United labor bulletin., 1911-01-05

The preservative art of Johannes Gut
enberg finds its highest expression in
form and volume in the output OF the
governments immense printing plant at
washington, which is easily the largest
and most complete establishment OF its
kind in the world. The development OF
this establishment is typical of the in
dustrial and commercial growth OF the
republic and emphasizes the spirit of in
auiry and investigation that character
ICES the American people, spirit that
is causing an almost fabulous volume OF
urinting on thousands of subjects OF gen.
eral. special. or peculiar interest to our
citizens.
The present building, first occupied 10
wears ago. is of magnificent proportions
and landmark of the capital City Aside
from its practical importance 1t is an en-
during monument to the art OF ypog-
raaphy and the part which 1t plays III
our government 1t is IT'S by 40S feet'
is seven stories high, exclusive OF base
ment and loft. and has an actual work
ing floor space of over six acres, tne
total floor space, including the basement
being not less than eight acres Ine
building is of the Renaissance style OF
architecture. and while possessing arts
,ic merit. IL was constructed with a view
10 the greatest possible utility 1t is
rectangular in form, with an inner court
40 feet wide and 167 feet long The
noxer house. which is located at the
northwest corner. completes the rect
angle. 1t is as nearly fireproof as any
hu;,ding can be made. There IS an eiab-
crate treatment of the main entrance
u,,b mosaic floors. marble walls and
s,.,rcases. and beautiful columns. There
are numerous wide staircases, whicn are
distributed in such way to iacih'a'e
the ecress of the employees in case oil
oanic. whether from fire or otner causes
making fire escape unnecessary. Inc
basement is used for the storage OIL .ne
immense quantities OF paper required TOT
the needs of the office. from 4o 70 oo
TONS being used each working day mere
Is here also a large plate vault win
storage capacity of approximately z'voV'-
600 electrotype plates.
Walls of the workrooms to heish'
above the eye line are glazed orlch' ehe
INNER portion and the ceilings oeihs
nainted white Floors, WINDOWS suA.i
wavs. and furniture are scrupiousis
clean. Expectorating or deposiuns
s,,so on the floors or on the pavements
,hou, the buildings are prohibited Gus
D,aors Of a special pattern designed 10
nromo,e health and cleanliness are pro
,.,s.s these are washed and sterilized
-. he MACHINERY. an exhibit of this
feature of shop sanitation having oeen
.wsrd.a a medal by the last Interna-
,,o,., conxress on tuberculosis. flit-
ar.d water chilled to the desired tenn
rerature is forced to convenient stAuons
=, .ach floor. Individual steel lockers
are provided for the clothing oi 81"
n,oves and luncheon is served IN tne
,.,rrrooms for the accommodation OF
those who desire 1t.
rlectricity drives coo motors attached
80 as many machines. lights the build
,rr h.ats workmen's tools. melts bind
er,s glue and operators metal. rings the
na,,s that assemble and dismiss the
forces registers the time Of receipt ana
dispatch OF copy, runs the elevators pro
vides the energy for mailing machines
and computing devices. and supplies 'ne
power for the transmission OF copy anu
proof through pneumatic tubes
Around this vast establishment there
is n history much more interesting tnan
that which generally attaches to any
great productive plant-as interesting al
most as that OF the country itself.
The first mention of public printing
found In the annals of Congress con-
Germs the printing of laws, being re-
mort hy CONGRESSMAN Sylvester. early In
tho first session of the First Congress, in
which Il is recommended that proposals
he invited for printing the laws and
other proceedings"
December, 1878. in the first session OF
the Fifteenth Congress. resolution was
passed appointing joint committee OF
the two houses to consider and report
whether any further provisions of law
arc necessary to insure dispatch. accur-
acy. and neatness in the printing done
for the two houses OF Congress- me /
ommittee--General Wilson, n senator
from New York and practical printer
and editor of the True American, and
Gen. L. A. Rogers. n Pennsylvania men,
her of the house of representatives,
visited New York and philadelphia ana
made inquiry as to the cost and the best
method of having the work executed,
That committee submitted comprehen-
sive and useful report on the subject,
sentence or two OF which was the germ
of the present public printing law ana
the immense plant which 1t has devei-
oped.
.'rhe committee are OF opinion" says
the report. that such an establishment.
under the superintendent of man OF
activity. integrity. and discretion. would
We likely to produce promptitude. uni
formity. accuracy. and elegance In the
execution OF the public printing. and
they are not certain that II would not In
the result connecting with II bindery