Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
UNCLE SAM AS A LAUNDRYMAN

they are ironed. and other machines
operated by electric motors and tended
no deftiy that in their neat and spot-
less apparel they look more as IL they
were dressed for an afternoon OF rest
instead OF being engaged in laundering
for something like 2.57S persons
The cost Is now approximately IL
cents per 100. as against the lowest bid
of IS cents per 100 in 1913. the bid
which drove the Post once Department
into the business.
This laundry averages 1900 10 2.Soo
towels per day. just rs the needs OF
the employees require. as
tn. no;lv each employe receives .
freshly laundered towel
Uutput. as soon as he turns in
the soiled one to the messenger who
distributes them. Mr.. DeminG. chief
clerk Of the department. estimates the
saving to the department at about t2.oee
annually. besides the thoroughly salts
factory service. When the above figures
are compared with the latest figures pt
hand from other departments OF tie
government which still employ contract
labor the difference can readily Dc es ~
its own wash. as the Interior Depart
ment Is paying - cents per loo Tor
towels, the War Department. - cents
per 100: the Agricultural Department.
so cents per 100: the Treasury ~ cents
per 100.
The office Of public printer vas
created in 1852. but II was not TIL 1851
that a printing plant was efaolished.
At that time there were some eoV EN-
Moves. and the building and equip
ment cost about $4,000. There are
now 1000 employees. II costs the gov
eminent annually to run this bureau
SIS, 500. 600: IT uses 100000 pounds OF
paper and $1,000 pounds Of ink. ana
they say in the laundry tnat Al .n,s
ink does not get on the paper by any
means. but that fair amount or IL
gets on the $500 towels. besides wtr-
ing rags ard press covers. which are
daily Numbered in this laundry.
The printing ONCE was PAYING %
cents per 100 for laundering towels by
contract, or s5.477.5o a year. 1t now
has a large. light. well equipped plant.
With easy possibilities Of enlargement
should necessity require. which 10 run
by three operatives at an annual eost
for labor of $1.s26: for materials. $Soo:
estimated depreciation of machinery, At
10 per cent, $50. and interest on IN
yestment at per cent. SIS. making =
total of $2,251. This laundry now aoes
other wash besides the towels. whicn
did not come in under the CONTRACT ano
saves the printing ONCE s3.zZe.ao an
nually.
When the general deficiency Dill
failed of passage in the Senate In the
closing session Of the
Rureau of last Congress Director
Ralph found himself In
Engraving. a dilemma not at
all reassurng. as the bureau de-
ponds entirely on the general dehcien-
CIV bill to keep on with its WORK.
There were 10000. goo stamps day 70
be furnished to the Post once Depart.
ment for the public service: internal
the bureau every day amounting to De-
tween s1.50o.000 and $1.75o.o0o.
Paper money in various kinds to meet
the public demand to the face value OF
$50 900 600 day on an average must Dc
turned out and the bureau had orders
for $500. 900 federal reserve notes.
OF United States notes alone the output
is 100000 sheets. or 1.36o.oOo notes OF
an average of 100000 a day: M.
Ralph announced he would proceed with
business. however. buying materials
subject to appropriation by Congress,
resting on the Secretary of the Treas.
ury, under whose directions he VIII
continue The laundry will run. be-
cause without 1t the work OF engrav-
LIZ and printing could NOT CONTINUES aVt
the hundreds of blankets used by the
printers are washed there. besides the
rags for the presses, the covers ana
other adjuncts necessary TO tne WoIA
of turning out the stamps and money.
The towels used by the 4.o87 employees,
all of whom have a fresh towel daily,
and the towels. linens and other arti.
cles used in the hospital are washed
and sterilized in this laundry.
This is the largest of the government
laundries. having a separate drying
room for tie plate blankets and ao-
sorbent cloths. and employs seventeen
operatives to run it besides woman
superintendent. who inspects every
piece of laundry before It is sent out.
In the way of sanitation and the most
modern improvements in machinery mach cry
whole atmosphere of the new bureau
of engraving and printing building
which. SO far as the welfare of the en-
ployes is concerned. il run more ike a
community settlement than the WORK
shop of the largest institution OF the
kind in the world.