Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17
In the Press Room.

occupies a room about 60 by 300 feet and
the same floor of the annex, 2S by 175 feet.
One pleasing feature of the press room Is
the total absence of shafting and betting
Each piece of machinery is propelled by
separate electric motor, which Is managed
from controller in easy reach of the OPP
orator. 1t is possible to put on the presses
at one time ,22S octave pages and furnish
printed copies In one or two hours
To expedite the handling of the hurried
work when printed from type forms there
are two electric form elevators which are
operated by the mere pressing of button.
Three rotary presses, with one impress
sion, will print, fold and slit into 16-page
sections GA octave pages. These presses
each turn out about 100000 copies per day.
Another rotary press. known as the speech
press" because it is used mostly In print
ing speeches of members of Congress, VIII
print, fold and staple with a wire staple
$1,000 copies of 32-page pamphlet in one
day. The card press" which prints from
roll of specially manufactured cardboard,
will print on both sides and cut 100000
cards per day. This press is used to print
the cards used by the weather bureau and
all cards used by the Post Office Depart
ment except postal cards. In this room
there are siXty-three presses, ffty-seVen
fiat bed and seven rotary, which have In
days run of eight hours turned out LOO,
coo impressions. In the operation of this
department (main press room, government
printing Office 200 employees are required
ana at the present time more imam tIlrIN
tons of paper and go pounds of ink are
used daily in this branch of work.
The New Building.
The new government printing office build
ing cost 50, 42a O0o Its site was originally
occupied by twenty four separate build
ings, consisting of six three-story brick
dwellings and one two-story brick build
ing on North Capitol street: five three
story and four two-story bricks with sew
eral brick stables and other outbuildings
dwellings on Jackson alley. Within thirty
days from the time of securing the title to
this property these buildings We're demol-
ished and removed, and the ground made
ready for the excavation of the cellar and
digging the foundation trenches. The work
or constructing the building was done en-
trely by the government Capt. John Ste
phen Sewell, Corps of Engineers, L. s. A.,
who now has charge of the improvements
at the Washington barracks and Army War
College, superintendent the work. The
building is said to be the largest ever con-
structed by the government under direct
supervision and without contract system.
Mr.. Stillings' Career.
Public Printer Charles a. Stillings was
born in Boston. Mass, April % 1871. He
received his education In Phillips Gram
mer School and the English High School of
5
w. Va. on April %, 1905, to Miss Anna
Marie Rau. Left high school in his four
teenth year to enter his fathers printing
office (E'. B. Stfllings & Coz, Boston. 1885.
in which he worked from printers devil to
general manager, and 1923 as sales man
ager of their successor, the Griffith-Still-
ings Press. He was manager of the print
erS board OF trade of Washington, D. c..
from September ]. 1903, 10 May l, 1903;
secretary of the Typothetae of Washing on,
u i nd +gl
ager of printers board of trade of New
York city May l, 1905. He was appointed
by President Roosevelt to be public printer
November /. 1905 Mr. Stillings is an in
Mystic Shriner and a member of the Sons
of Veterans, Washington Board of Trade
and the Washington Business Mems Asso-
citation.
From Case to Public Printer.
Mr.. Oscar ]. Ricketts, foreman of print
ing, who is an important member of the
public printers cabinet was born in Coles
county, Ill, thirty-sIx years ago, and COM
menced life as a farm boy. He learned the
printing business in a country printing
office, at the same time attending a country
school. Later he went to an academy, and
upon graduating, commenced his business
career. He conducted two newspapers in
Illinois, and later went to several of the
larger cities, where he was employed in
In addition to being a newspaper man and
printer, Mr. Ricketts, Is also a lawyer, hav-
ing graduated from the Georgetown Unfver-
sity of Law. He entered the government
printing office as a compositor In 1885, and
served in various capacities from a typo at
the case to acting public printer serving
In that capacity when President Roosevelt
appointed Mr.. Stillings November 2S last.
II Is said of Mr.. Ricketts, that he is ac-
quainted with every detail of the work of
the great Office, and this knowledge earned
sstant to the new public printer. His great
popularity in and out of the office Is due to
his pleasing personality and probity.
Chief Clerk Brian.
The chief clerk, Capt Henry T. Brian,
another trusted member of the cabinet of
the big printery, was born in Howard coun-
ty, Maryland, September ID, 1S43 He went
to the public schools of Baltimore until far
enough advanced to attend college, and
then entered the Baltimore City College.
Upon his graduation from that institution
he served an apprenticeship to a book and
job printer of that city.
He served in the civil war in the 9th
Maryland Infantry. and went to work In
the government printing Office as COM
positor in 1851 He, too, has been through
all the grades In the printery. Capt Brian
Is a past grand and member of the Patri-
archa1 branch, and member OF the Grand
Lodge of Maryland, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. He Is a member Of Wilson
Post, No. 1, G.. A. R., OF Baltimore. Mr.
Brian was for two years president of the
supreme body of the National Union q fra
ternal organization of 60,000 members.