The Washington times., 1906-01-28

there are any industrial ptaAAtS IA NA.N
city and be viii answer no without a
moments thought. He does not STOP 10
consider. as a matter OF fact. besides
numerous small concerns WASHINGTON
has two enormous industrial plants. one
of which is the largest of its kind IN
the world. Thousands OF men ere sven
employment in these two institutions
ard the condition OF the laborers Is far
better than that CT workers in nine
tenths OF the manufacturing concerns
in this or any other country. These two
great enterprises are the Government
Printing once and the United States
Gun Factory. The former gives regular
employment to 4.e00 men and women.
while the latter furnishes work for 1000
or more skilled mechanics.
One notable fact about these two
plants is that the class OF labor en-
ployed Is of the highest character Inc
employees are paid excellent wages. the
hours are comparatively easy. and the
general personnel of the forces at work
is OF high order. The weekly payroll
OF these plants is simply enormous, and
the greatest portion of it is spent in
WASHINGTON thus it may be seen that
Washington is today profiting by having
Industrial plants without affecting the
a.
city. These two industrial concerns are
worthy OF particular note.
The Government Printing 0fice.
The Government Printing Office. To-
Gated on North Capitol street has the
distinction OF being the largest plant
of its kind in the world both in the
amount of floor space occupied, and in
the number of persons employed In
every respect it represents the latest
achievements in the art Of printing 1t
IS in itself a wonderful institution in
which one can carry on an exhaustive
study OF the latest inventions and most
approved methods la an art which has
been developed more rapidly in America
than in any other country. From the
DAYS OF BENJAMIN Franklin. America
has been looked upon as the home of the
printer. and the place in which the
greatest advancement has been made.
a trip through this plant cannot give
one an adequate idea of the size OF the
enterprise. or the amount Of work which
can be turned out in a given time. Il
requires a thorough knowledge of all
the details of the printing business q
appreciate 10 the fun extent just what
Uncle Sans great printery does. A
recent writer on the subject in a lengthy
article has given a very graphic idea of
the size and OUTPUT Of this plant. an ex-
cerpt from which IS quoted below.
Standing in a section of the Capital
otherwise devoid Of large buildings. the
huge office is a notable landmark. II is
or red brick with terra Gotta and sand
stone trimmings. has a I15-fOot front
on North Capitol street and 40S-foot
front en- Q street. and has a heigh, OF
seven stories. exclusive of deep base
-mert and loft. The stories are sixteen
deet-aDart from floor 10 floor. Iris built
around 30xI67 feet court which is
closed at one end with the power house
over twelve million pounds of steel were
Used in the framework, which is COW
cred chiefly with fire brick. and the
suhsratum Of all the floors is brick con-
crete. Only in the main entrance is
7ferc any elaborate attempt of decora-
tion. Here is ornamental work in gold
tile and mosaic. marble panelings and
stairways. Elsewhere in the building ev-
everything IS severe and strong in con-
structon, for use. not show.
A Fabulous Expenditure.
The annual expenditure of SC, 500. O0C
seems fabulous until we have seen an
analysis Of the work done and the
amount Of stock carried by the office
when we find four thousand employees
20 say nothing OF the business callers
and the visitors. We appreciate the nee
essity for the eight passenger elevators
an Of which could handle the whole
crowd from the first floor to the seventh
every twenty minutes
when it Is learned that the annual
consumption of paper for book printing
alone is 100000 sheets fat. and 50 900.
600 In rolls: that 100000 sheets f bris-
lol aud cardboard are used: that SIG. o.,
sheets of cover paper. 1880, 900 sheets OF
writing paper. $4,000 sheets OF type
writer paper. 2.256 coo sheets Of manila
and tissue paper. and 4.S00.000 sheets OF
coated book paper are used each year
then the utility Of the five big freight
elevators, all electric. is grasped
One of these at the sidewalk 10 carry
pa per from the basement TO the first
noor, VIII lift ZOO pounds a hundred
leet a minute. Another of the freight
elevators viii lift 10000 pounds $50 feel
minute The other three will handle
1000 pounds $50 feet a minute II will be
seen at once that the office in elevators
alone has the capacity of good size
electric railway for passengers and
freight. and needs it all.
Output Almost Miraculous.
From the standpoint Of output the
facts are again extraordinary. From
thirty 10 thirJy-five tons Of water are
consumed by presses. all run by electri,
motors Some 100000 volumes of De
partmental reports are carried in store
An incidental item is the Congressiona
Record, with a present daily circulation
which is being increased. Of o. 900. while
Congress sits a single issue Of which
has reached 1872 pages. This must catci
the mail trains at 800 in the morning.
Then the office is in constant read
iness for demands made by Congress
The famous report OF the blowing M
Of the Maine is an instance Consist
ing of 29S pages Of text. twenty-fou
fun page engravings. am one litho
graph in colors. the manuscript was re
ceived at $50 in the afternoon one day
and the printed report lay on ever!
eesk In the Senate and House neg
morning at 10 o'clock.
Besides other periodicals such as III
Patent Office Gazette. are the million
OF pamphlet reprints from the Rec
ord. which the Lawmakers so gener
ously scatter among their constituents