diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 382230e..a0ff51d 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -86,11 +86,6 @@ epix elaps flix laps: %: %.in epix.el
 	    -e 's%@RUNTIME_COMPILER\@%$(CXX)%;' $< > $@-local
 	chmod a+x $@ $@-local
 
-# libepix.a
-libepix.a: $(libepix_a_OBJECTS)
-	ar -ru libepix.a $(libepix_a_OBJECTS)
-	$(RANLIB) libepix.a
-
 # object file dependencies
 $(libepix_a_LIBADD): %.o: %.cc %.h
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9089c35..2d5fe60 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ AM_MAINTAINER_MODE
 dnl Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CXX
 AC_PROG_LN_S
+AM_PROG_AR
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
diff --git a/doc/Makefile.am b/doc/Makefile.am
index c888b9a..4789c0a 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Makefile.am for ePiX v1.x "doc" directory
 #
 
-EPIXFLAGS = --no-defaults -I.. -L.. -lepix -v
+EPIXFLAGS = --no-defaults -I.. -L.. -lepix -q
 
 %.eepic: %.xp
 	../epix-local $(EPIXFLAGS) $<
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ EEPICS = $(XPS:.xp=.eepic)
 CLEANFILES = *~ *.aux *.dvi *.log *.out *.toc \
 	*.idx *.ilg *.ind \
 	manual_src.tar manual.pdf manual.ps \
-	manual_src.tar.gz manual.pdf.gz manual.ps.gz manual-stamp
+	manual_src.tar.gz manual.pdf manual.ps.gz manual-stamp
 
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = *.eepic *.aux *.dvi *.log *.out *.toc \
 	*.idx *.ilg *.ind
 
 ## Targets ##
-doc_DATA = manual.pdf.gz manual.ps.gz manual_src.tar.gz
+doc_DATA =
 
 info_TEXINFOS = epix.texi
 
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ manual.ps.gz: manual-stamp
 
 #PDF
 manual.pdf.gz: manual-stamp
-	gzip -9 -c manual.pdf > manual.pdf.gz
 
 epix.info: manual-stamp epix.texi
 	makeinfo epix.texi
diff --git a/samples/Makefile.am b/samples/Makefile.am
index 38bb5cd..7cd7cd4 100644
--- a/samples/Makefile.am
+++ b/samples/Makefile.am
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ FLX = $(wildcard *.flx)
 CLEANFILES = *~ *.eepic *.eps sample_src.tar sample_src.tar.gz sample-stamp
 
 ## Targets ##
-doc_DATA = sample_src.tar.gz
+doc_DATA =
 
 
 # tar up tex, xp, and eepic files