Evening star., 1941-01-12
Bv Cedric Larson.

With a major European war. a
presidential Inauguration and the
first time draft in American
history, the public has somehow lost
sight of an event of the first i'm
portance in Washington and the
printing world in general: The oc-
cupancy of the new eight-story
printing plant of the Government
Printing Office.
Uncle Sam went into the printing
business for himself when in 1861
the Government took over the Cor
nelius Wendell printing plant, To-
Gated at what is now H and North
Capitol streets, at a purchase price
of S135 900. AS the decades went by,
more than a dozen additions were
made to this original structure, and
even then there was not sufficient
room for the expanding business of
Government printing.
In 1899 Congress appropriated
2,430, 900 for the construction OF the
new building of seven stories and
basement, erected at G and North
Capitol streets, adjacent to the other
buildings, and finished in 1908. This
structure was connected with the
other printing buildings by three
bridges. In 1922 the roof of the 1903
building was raised and an addi-
tional floor superimposed on the
attic floor, thus changing the build
ing to its current eight stories and
basement, with an aggregate floor
area of 468 ,738 square feet. This
building was the chief production
unit for over generation, 1904 to
1910. when the new and modern
building at H and North Capitol
streets was finished and ready for
use.
AS the l930s began, the printing
facilities then existing were over
taxed by the Government business
placed upon them, and when Au-
gustus E. Giegengack became public
printer he launched campaign for
a new building. He submitted a
formal letter to Congress, describing
the need for a new structure and
enlisted the help of the Procure
ment Division of the Treasury De-
'partment, which at this time was
sponsoring an extensive Federal
building program. The matter was
laid before the Appropriations Com
mittee.
I Action by Congress.
Later an estimate of $4,000, 900
was submitted by Mr.. Giegengack
for the acquisition of land directly
across North Capitol street from the
Government Printing Office build
ings for construction of a warehouse
and railroad sidings, and for new
building or annex on the site of
the II nineteenth century" build
ings including the old Wendell
structure, which were to be razed
to make room for the new wing. The
estimate for this building program
submitted to Congress was S. 1885,, ,000
which was finally authorized by
Congress on August II. 1885. A SUBJ
sequent act increased the limit of
the cost to S7,70o 900. This included
money for acquisition of land for
new structures, furniture, demolition
expenses of old buildings, and con-
struction of new buildings.
Demolition of buildings on site
of the warehouse began in Novem-
ber, 1886, and the completed build
ing was turned over some Is months
later. on February 4, 1885, In the
Warehouse is room for accOmmOda-
ton of 16 freight cars, besides a large
storage capacity. In this building
are produced more than two billion
postcards and 300 millipn money
order forms annually.
J The razing of the dozen structure!
which stood on the site of the new
'eight-story printing building wa
begun June 81, 1888, and excava
ton shortly thereafter. Mr.. Giegen'