Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
BY GEORGE III. DACY.


THE Post ONCE Department has
designed, built and developed
one of Washington's unique fac
tories, a plant which makes
new mail bags and repairs old
ones by the million.
It has come to pass that this i'm
peccable capital of capitals, reputed
Fopularly to be as free from the dust
Aad hustle of industry as any munich
pality on the worldwide map, Is the
seat of two interesting Federal fac
tories. the only establishments OF their
kind now extant. One of these pro-
duction centers is a steel plant used AS
I'm important ramification OF the WASH
ington Navy Yard. 1t converts scrap
and junk metal of ordnance fitness INTO
the finest armament now used on
american battleships. The second
msVuf2ctory consists of the mail equip
mens shops, the most elaborate and eff
Gent plant of it's kind in existence.
The entrance of the United States
Government into the actual production
field, however, is wholly devoid Of d.
rect competition with professional
manufacturers. It was i~naugurated
solely in the interest Of national
economy.
If you will take the trouble to skim
over the appropriations made by our
last Congress, you will doubtless be
astonished to ascertain that $2,400, 900
was the sum set aside for the support
of the Mail Equipment Shops during
the fiscal year. The production pro-
gram for that period features the
manufacture of 1,450, 600 new ma bags
as well as the repair Of more than
5000, 900 old canvas containers which
carry our correspondence from mere 10
Jericho or farther.
Converting spotless white canvas into
business-like bags for the transportation
Of u domestic and foreign man Is
of the national factory on w street
northeast, in the lexington section. All
the postal locks used on mail bags,
boxes and other Official containers are
also made at this remarkable plant.
Some 500, 900 of the type known among
Federal mailmen as the 81. A." lock
will be produced and distributed during
the current year. AS many as 100000
of these locks have been manufactured
In one year, the plant having a capacity
of 5000 a day under extreme pressure.
The special rotary locks used ex-
clusively on registered mail Gags are
the product of the skilled Government
lockmakers. Just to illustrate the
economy which Uncle Sam fosters by
making such equipment himself. 1t is
notable that a certain foreign country
recently contracted with an American
firm to make a smaller number OF these
rotary locks for its postal department.
The delivered cost of these locks was
SIS apiece. Other American manutac-
turers produce and commercialize SINH
lar locks at retail prices ranging from
$40 to SIS. The Post Office Department
-. AI..~ 1~nlyr - &c yapixrnfO fN RfnrU
ct a total cost Of 81 apiece.
THIS Washington factory, whose ex-
L istence is unknown to the average
District resident, employs a personnel
of $50 to 500 skilled and Seml-Skilled
operators. Its working schedule is elias
tic and its labor roster varies according
to the animal ups and downs OF Its
requirements. It is practically impos-
sible to plan in advance for all the ac-
tivities of the year. The Superinten-
dent never knows exactly how many
mail bags and other forms OF postal
equipment will be returned for repair.
This complexities the business OF
scheduling work months in advance. At
any time a sudden emergency may de-
veiop which will wreck carefully for
mulated plans.
Although the Mail Equipment Shops
make ali the tools which are used in
that plant, many of the postal Access
series, such as canceling machines,
postal scales, mail boxes, numbering
devices, electrical motors and similar
apparatus, are made on special speci-
fcations by commercial firms.
Last year Supt. John B.. Cady had
charge OF the repair of see machines
for canceling letter mail, 1900 postal
scales, $500 numbering machines and
325 motors for the operation of the can
ceiling devices. These appliances were
sent to washington from post offices In
all parts of the country.
If YOU would review a beehive OF In
dnstrv where nimble fingers operate