Evening star., 1937-01-10
Coloru Material Is Provided by Surplus Property Section,
While Storage of Supplies Is One of Greatest of
Problems for Government Officials

fications and the specifications section
Of the Branch of Supply is assisted
in establishing these standards by Q
committee Of which the director of the
United States Bureau Of Standards Is
chairman. Members of this committee
are designated by the heads Of the
various executive departments Of the
Government. Specifications adopted
by the section and approved by Ad-
miral Peoples as director of procure.
ment become known as Federal spec
iflcations." In some cases, when de-
Walton from standard is necessary in
individual cases and the purchase
made is to exceed $1,000, the depart
ment making the request is authorized
to use its own original specifications.
The assistant director Of the Branch
OF Supply determines the articles to
be listed in the Federal stock cata.
logue, from which executive depart.
ments make their selections for requi-
sition. 1t is Mr.. Reynolds branch,
too, that supervises matters with re-
gard to contracts or deviationS from
contract, for which forms approved
and authorized by the Treasury are
used.
Investigations and studies Of COM
modities are made by the planning di-
vision, which also decides where Ger.
tain stock shall be stored. This divi-
sion likewise investigates the efficient
use Of fuels in various equipments In
the District departments.
When it comes to purchasing the
procurement division lives up to its
name. Items on which specifications,
proposals and contracts are prepared
are divided into eight groups: %
Food and textiles; ca stationery.
books and publications; 90 drugs and
chemicals; "a fuels; (5) hardware
and tools; 90 building maintenance
supplies; CD furniture and office
equipment, and 90 miscellaneous.
Under these various headings sup.
plies are shipped to the Federal Ware
house, which forms the older section
Of the Procurement Division Building.
and deliveries are made daily by trucks
Of the Branch Of Supply, both to and
from the warehouse to the requisi-
tioning departments.
THE warehouse is q model Of cleanli-
ness and order. Occupying four
complete floors. each with a storage
space of 100000 square feet-making
400, 900 square feet in all-and served
by seven automatic freight elevators,
it is divided off into wired chambers
separated by steel grills with locked
doors. Row upon row Of the stock Is
tidily arranged on these floors with
respect to numerical designation corre-
spending with the numerical designa-
ton in the Federal catalogue, so that
any item can readily be located despite
the vast expanse Of the warehouse.
Here one passes boxes Of cleaning fiuiS.
barrels Of laundry soap, glassware
piled-up heaps Of leather, all smelKrf
clean and fresh with that odor CHAR
acteristic Of such articles. Cans and
pals gleam brightly in rows, baskets
make straw mounds up and down the
aisles and there are hillocks of stiff
new brooms, their green bristles stand
ing end to end.
Upon the food devoted to the stor-
age of food that Is distributed to pub
lie institutions such as st. EliZabeth's
Hospital, warehouses;, etc., there is a
spicy, aromatic fragrance. Bags OF
sugar and rolled oats are piled high,
and there are bags Of -four and coffee
and boxes. one upon another. head
Continued % Sixth Page.l