Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-08

When the Treasury department goes
shopping for sites for public buildings
more care is taken than is ever displayed
by the most inveterate woman bargain
hunter. The relation of the sites offered
to the geographical and population cen
tiers of the city and their proximity to
street railway lines are considered Then
the percentage of mail carried to and from
the city by each railroad entering the city
is figured out and the distance of each
site from each depot is measured. An
ideal site is one located close to both the
geographical and population center and
within 1920 feet of all the railroad depots
This facilitates city delivery and also saves
TO the government money, for the rail
roads must deliver free all mail to post
offices situated within a quarter of a
mile of their depots
The assessed values of the sites under
consideration are looked up, as well as
recent sales of adjacent property, for the
government does not propose paying fancy
prices mere because II is public money
that is being spent The character of the
buildings occupying the sites, If they are
occupied, is another element reckoned with.
as 1t makes a difference whether the price
asked covers merely the value of the
ing that must be torn down.
In addition to all this the wishes of the
people of the city concerned are taken
into consideration. Boards of trade and
chambers Of commerce and other civic
organizations are consulted, and an effort
is made to choose a site that will meet
with popular approval.
Heretofore the Treasury department
having a large number of sites to in
vestigate, has made a practice OF send
ing out into the field subordinate en-
ployes, who were not qualified as experts
This has been a soft snap" for the ia
vored few subordinates for they have made
trips during their annual leave of absence
and thus have their expenses paid dur
ing their vacations.
Results of this practice have been so
unsatisfactory, however, that a new policy
has been inaugurated, and this year all
the Investigations are being made by the
department experts, Site Agents Window
and Lowe and j. Knox Taylor, the SUPER
vislng architect of the Treasury. 1t has
been found that almost invariably, where
the Investigations were made by employees
not qualified as experts by experience com
pltcatons arose and IT was necessary to
have the Inquiries made over again.
Officials Of the bureau of engraving and
printing at Washington, aver that one OF
the most delicate operations connected with
the manufacture Of our postage stamps is
the cumming thereof
When the sheets have been printed they
are passed under a roller, from which
they receive a thin coating of gum, and
then gradually over coils of steam pipes
until they are dried. Much care is ex-
ercised TO get the layer uniform on every
part of the surface.
The gum in the little watts, from which
II drops TO the roller, is maintained at
an even temperature and thickness. Tests
are frequently made OF the warmth and
humidity OF the work room
But even with the perfection OF me-
chanical eNactness, some allowance must
always be made for the season OF the
year, For summer sale a slightly harder
gum Is used, because OF the trouble oc-
casioned by the sticking together Of
stamps, In winter precautlon against the
cracking OF the gummed surface through
contraction Is necessary third grade
OF the material for other seasons is known
as intermediate