Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Stories of Old Government Print Shop

fronting on H street was added to the west
end.
Five years later, in 1870, the second addition
extending south on North Capitol street from
the east end of the main building 1917 feet,
with general width of 611a feet, was made
Again in 1879 a freproof building was added
running south from the west end of the main
building S6 feet inches by So feet inches
thence east go by so feet; also two four story
hreproof Railways, IL feet wide each, connect
ing the old house with the new wing All the
extensions were made four stories in height
and in architecture to harmonic with the main
old building
good description of the original building
is given in the first annual report of the SUPER
intendent of public printing dated January 1,
1851 and is as follows:
The public printing establishment is sit
uated at the northeast corner of square 624,
at the corner of H street north and North
Capitol street. The lot is 264 feet inches on
II street by ITS feet inches on North Capitol
street. containing 46,397 feet and affordinp
ample space for any additions or improvements
that may be deemed desirable The building
consists OF printing Office and bindery, four
stories HIGH with breadth of 611s feet and
depth of 243 feet; paper warehouse SO feet
z inches by 70 feet inches; a machine sloD
22 feet inches by IS feet, for repairing and
renewing the presses and machinery; a boiler
mouse 20 feet inches by IS feet coal house
by "a feet, and stables % feet by Al feet
inches. These buildings are all of brick. built
OF the best materials and in the most durable
manner, and were erected under the s,lper.
vision OF Edward Clark, esq.,, now the architect
OF the Interior Department expressly for the
purpose OF executing the public printing and
plnd1ng. They are completely isolated
from any contiguous building, being bounded ON
the north and east by public streets. on the
south by 30-foot alley and on the west by a
vacant lot OF FL feet inches, included in the
purchase"
ms report-made less than a wear after
the Federal Government took possession of the
piant-tells us also that the equipment then
on hand included rs printing presses tn the
value OF $S6,375; type; metal, furniture etc.
$lS,AoO; steam engine and appendages, 1000:
nyorauhc presses, $4,000; drying-room fixtures:
$S'OOO; gas fixtures, Salts; standing presses
and fixtures in the wetting room. standing
presses machinery and the fixtures in the
plndery and folding rooms machinery and
hAtures IN the machine shop, cases, chases i'm
posing stones, stands, water pipes, heating pipes.
horses, wagons etc., $19,534; or total value
Of $146,545. O
Just imagine for an instant that the postal
caro- presses there today alone cost nearly that
sum, and that when the building was t,,rnad
over TO the Government in 1861 everything
building and all-cost but $4,000. Indeed.
the following letter tells the story:
Office of Superintendent of Public
FEntmg. March 2 1861
Joseph T. Crowell, Esq:
Enclosed please find check ON the
Treasurer of the United States for one
hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars
($135,0O0), being the amount agreed
upon for the purchase of the premises at
the corner of H street north of North
Capitol street, with the buildings. ma
chinery and materials, known as the Pub
lie Printing Office.
Very respectfully
Your obi servt
JNO. HEART, Supt"