Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05
UNCLE SANS PRINTERY
OFFICIAL, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
HAPPENINGS.
Divisions Very Busy These Days.
Some Interesting Statistics-
Work of Equipment--Persona

All divisions of the government printing
| ONCE are working fun time these days. and
many OF them are working over time. The
| reports of the various departments OF the
| government, added to the extra work en-
tailed by Congress. keeps the big printing
| office very busy.
| At present there have been added to the
| usual force about one hundred extra labor
| ers In the various divisions, which makes
| the working force Of the Office something
| over 1000 people.
The lower floor of the old building, which
has been used for many years as the press
room, is being cleared Of all the old presses.
| The great stretch of floor space extending
| from North Capitol street TO the new west
| wing is to be covered with solid flooring
| of cement. The room will be partially oc-
| cupled as press room for the patent ONCE
| division of printing and as store ROOM
| The big presses have been taken out slowly
| and are being shipped TO the Hoe Printing
| Press Company, New York, who acquired
| them in the exchange of the new presses in
! the new building. This has been tedious
| and laborious work, but II has progressed
| most satisfactorily under the supervision of
Mr.. James w. Hughes. chief machinist.
The work of equipment OF the new main
building is going on gradually. The beauty
Of the main entrance. Which is already an
object OF much admiration from all for It's
richness in white marble and dignifled SIM
| plicity, is further enhanced by the setting
into place this week OF the elevator. Its
| substantial and attractive solid brass ap-
pointments add much 10 the tone and
| character of the greatest printing office In
| the world.
Specification Division.
| Probably the most interesting division of
the printing Office is the specification d.
| vision, Familiarity known as the specs d.
vision. 1t has but recently been removed
| from the old Union building on G street.
| and If one does not think that 1t was big
! Job TO make the transfer of material and
| documents from that place he should con-
| suit the Knox company, that contracted
| for the removal job.
| The carriage of 100000 pounds of docu-
ments in itself was a subject for no little
! consternatio In this connection 1t may
| not be amiss to state that during the pub
lication year just closed there were printed
| in the "spess'' division 81 ,165 specifications
of patents. 1885 trademarks and 500 design
| patents, making a total Of 33,5s7. Superin-
| tendent w. r. Ramsey. the head of this
| important division, reports that this is an
| increase of 1900 patent specifications alone
| over the year 1862. the largest heretofore
! in the history of the patent Office. Another
interesting item associated with this d.
| vision is that the December volume of speci-
! ficatiOns comprises 6,079 pages, which In
| $50 pages in excess of the largest volume
| ever issued by the Office. In this connection
IL is Torthy OF note to state that this
| large ISSUE was made during the trying
| experiences of removal from the Union
building to the new quarters.
Some Compliments.
The difficult work of the "spess'' division
during the year just closed has increased
| fully . per cent, and the splendid results
| considering the size of the working force
| and the Inconvenience of its quarters, has
| been the occasion of some highly felcitous
correspondence between the commissioner
of patents and Chief Babson of the Gazette
division with Capt. Ramsay, the superin-
| tendent. In letter to the latter Mr.. Bah
son says:
| Il have your note summarizing the work
done during the year 1903 In the matter OF
printing specifications etc. for this Office.
| 1t is simply immense: and 1t all has been
done promptly, accurately and courteously.
i wish l could convey to you in ade-
| auate terms my appreciation of the efforts Of
! your division to have it SO successfully &C
complished: but can supplement what l say
by expression of the views of the COM
| missioner Of patents in note addressed 10
me, copy of which l tnclose which will
| show to you and your people that this Office
| is fully cognizant of. and duly appreciates,
| the ability and efficiency of that branch of
| the printing office with which we are so init
mately connected.
The following is the letter of Commits
| sioner Allen TO Mr.. BabsOn:
| Il have read with much interest the Letter
| of Capt w. X. Ramsey superintendent of
| the specification branch of the government
printing office describing the volume OF
work performed for this bureau by that Of
| flee for the year Just closing. The figures
are enormous; and l assure you that | am
very much impressed with the important
part of our work for which We are depend
| ent upon them, well the excellence Of
their work in this difficult class of printing.
1t is pleasant as it is remarkable that
| the errors are kept down to the small num-
Der found at the present time and this re-
su!t is due to their efforts and those of your
division. i cannot imagine more difficult
class of work than that which patent speci-
the patent office will always be able to en-
joy such competent aid in this portion OF
it's work that which it enjoys at the
present time"
Some Notes.
The ex-delegates of the International
Typograr hical Union in the government
printing Office have a social organization.
A meeting has been called for next Sunday.
Captain Ramsey is president and J. T. Her
| bert secre tary.
A meeting of those interested in the CO.
lurnbia Union Debating Society is called
for next Thursday, January Z, at pm, at
| room 10, Typographical Temple. Memories
Of many former pleasant meetings Of The
society inspire the hope with its present
founders that this winter will mark many
very profitable and entertaining sessions.
Mr. E. A. Clifford, the paymaster of the
building is suffering from attack Of
has the soiicitude OF very large circle OF
friends because of hts great popularity
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