The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-10
A BIG SUPPLY HOUSE.
One of the Largest In the World Il
Conducted by the Government
at Washington.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. TO-
Few persons realize that In Washing
tor is conducted one of the largest
supply houses in the world, which
sends to the 10000 post offices in all
parts of the country all the odds and
ends necessary to the transaction OF
the daily business. Uncle Sam is the
proprietor, and he employs quite an
army of employees.
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
caused to be published and distribut-
ed to postmasters a catalogue of al
| supplies furnished to the post offices
| scattered throughout the United
| States. Hawaii and Porto Rico A Pc
rusal of the catalogue gives one some
| itea of the immensely of the supply
| branch of the postal service and the
/ mammoth task with which the depart
ment is daily confronted in keeping
the machinery of the post Office de-.
| pc rtment in motion The thousands
/ OF Offices to be looekd after and the
vast territory covered by their oper-
atoms, together with the large num-
her of blank forms that are necessary
to the proper conduct of post Offices,
4 makes the furnishing of supplies no
easy matter
i The division of supplies occupies
| an eight-story building, FIVE stories of
which are used exclusively for the
storage of postal supplies. A glance
at the catalogue shows that S27 blank
forms Of different kind and $50 diff
forent articles of stationery are kept
in stock in the division Of supplies
ready for distribution, the aggregate
bulk of which runs up into the thous-
ands OF tons.
The catalogue itself is the first at
tempt OF the department to put into
compact and convenient form a de-
scriptiye list of all articles Of sup
, Plies furnished for use In the postal
service and its advent is In line with
the strict business policy in the adj
ministration OF postal affairs inaugu-
rated by the present head Of tn, de-
partment. In the catalogue is also
printed certain general information
concerning the ordering Of supplies
together with other information help
, FIJI. to postmasters in preparing requis-
, itions for submission to the depart
, ment.
II 1t may be interesting to know that
) not few of the forms used in the
) postal service with which the public
( is familiar are ordered in such large
c quantities from the printer that the
q presses on which they are printed
never become idle day or night. The
< melon-colored registry return receipt
: cards are ordered by the millions, as
n are also applications cor domestic
/ money orders, the furnishing Of which
e keeps the printers presses going con
r tinuously.
il When 1t is considered that approx
h imately 10000 post Offices are sup
# piled with all the necessary parapher
o malta for the conduct of business, thu
n necessity and utility of these publica
items becomes apparent, containing, a
a they do, list of printed forms, books
z envelopes cards, flags. ink, letter an,
IS package boxes, letter presses mai
) equipment. such as mail sacks, pouch
e es, locks, keys, etc. numbering me
G, chimes. satchels. scales, trucks, Irvine
e. typewriters and typewriter supplies
It etc
1t The supplies are grouped unde
lie headings and snbheadings, showing a
a glance the variety to which Office
1t of the first, second, thi.d and fourt
at classes and railway mail service ar
a entitled. Money order supplies ar
70 also classified under various heading
TO These GnnOn postmasters. IT is salt