Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-07
Government Printing Office.

Government printing Office officials are
not very sanguine of the prospects for
the substitution Of modern building for
the structure at North Capitol and H
streets. Recommendations without num-
Der have been transmitted to Congress-
suggesting the erection of an addition to
the present plant. but without avail.
The old building is used for storage, and
transferring paper stock to the press
room has heretofore consumed much time
and energy. Finally despairing of a new
building, the officials have decided on a
tunnel from the present subway to the
northeast corner of the warehouse. The
work is being done by day labor. and
when completed will enable the storekeep-
room with a minimum Of time and ex-
pense.
The closure Of that portion of Jackson's
alley contiguous to the big printery can
be expected at no distant date. The alley
in this block Is in the form of T, with
the government occupying both sides Of
the major portion Of the stem Of the let
ter. The public portion Of the alley runs
through to G street from H, and the
closing OF portion would not inconven-
fence property owners In any considerable
degree. In that event the public printer
would be enabled to utilize the old struc-
ture in many ways not now available.
The big establishment is still labeled
with THE Government Printing Office
over the front door, the letters small in
proportion to the size of their surround
ings, and beginning to show the wear Of
time. 1t is alleged that the sign was put
up because countryman some years ago
rushed up the steps, signed the register.
thought he was in a hotel. However.
many of the old signs are gone and many
others deemed unnecessary are not re-
placed when worn out or destroyed.
A difficult problem in the printing serv-
ice concerns rejected materials. Con-
tractors are held strictly accountable for
the quality Of the supplies and materials
furnished. and 1t frequently happens that
before rejected supplies can be replaced
by the contractor the manufacturing d.
fronted with this problem: IF we accept
inferior quality, the contractor will be-
come Indifferent: II we reject certain
shipments, the Office will be handicapped"
A trouble which has become aggra-
waited by the use of typesetting machines
is the practice of some issuing Offices In
using reprint stubs for tabular state
ments. It Is stated that at times the
copy will be represented by stub per-
haps two inches long and leading to vart-
GUS lines Of figures, covering sheet three
feet square The copy guide must remain
on the figure line while the operator slow
ly Identifies the proper stub entry An
experienced operator explains that If re-
print is used In cOnnectlon With written
figures it would facilitate the work and
make a great saving to those interested If
the reprint Is cut in sections of five lines
and placed opposite the new part.
The government printing service is year
ly coming into the control OF technicalists.
although some of the issuing offices in
sist that their clerks are competent to
edit and read proof. On technical job
for one of the branch offices recently the
proofs came back with what a printer
oh yynNtJQfinn When
expostulated with, the young lady who
read proof on the job said. Put the
commas in: / won't know how they will
look until / see the revise