The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-23
UNCLE SAM BUYS
AB0UTEVERYTH|NG
Hardly a Want That Cannot Be
Supplied BY General Sup
plies Committee.

+. Newton, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, commenting on the wide
and inexhaustible range of articles in
the schedule Of the general SUNNY
committee, showing what the govern
ment is prepared to supply at special
contract prices to all departments and
administrative bureaus in Washing
ton. ut embraces every other com
modify under the sun"
Hold on" said his private secre-
tary. The private secretary took over
the general schedule that Mr.. New
ton had laid aside. He thumbed over
the pages.
Nursing bottles-bottles-ah. un-
der laboratory apparatus. Bottles-l
but not the right sort. Hospital sun |
plies. Here we are" said he pri-
vate secretary, pointing out an item to |
Mr.. Newton.
$500. Bottles Of samples. ca
Nursing, graduated. ~12-ounce," Mr..
Newton read in the book.
Z Jove. Even a nursing bottle.
II has everything under the sun that
can be bought" he admitted, And so
ii seems.
Cover a Wide Range.
Stationery and drafting supplies:
hardware, metals, cordage INC leather
and saddlery; dry goods and wearing
apparel; drugs and medicines. chemi-
calls and reagents; laboratory, hos
pital appliances n surgical instru-
ments; electrical engineering and
plumbing supplies; lumber, millwOrk,
packing boxes and building materials;
paints, oil, glass and brushes; furni-
fure and floor coverings; groceries,
provisions and household supplies;
forage. -four m seed: Photographic
supplies and special equipment: en-
craving, printing and monogram sup
plies; fuel n ice; incandescent cleo
trio lamps; incandescent arc lamp
supplies: motor trucks; typewriting
and computing machines: electric SER
vice; telephone service.
These are the general classificationS
under which nearly every conceivable
thing on earth is SubliSted. One
could be born into the world by vir-
tue Of the facilities Of this general
schedule, and go out Of it by it's aid
at any old time, and in the course
of the life between never know a need
that the general schedule could not
meet.
Assistant Secretary Newton is in
charge of the general supplies. 1t
was in the pursuit Of information to
permit him intelligently to direct
these affairs under his charge that he
delved into this marvellous dictionary
of m Under the law and
regulations all items scheduled by the
general supply committee, If in any
part or quantity needed by any ad-
uiiniSN i uCphI lC Vi OuAO~U -
Washington, must be purchased
through the Medium Of the genera
supply committee. The idea is Ont
of economy and efficiency. Only tn
field services. such as the army, navy
revenue cutter service, postal service
internal revenue service, the var1ou'
secret services, etc, are allow ed T.
maxi purchases direct without con
sultinG the general schedules. Also
if an item is not listed on the genera
schedules, but that seems Impossible
an administration department or bu
reau can get its own an
make direct purchases.
From Needle to H~ayStack.
Everything from a needle to a hay
stack is to be found listed IN the gen
eral schedules. Needles. darnlng an
sewing needles, ~engravers' AND htno
work needles, surgeon
needles. and other sorts OF neeoie
are marked down. Look In the poo
and see. Hay? There you mo
against the cabalistic number, ll,ol'
and there is nothing TO prevent pu'
chase in haystack bulk. -.
Apparently there is no real estat
listed-the one item of barter reall
missing from the list. But there
lumber or stone offered, and that
material for the house If the land
available for it to stand on: ~
there are other sorts of building M
terial. And. too, there is housefu
nishing for parlor. kitchen. bedroom
dining room, hall, attic and basemen
There is provision for electric hgh
ing and for electric appliances: ;,
And there is paint to paint II
house within and without. any col
or shade. Carpets. rugs and oth
floor covering can be purchased 1ro
the general supplies. Pots and pa
and food tools of all sorts are ava
able. Then one car buy a boiled nal
a peck of potatoes, canned goot
green and dry groceries. liquors. WIN
and cigars. There are hanglngs l
the windows and doors and plctur
for the walls.
And back in the stable. to be gu
from the lumber that the general su
plies will make available. can be p
an automobile purchased through I
same medium. The gasoline 10 I
-. - leo liz