Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-22
NOT FOR NOON LUNCH
EDIBLE ARTICLES USED IN GOV
ERNMENT BINDERY.
Curious Supplies Purchased by the
Printing of1ce-Testimony in
Hearing-Notes.

The supply division of the government
printing office bindery Is an interesting
study for the visitor to the office, as we'll as
for the employees but is seldom found the
location, on the fourth floor of the old build
Ing. requiring considerable exploration I'M
less one Is accompanied by guide. Every
article used by the bndery except book and
writing paper, is furnished by the superin-
tendent of the supply division, NJ r. Spell
man.
The impression gets abroad sometimes
that paper is the main item In the operation
of bindery, and as matter of bulk this Is
probably the case but a consideration of
the many small details leads to the conclu-
sion that bindery, and particularly the
government institution, uses a very great
variety Of articles. The great quantity of
work turned out by Uncle Sans printing
office requires the use OF every convenience
known in this line. but some of the work Is
of such a character that the office becomes
a manufacturer as well d purchaser of
supplies.
Some very curious items are on the -eeu-
lar schedule of purchases for the use of The
bindery. The supply division is sometimes
2ocuIarly referred TO by employees having
"a years supply of gall the use of beef
gals being an important item in certain
operations. Then. too the binders require a
large number of eggs. the prepared albumen
IN.
OF fresh milk would be liable to lead to ;he
conclusion that the government contributed
TO the noon lunch, but employees say that
Gnhappily, this is not the case. milk being
essential to some of the finer classes of
work.
A requisition on the supply division of
the government printing office for gum hog
would direct ones thoughts to country life
except for the knowledge that it Is the ex-
uded sap of q South American tree very
useful in floating colors In the process of
marbling book edges. Hair and cloth
brushes are a reminder of personal neat
ness until informed that they are used in
color work and the smoothing OF cloth.
One of the most valuable of the odd items
is crepelfne. very thin yelling used in
preserving old manuscripts its transpar-
ency making II practically invisible on the
face OF the sheet and preserving the writ
ing.
Bookbinders are not "sponges" neither
do they get their shoe laces from the of
flee. yet these are large items in supplying
their needs. They also appear to have ar
affinity for flour, olive oil and vinegar
eudging from the list Of articles they re-
Suire.
The supply division has sufficient storage
foom for a years supply of most articles
purchasing large quantities and making
possible an immense aggregate saving in
the cost price. Here, as everyWhere
throughout the building. every item is made
D matter OF record. and periodically the
books are balanced with the same pre-
oison as in a bank. The services of sew
eral employees are required to I'LL the daily
acquisitions sent from the various divisions
OF the great bindery.
The main press room has settled down to
q long run on the annual year book OF the
Secretary of Agriculture 1t Is being print
ed In four editions OF 125OO0 copies each
for the purpose of facilitating the work
end to aid In the distribution. The circEfa-
ton Of this book is said to be the largest of
any single publication issued by the gov
eminent. The Secretary OF Agriculture has
at times stated in relation to it's popular
ity that the year book has passed from
hand to hand until the original possessor
was lucky TO got 1t back.
Over Hundred Pages Each Night.
Charles f. Young. acting assistant fore
Fnan OF printing. says that the force In the
1ixth division In turning out each night