Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-10
VALUABLE COLLECTION
G. p. O. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
GOVERNMENT.
Superintendent Ferrell's Library Said
to Contain Rare Works-Print-
ing Office Matters.

Perhaps one of the most important collec-
ton of books outside of the Library OF
Congress relating to the workings OF the
government is that connected with the
office of L. c. Terrell. superintendent of
public documents. which Is located in the
old building of the government printing
office The library is said to contain nearly
90 600 documents and maps. many of which
are of great value, a complete set OF con-
gresSional documents from 1917 to 19O5 ana
a set of congressional directories, which is
| rapidly approaching completion being espe-
cially priced by Mr.. Terrell. Only four ses-
sions of Congress since 1921 are not repre-
scented by directories, and Of these 1t Is be-
lieved that but two were not provided with
these history making documents. The two
missing volumes are the second sessions or
the Eighteenth and Twenty-third Con-
crosses The library is open to the public.
1t is said and many volumes may be found
there which the reader would be unable to
consult elsewhere.
The annual sale of publications Is said to
aggregate about $1,000, and as the Office of
superintendent of public documents is not
intended primarily as a selling agency the
receipts are in the nature of a clear profit
to the revenues of the printing office. 1t Is
said that the publications of the Depart
ment of Agriculture have the largest sale.
the farmers beginning to realize the i'm
portance and value of the reports of the
government experimental stations. The re-
port having the largest sale is said TO be
Plant Industry Bulletin No. II, rela ting to
beneficial bacteria for leguminous crops,
the report showing that l., 400 packages Of
inoculated material were sent out by the
Agricultural Department for the years 1902,
1903 and 1904. and as the supply of bacteria
has been limited the disappointed farmers
have flooded the office with orders for pub
LEGATIONS the subject. Many government
publications are sent abroad, both in eX-
change and to individual purchasers. Japan
is said to be the largest purchaser fer our
publications, the demand being principally
for agricultural topics.
Civil Service Rules.
The extension of the civil service rules
to the office is said to have worked rad
ical change in the character and abilities
OF the employees. The assurance of steady
employment, it is claimed, has resulted in
{, more settled state of mind and greater
stability of plans and ambitions and Is be-
ginning to bear fruit in increased savings
and hOmebuying.
Much favorable comment Is said to have
been made in relation to the recent utter
ances of President Gompers and Secretary
Morrison of the American Federation OF
Labor in regard to the formation of union
movement for the furtherance of the cause
of socialism. There is said to be scant
sympathy, particularly among the printers
and bookbinders, for the socalistic cause,
the prominence OF lnelr own union DTlrlcl-
pies in the labor world being the result of
steady growth based on good business
management and sound conservative judy
ment. "Utopian ideals" as one man ex-
pressed it, have no place in modern union
affairs"
Aspirants to positions the pressmen' s
base ball team are diligently practicng,
and 1t will not be long before the regular
nine has been selected. Mr. Montgomery,
the manager. is very enthusiastic over their
'dlthOugh
not land the pennant, we will at least play
with the winning team" Laughingly he
asserted that they had decided to open the
season after the Nationals, to give the lat
er team a SHOW
The death of Walter F. Rodrick the past
week. 1t is said. was a personal loss to
nearly every printer in the office, Mr.. Rod
rick being known to practically all, aspe-
cially the Oldtimers. He had the reputa-
ton of being one of the swiftest and clean
est typesetters employed on specifications
in the old piece-work days, and it was
deemed an honor to number him among
ones friends. -
Robert Z. Joyce of the foundry Is slowly
recovering from severe injury to one of
his hands received from contact with A
circular saw The accident was responsible
for the loss of one finger, but the outlook
is excellent for saving the others.
Martin Mangold, for many years a Stere J.
typer in the foundry. died recently. Mr..
MangOld was thirty-SecOnd degree Mason.
well liked by his associates and is incurred
by many friends. He enjoyed the reputa-
ton of being one of the best stereotypers
in the country.