Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-07
RECORD OF REPRINTS
RETENTION OF PLATES SAVE
GOVERNMENT $4,000.
Thirteen and a Half Tons of Old
Plates Destroyed at 6. P. o.
Notes of Interest.

To facilitate the operation of the plant
and to ascertain the exact amount of COM
position saved, the government printing Of
fee began, December /, to keep a record OF
the number of page plates received and de-
livered from the great plate vault located
under the North Capitol and street side
walks. The record for the first month was
a surprise to even those having charge OF
the reprints, and indicates to some extent
the enormous output of the office. Every
job printed is closely scrutinized, and II
there is a probability of the plates being
required for future publications they are
stored in the vault, and a card giving data
as to the job source and number of pages
is inserted in the card index cabinet. Dur
ing the month of December there were de-
livered from the plate vault 81 different
jobs, aggregating $500 pages. OF this num-
Der % were farmers bulletins, and the ap-
proXfmate number of copies printed OF these
publications was 100000. Fifty-one of these
jobs were delivered to the press room for
reprinting, and the other six were utilized
in connection with new matter. 1t IS eSti-
mated that the cost of composition on these
1 SEQ pages would average at least 81. per
page, some being intricate tabular matter
Indicating n total saving to the office or
80 900 for the month. Those familiar Wild
the use of plates at the big printery say
that there was only an average demand iof
reprints last month, and that the saving
or this one item will run considerably over
S1G0 600 per year.
During the month the plate vault recelF-
ed for storage II 800 page plates or new
matter and, LOO old plates, which had been
utilized in new editions. Thirteen thoustihu
five hundred plates were destroyed curing
the month, representing total weight OF
thirteen and a half tons The plates We're
melted and the metal used in the regular
work of the foundry. The department or
bureau from which the publication is Is
sued is consulted before destroying opso-
lete plates. The monthly cleanup IN the
vault not only prevents the accumulatloil
of worthless plates, but furnishes the foun-
dry with considerable valuable metal, the
purchase of which is a large item in the
yearly expense account.
Increase in Illustrations.
The beginning of the present system of
handling "cuts" at the big printery dates
back to 1872, when Mr.. L. Woodward was
detailed to take charge of a particularly
large consignment of cuts intended for
government publication. For a number or
years Mr. Woodward had charge OF TINS
work. setting type and performing othel
duties about the Office to fill in the Time
but by 1885 the number of publications re-
curing illustrations had become SO large
al to require his undivided attention. ABOUT
six years ago MIR. c. c. Barton was as
signed to assist Mr.. Woodward. and at the
present time there Is OCCdsioilaliS :"
of compositors to assist in making up ana
putting headlines on the page cuts INTENDED
for the publications of Uncle SANS Dig
plant Recently neat iron partition was
erected around the cut DIVISION WHICH -
located in the foundry.
The isthmfan canal commission IS no"
having it's printing done at the government
office The eight-hour law governing the
executive departments does not apply TO
the commission, and the printing has here
tofore been done at a down town once.
The prospect of the printers strike ana tne
consequent delay is said to be responsible
for the action of the commission In turning
the work over to the government once at
the expiration of the contract with the 10
cal firm.
Mr. ]. l.. Feeney superintendent of the
ND of the bookbnders' Central Labor Union
delegation as follows: James McManus
Leonard Kukart, John NJ. Touey, j. L. NC
Causland and J. L. Feeney. The members
of the Bookbinders' Allied Printing traces
Council delegation are ]. L. Feeney w. H.
Singleton and Samuel Gray
The seventy-two iron drinking fountains
in the new building are receiving their Pc
riodical coat of silver paint, not only con-
ducing to sanitation, but greatly adding to
the clean and pleasant surroundings of the
workers.
Eight hundred and two visitors We're
shown through the government printing Of
fee during the month of December. Dur
ing the holiday season the number OF VS.
itors ranged from 10 to 100 each day.
Superintendent w. ]. Simmons of the
paper warehouse has been confined to his
home for some time, suffering from Sc
we're attack of rheumatism
M P Ruse has been elected vice preSi-
dent of the Bookbinders' Union.