Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
NEWS OF THE PRlNTERY
work OF STRIPPING DIVISION
OF GovEnNxxNT OFFICE.
Stamping Index and Reference Cards
Saving In Type Used foF Plat
ing-othsr Matters.

( The stripping diy1sion, or u. az 1t 10
termed, Is a department OF the government
printing ONCE which Is not USUALLY main
tanned in private ofices. After printing. the
pages of type are sent to this division to be
stored or "stripped''-the different kinds OF
type being separated and placed in condi-
ton for division among the various compos-
ing rooms There were 1000 pages Of live
and dead type In this department last sum-
mer at one time. Nearly AGO cong s-
1sional committee reports have been handed
this winter, in addition to the regular run
Of work.
The blank division of the bindery has rev.
eral men detailed constantly stamping out
index and reference cards and making en-
velopes and folders OF every possible de-
scription for the different departments and
bureaus. Within the past five years there
has been developed a phenomenal demand
for index and reference cards. and ma
chinery has been Installed TO provide for
stamping the various shapes anu sizes re-
Quired for the different systems. The Office
supplies envelopes of every description for
mailing circulars and MAPS.
The introduction of typessr.ilg machines
in the government printing Office is under
stood to have resulted IN a great saving N
type used Tor p,ltins. IT iS SAID that hei e.
tofore type frequently used Tor making
plates quickly became damaged and had to
be discarded, but the product OF the type
setting machines is now remeited as soon
the Job is finished Thousands of page
of damaged type were sent to the foundry
last summer to be melted and used in the
place of new metal. Printers detailed to
dump the dead type from the machines
are said to enjoy the sensation OF throw ng
away the material. their training heretofore
having been to scrupulously avoid even
dropping piece OF type on the floor.
Cost Of Production.
1t is understood that steps will soon be
taken by the office authorities to ascertain
the exact cost OF production in the larger
cities of printing similar to that done ror
the government. This will include compar-
isons as to the prevailing scale of wages
charges for materials and cost of adrllnis-
tration of the private plants. giving an IN
telligent basis for comparison of the rates
charged by the government printing office.
1t is commended by some OF the older en-
ployes that in the event OF trouble with
China the office will have to be run to its
maximum capacity. Experiences of the
past have demonstrated that war finds a
quick response in the amount of printing
necessary by the various departments The
Spanish-American conflict is said to have
created work for hundreds of men and
women at the big p-intery.
The night press room is busy on congress
sional work this spring, the employees re-
porting at IL o'clock and at once COM
mencing on the work piled up by the night
bill force. The employees are ali highly
skilled and the work proceeds with great
rapidity the entire battery of machines of
the main press room being available In ca Sc
of an emergency. The folding room is pre-
pared to receive the printed sheets, and ty
O'Clock there are wagon loads of printed.
folded and stitched volumes ready for de-
livery.
The scheme of running all electric wires
in conduits in the ceilings OF the new tuiI6-
Ing has resulted in preventing Ires and
danger to employees from defective Ursula
ton. The absence Of shafts and betting is
often commented upon by visitors, and the
individual motors are said to be not only a
convenience to the operatives Of machinery,
but direct saving, the power being ex-
pended only while machines are in opera
ton.