
these watchmen, under the command OF
A. D. Babcock, George Wheeler and Capt
Burton They are, however, distinct body
from the uniformed force in the new build
ing under Capt. Harlow, description OF
whom was published In The Star several
days ago
large number of visiting Knights OF
Columbus not a few of whom were typos
have been shown through the big printing
office during the past few days. In sew
eraI instances old friends who had not seer
each other for years met and exchanged
courtesies.
In Specification Division.
Mr. E. G. Myers of the Official Gazett'
force has been unanimously reelected
| chairman Of that chapel
Mr.. George 8. Kaufman Of the spec
division was recently transferred to the 1oi
| room.
| Theodore Gerber has been elected chair
man of the second division annex after {
close contest. The election of chairman o
| the night bill force resulted: l.. d. Brandon
| "a votes; w. r. Abbott. 81.
| James Fogerty and James L. Feeney hav
| been elected delegates to represent the loca
Bookbinders' Union at the national meet
| ing to be held In st. Paul in June.
Joel Y. Carlton, who recently resigned hi
| position in the second division, has returne,
| to his home at Roanoke, Va.
| William Nj. Goldstein has been re-electe,
| chairman of the third division. This make
| his flfth consecutive term SUCH
| The pressmens delegates to the st. Loui
| convention, In June, are: Clarence Bright
| w. C. Deane and w. J. Dooley
! letter received by a member O
| the night bill force states that w. g. Nc
| Kean. who recently resigned his position
| as compositor in the government PRINTING
| office. has been appointed manager of al
] oil syndicate with HEADQUARTERS in Balti
more.
! Transfers from the second division wer
| recently made as follows: ]. L. Kause, r
l.. Wade and ]. A. Hennessey to the jol
room: F. A. White to the Interior DE
partment branch.
The friends of Miss Anna Wilson stat
that they are ready to wager odds tina
| she will be elected delegate to the l. T. n