[ 108 ] 38 



these causes, it was not until the month of December that our office was in 

 working order. 



I present to you herewith a sheet printed from these titles, with some of 

 the blocks. It will be seen from these specimens that the work, although 

 executed by hands not well skilled in such employment, will compare not 

 unfavorably with that ])roduced by other stereotyping offices. Practice 

 will give greater perfection. We can see no reason to doubt the mechani- 

 cal practicability of the plan ; it is now thought to be fully established. 

 .We may therefore direct attention to plans for carrying it practically and 

 speedily into effect. 



The course which I would propose for this purpose is, first to proceed 

 with the catalogue of our own library, preparing it in accordance with the 

 rules recommended by the commission, and stereotyping it as rapidly as is 

 consistent with the perfection of the work. The first part of so extensive 

 an undertaking should be done with great care; it will furnish a model for 

 all subsequent labors. We cannot, therefore, at first advance with the 

 same rapidity as will be practicable at a later period. Cataloguers must be 

 trained ;• workmen must acquire skill ; apparatus must be perfected. 



After our own catalogue is completed, or nearly so, we may commence 

 upon the catalogue of any other hbrary which may be off'ered to us. The 

 commissioners upon the catalogue suggested the importance of having the 

 library of Congress first catalogued upon this plan. Since their report was 

 written, the larger part of this collection has been lost by fire. Some con- 

 siderable portion is, however, left, and undoubtedly measures will imme- 

 diately be taken for replenishing the library. This would seem, then, to 

 be a peculiarly appropriate time for presenting this matter formally to the 

 proper authorities. It is extremely desirable that the catalogue of the new 

 library should be constructed on a different plan from that heretofore fol- 

 lowed — a plan which, however popular it may have been when it was 

 adopted, has long since been generally abandoned. By entering into the 

 system which we propose, Congress can save large sums of money in the 

 reprinting of the catalogue, and can, at the same time, promote a great 

 national work. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. C. JEWETT, Librarian. 



