Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24

Government. This is the Department
of Documents in the Government Print
ing Once In Washington. The public
printer Is the most prolific publisher in
the world He directs an output of
more than 100, 900 900 copies Of publica-
tons each year. In the ONCE Of the
superintendent of documents, he oper-
ates the greatest bookstore In the world,
and the only known bookstore where
everything is sold at cost. The Govern
ment employs thousands Of scientists
who are engaged continuously in max
ing researches in all branches Of house
hold economy, agriculture, in geology.
in electricity, In chemistry in astrono-
my. in engineering, in aviation, in pre-
ventive medicine, in forestry. In trriga-
ton, in shipping and railroad problems,
in trade and manufactures.
Experts Are Five Cents Away.
1--WE, as a people, are slow to realize
that so great q number of experts on
such q variety of subjects are only, so
to speak, cents away. Recently the
demands on the superintendent Of docu-
ments have increased tremendously,
which not only shows that more OF us
are becoming aware Of this service. but
that more of us are seeking expert ad-
vice in our daily life. It also shows
that more of us are becoming conscious
of our Government, and that, as peo-
pie. we are using 1t ss our forefathers
intended we should when they founded
the Government. Last year this bureau
distributed OBSOLETE copies of Govern
ment publications. which were either
furnished free to the public by direc-
ton of the respective departments, or
sold at q nominal price. During the
last eight years the number distributed
has nearly doubled, which again proves
that we are making use OF the resources
of our corporation.
81 would like to tell you Of. the lilo
carloads OF paper our book store and
printery bought last year: about the
175,Cs3 letters received and answered
during the year: and about the daily
payroll of $4,000 that we are support
ing In this one useful department. But
the figures are 80 large that they begin
to lose significance after only brief re-
view. I would like to take you with
me for look at the biggest card index
system I ever saw, In which We md
perfectly classified the title, location
on the shelves, and the price Of $780,
600 copies Of publications.
terra which Is operated by an associa-
ton of the employees, more than 1000
of them. They have self-supporting
restaurant whose gross income last
year was 1921, 766.22. II the cooks in
their kitchen read and follow the I'M
structions of the Department Of Asri-
culture on how to buy. prepare, cook
and serve good things to eat, 1t is un-
doubtedly the last word In excellence Of
taste and In the degree OF nourish-
ment.
"At any rate. there Is an admirable
morale about the great plant and the
visitor receives as prompt and courteous
attention when he makes q personal
call as does his letter asking for the
best way to make cottage cheese or
when to transplant his tomato plants.
Outlines Books Available.
II am going to take the time TO
enumerate, Just few out of the thou
sands Of publications that are available
to us. Each week the public printer
publishes q price list Of his books and
pamphlets that are about to be issued,
| indicating their character and listing
them under their proper classifications,
| so that no time need be wasted. II you
are interested in some specific subject,
you find exactly how to make the re-
quest of the department. I will run
! through a few of the lists, selecting
items at random. and for clarity's sake
| will name only those for which the
cost to you Is cents. In the farm
management list see pamphlet for
| sale TO those who would like to know
how to build chimneys and fireplaces In
the old farm house. In the Children's
| Bureau leafiet there Is listed q publ
cation on how to make rompers and
another on how to arrange games for
children In organized play, which
would be useful not only to mothers
living in suburbs but in all small COM
munities where sometimes we find diff
Guilty In keeping children out Of mis-.
chief. Here is q pamphlet on schoo
lunches. What joy to the mother ir
the rural communities who prepare.
her children's lunches to be taken t<
the school house. Another on how tt
clothe, battle and feed the baby.
las each year rolls by, We are learn.
ing more and more the vital Importance
to child development in the scientific
care given to the infant during thu
/ t3rct Woo IF hic life Tt {s hard IN nyer.