Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
ANCIENT AND MODERN
COMPARISON OF EARLY PRINT
ING WITH THAT OF TODAY.

The leather bindings of the earlier days
of public printing have shown greater
wear-resisting qualities, 1t Is said. than
modern productions. This is accounted TOT
by reason of the chemicals used in the
process of tanning at the present day. only
the best oak-tanned leather being utilized
In the binding of government document
dated 1saO which was recently on exhibit
ton. The superintendent of public docu-
ments has many volumes OF even an ear
ier date, and they said to be in excel
lent condition both as to binding and clear
ness of type, considering their age.
Tentative plans are being made at the
government printing Office for the opening
of the base ball season Last year several
of the teams composing the g. p o.
League Were badly handicapped through
lack of opportunity to practice, but 1t Is
expected that this season provision will be
made for more substitutes and consequent
ly teams will not be crippled by reason OF
sickness of some of the players.
The partitions of the room formerly ocru-
pied by the superintendent of the old build
ing have been torn out and the space taken
by the office of the superintendent of the
paper warehouse The additional space
was greatly needed and Will give add tional
light and ventilation
1t is understood that candidates for Of
fees In the spring elections of the book
binders and printers unions will not be al
lowed to canvass the office during working
hours, as has been the custom. In speak
Ing of this matter a prominent printer
said: That Will tend to narrow the COLI
tests down to the men who are well Known
and have the reputation of working for the
union. In the old days man vino was
not generally known could make a dashing
canvass and win out, even though he was
known to but few of the members of the
union before the election"
Welfare of Employees.
The improvement in the printing service
In recent years has not been entirely in the
nature of perfection of the product. but the
welfare of the workers has been looked
after. Several years ago Mr.. Dan w.
Beach, now clerk-timekeeper IN the foun-
dry, was detailed to sort and record the
amount slips of the compositors, which
were then small squares of bright red card
board. The constant manipulation of these
slips finally produced violent symptoms OF
lead poisoning, caused by the lead used to
produce the glazed surface of the cards.
Afterward these slips were printed on I'M
glazed paper, and the trouble immed1a teiy
disappeared.
The government printing Office has a
large number of employees who are over the
dead line" of seventy years, one Of the old
Samuel Koockogey, who was first employed
on the public binding during the winter of
1S49. Several improvements and innovations
in the binders art are accredited to this
old-time bookbinder, who has the reputa-
ton of doing more work than men many
years his junior Mr.. koockogey has q
lively recollection of the early days-the
strings of army wagons blocking H street;
COW pastures and pig pens surrounding the
Office, and the rush of a large number of
office SOnnd s.
tie. to get the remainder of lunches thrown
out of the windows.
The Mailing Force.
The workers employed In mailing the
Congressional Record constitute q busy
force in the small hours of the night. A
slip containing the name and address of the
subscriber IS pasted on each wrapper and
these sheets are arranged according to
states and run out" preparatory to re-
ceiving the record. The congressional daily
endeavors to catch the train in the man.
ner of a newspaper, and II ts only IN the
event of a particularly large issue that 1t
does not appear on time.
Leaves Of absence are being granted In
but few instances at the printery, and this
has given rise to the rumor of lack of
funds. 1t Is declared, however, that there
Is money enough to care for all emergen-
cies that can be foreseen, and the loss OF
leave money by employees, as was the case
with some last year, Will doubtless be
avoided.
Mr.. William E. Muffiey of the finishing
room of the blank bindery has been trans
ferred to the Congressional Library branch
bindery.
Mr. James T. Haney, caster operator of
the specification division was very pain
fully injured Friday, seven stitches being
taken In his hand by DR.. Manning, the
medical director