The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
INSIDE FACTS AS TO COST
OF RUNNING BIG PRINTERY

was sss.s90l. and as that product was
sold for 81, 1851. q net loss is noted n
that division Of Ss5,s7444
The pTesswOTk cost S22e ss157. and wez
sold for S93s, ,s15.sS. showing q net profit
OF sII9. .s24G
The bindery expenses for the same
period were s53G, 1855, and this operation
was sold for S4sLZ7L0s. a net loss OF
SIS. .4l7-SS
TIE total allied operations necessary
in producing the printing and binding for
the government for the first SIX months
Of the present fiscal year, as billed out
on the new scale, showed net Ioss 70 the
printing Office OF Sl25.g7.2s-
II the showing noted above 1t must be
remembered that the first six months OF
the present fiscal year contained only one
month OF night work, and as al the half
holidays were included IN that period, the
cost Of production shows a higher aver
age than viii be maintained during the
rest Of the fiscal year; and taken alto
gether, the scale Of prices now In effect
Is proving the justice OF the charges
based thereon.
The uniform fixed scale OF charges. ad-
mitting OF but one Interpretation on
which 70 estimate and bill the product
OF the Government Printing Office. was.
according to former Public Printer Leech,
imperative IN order 20 carry out the pro-
visions OF the printing law, and. as q re-
suit, the figures contained therein were
based on the actual cost Of all work per-
formed under the trade specialties by d.
visions, with such percentage added es
would cover the overhead charges
In arriving at q basis for this added
percentage to cover overhead charges.
the fact was taken into consideration
that. while private publishing houses sEs
enabled to operate their plants with a
minimum number OF employees, the Public
Printer, 70 protect himself, is compelled
70 keep the force at the maximum linaft.
IN order to meet every emergency that
may arise for rush work.
On January .. 1903. there we're 4,ssl
people carried or the rolls Of that insti-
tuition, and the salaries and wages paid
for that day amounted 70 Sl5, ,2ss-Ss. OF this
number, ass employees we're actually en-
gagged in production, while So employees
were required for a0npToductive service.
This productive classification consists
Of those employed IN divisions engaged
exclusively on work pertaining TO the al
lied printing trades, comprising eorpo-
sition and proof-rezding. stereotyplas and
electrotyping, presswork, and binding
The nonproductve classification includes
the administrative and clerical forces.
the supply, delivery, and stables sections.
and buildings division. embracing the ea-
gineers. electrical, machine shop. car
peuter and paint shop. sanitary, tele-
phone. watchmen's and doorkeeper's sec
tons.
The composing divisions IN the Govern
nent Printing Of5ce are equipped with
s. Mergenthaler linotype machines, 16z
monOtype keyboards. and I24 casting ma
chimes. the total output Of which Is IN
known. as al TO period in the past has
I the Office been placed in a position where
( it was compelled 10 work all machinery
( Of this character at its fun capacity
TIE foundry division OF that ofice is
! equipped 10 turn out ii an eight-hour
/ day L600 pages OF plate matter. repre-
senting g, 90 square inches Of electro
I type and 3, 600 square inches OF steTeo-
type plates
( Government Printing Office contain 155
presses. Is Of which are web, Il Harris
automatic. fat-bed pe-fecting. 1a5 fat
/ bed cylinders. s embossing. and 2 plstsn.
At this time of the year the press
rooms are averaging In the neighborhood
/ of 100000 impressions per day
( Among the machinery included in tia
! equipment OF the bindeTy are 81 sewing
machines. IS trimmers, case-maklng ma
chimes. . casing-in machines. pamphlet
+ covering machines. 1e folding machines.
3 signature-gathering machines. plate
( pasting machine, . ruling machines, and
I a full equipment OF other machinery we'll
known 70 the binding trade
The power plant. which furnishes heat,
electric power. and light for that Office,
IS equipped with eight Scotch marine
boilers OF 30 horsepower each. which sup
ply steam to four cross-compcund con-
! densing Corliss engines.
The coeI consumption az this time o.
year is averaging n the neighborhood Of
thirty tons per day
During the fiscal year ending June 80
1905. more than 100000 pounds Of pa
Per were issued IN filing orders for print
ing and binding. This amount includes
-nachine-anished book. sized and super
calendsred. coated book. writing, first
class ledger, second-cIass ledger, bond
and bristoIs- The ink required IN print
ing this paper tOtaIed more than %,
pounds.
or the binding materials used during
that year, approximately 100000 pounds
OF binders board were required. and Of
! feathers. more than 100 skins. while
more than 2s3G0 yards OF book cIoIt
was cut and used on the backs OF books
Besides the employment OF skilled ne
chanics Of the allied printing trades, the
Public Printer employs craftsmen. brick.
/ layers, engineers. plumbers. steamftteTs
boiisTmzkeTs, electricians, carpenters
painters, machinists. saw hlers, black
smiths. and knife grinders, 10 meet the
conditions arising :n the Government
/ Printing Office
A thorough investigation Of that once
viii probably result n showing that Con
gress has greatly neglected its duty i
properly making and restricting the 1p
preparations for that establishment. and
that under favorable legislation, working
ar its full capacity, that Office can pro
duce immense quantities OF printed mat
ter cheaper than anywhere else on earth
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS REPORT