Before opening United States Government Publications, v. 8 Jan.-Jun. 1892 A Monthly Catalog — Inside the Classic, the edition data offers a quick orientation: 57,104 words, 4 hr 9 min estimated reading time, and 9 detected text sections.
The text analysis averages about 6.9 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.
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Read on Project GutenbergJohn H. Hickcox's United States Government Publications, v. 8 Jan.-Jun. 1892 opens with a clear statement of purpose: to list 'all the current official publications of the United States,' including reports, documents printed by order of Congress, public acts, treaties, and maps. The editor emphasizes that entries are arranged alphabetically 'under authors' names as regards special treatises, and under topics as regards Congressional documents,' with a 'valuable feature' being the separate listing of every paper within larger reports. This systematic approach is reinforced by the note that the catalog will be issued 'regularly and promptly early in each month,' aiming to remedy past irregularity.
The catalog's alphabetical arrangement quickly reveals the diversity of government output. Entries range from individual reports like 'Peters, J. L. Findings of the court of claims in the case of Peters v. U.S.' to broader topics such as 'PILOTAGE' and 'POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.' Each entry includes document type, pagination, and congressional session information. For example, a report on 'Port Hudson' is listed as 'Sen. rep. no. 129; 52d Cong., 1st sess.' This consistent formatting allows readers to trace the provenance of each document. The inclusion of consular reports, such as 'Peterson, James J., Consul. Mining companies in Honduras,' shows the catalog's reach beyond domestic affairs.
The Post-Office Department entry exemplifies the catalog's thoroughness. It includes the annual report of the Postmaster-General, estimates for ocean mail service, a letter about third-class post offices, and a list of employees not in the classified civil service. Each sub-entry carries its own document number and price, such as 'H.R. ex. doc. no. 1, pt. 4' for the report priced at $1.00. This granularity allows researchers to identify specific items of interest. The catalog also notes when a document is part of a larger series, like 'H.R. rep. no. 1292; 52d Cong., 1st sess.' for a bill on navy enlistment privileges.
Beyond congressional and departmental documents, the catalog includes scientific bulletins and specialized studies. For instance, 'Pierce, Newton B. A disease of almond trees' appears in the Journal of Mycology, while 'Pilling, James Constantine. Bibliography of the Algonquin languages' is listed as a Smithsonian Institution Bureau of Ethnology publication. These entries demonstrate the catalog's role in capturing the full breadth of government-sponsored research. The inclusion of 'Playfair, Sir R. L. The Mediterranean, physical and historical' from the Smithsonian report further illustrates the range of topics covered.
For a first reading, the catalog's alphabetical arrangement under authors and topics is straightforward. However, the user should note that congressional documents are grouped under topics, while departmental publications appear under the department name. The index at the end of the volume is essential for cross-referencing. The catalog also includes a subscription price of $5.00 per annum and a note that the publishers 'will endeavor to supply any of the publications named.' This practical orientation helps the reader understand the catalog's dual purpose as a bibliography and a ordering tool.
This catalog offers a window into the machinery of late 19th-century American government, from routine appropriations to specialized scientific reports. The consistent formatting and detailed entries make it a reliable reference for tracing the output of Congress and federal agencies. Readers interested in a particular topic should use the index and note the document numbers for locating full texts in libraries or archives.
There’s something tender about how Hickcox’s old catalog holds every stray paper—almond blights, navy lists—as if each mattered equally. I felt that same quiet reverence flipping through Henrik Ibsen A Bibliography of Criticism and Biography with an Index to Characters — A Closer Reading, where every critique and character becomes a small, preserved thread in a larger life. It lingers like a dusty room you’re not ready to leave.
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