Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-29
TuE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

means and appliances introduced III e""ie'''" Nv
this change, in order that our readers may have II full
opportunity Of approaching the extent 81 our opera
tons. and the means Of efficiency at Our command.
They will find in these details data by which TO csii-
mate the prospective advance i'll the path ofrroSrerty
which the "Enquircr' must needs make under
the impulse thus given TO it. Perhaps, more than
any other sort of enterprise, does II newspaper
once established. yield q full equivalent for ANY en-
pcnSe incurred in adding TO its efficiency ana WIN
this assurance. VIC havc undertaken t" place II upon
its present footing II: n large additional COST
INDEPENDENT Of this outlay, We have increased the
mechanical and intellectual clements OF the paper
in a n,io commensurate with our enlarged facilities,
tins adding considerably 10 the regular expenses Of
Tic establishment. Tie prospective outlay i'll these
connections would, if capitalized for q period OF four
or five wears, reach an aggregate little below the cx-
pcnsc already incurred. But all this we have under
taken upon the faith that our excr,ionS will be duly
appreciated, and n corresponding degree Of prosperity
attained.
We feel that il is unnecessary 10 refer to TIE hi-,o-
nv and progress of the Enquirer, Tor we take /; that
there are few Of our readers who are no, familiar with
lis career. There are not II few living who have an
intimate personal knowledge Of lis history from It's
origin in 1906; and those OF the rising generation.
whose memories cannot compass the fnil period OF its
history, have doubtless enough Of Evolutionary in'or-
nation to make up. with their own experience, = lair
historical rtsuUe Of the paper and its characteristics.
The entire absence Of complication in Its history ami
the uniform adhercrccto Democratic principles, which
have marked its career, make the attainment; of this
knowledge the less di:hcn!..
Its origin NAV be said to he cotcmpcrAne"us with
,ha, Of the great party which j, represents. In the
rise and progress OF both, there is astrikim. identity:
and in the condolences Of prosperity, ,raccalle
Throughout, their history, there is maniics, an init
mate and sensitive community o: in;cr"-, and sym
pa,hy. which can ouly find 4 parallel in the peculiar
relations OF the family circle. Whatever affected
Tic ole. affected the other. Their destiny is iIcn,i-
fcd, and, in the attitude q; pre-tninent prosperity and
distinction 80 which the party has attained. v" Ills
cover the first great cause Of the increasing welfare
OF the Enquirer"
Heretofore. there WAS 4 want vi concentration. III
our arrangements, Which somewhat impaired the
efficiency Of tie " Eaquirer." Now, however, We
are 80 arranged a. to facilitate operations in each
department. 90 the fullest possible extent. We arr
now occupying the large tvc-st3ry brick building al
the corner OF Main and twelfth streets. where We
have concentrated tie various departments Of oar
business. including the Book-bindcry. the State
Office. the Enquirer Office, editorial rooms, Library,
Li,ho.rarhic department and conntins-room.
THE BINDERY.
The Bindcrv is situated on the fifth floor. which
runs the entire length OF the bnildins-cnc hundred
fee; by twenty-five in width. Along the centre Of
the room there are three large standing presses and
one large cet-pre>s-designed 10 press the printed
sheets preparatory to their being bound. The sides
of the room throughout. its full! length are lined with
Ma: platforms. wilerron the binding is executed; and
in q remote end of the same room. There IS n space
allotted 20 female binders, ten Of whom are generally
| engaged in sewing together and co!la'ing the pages
after they are printed and pressed. This Is n heat
branch OF our business, and is conducted with a
degree Of cleanliness and system that would seem
incompatible with the idea Of ink and type. with
| which It i, intimately associated. The number 0:
men usually employed in this department is from
eight 20 twelve: but durng the sessions Of the Lc-
~y:sla:u-c. and for some months after, the force is
much larger. This department. embraces every
facility: and the specimens Of work furnished
from ;;yac % tine, arc q sufficient commentary upon
is efficiency.
PUBLIC PRINTING DEPARTMENT.
Tie public, or State printing is executed on tue
fourth floor, two-thirds Of which, say siXty-seven
feet, * allotted TO this department. The number OF
hands employed a: this work il twenty. besides the
foreman and pToot-rcader; and we may safely assert
that q more competent and efficient force can no; be
found aroncs. the craft in Richmond or elsewhere.
They are al pcrtec; masters Of their profession
The arrangements in this Department; are as complete
as the necessities OF dispatch, nea;ness of finish, and
variety Of taste demand. They are, in short, COM
measaratc with the mos, enlarged and comprchcn-
sive requirements Of the art.
"ENoUiRER" PRINTING OFFICE.
The "EnGuirer'' newspaper Office is also located
on the iou-,h aoo-. the section allotted IS. that pur-
pose measuring about ,!;;rty-:hrec feet by twenty
i've. The appointment. and fixtures in Ills depart
men; are gotten up upon the most modern aid efi-
Glen, principles, and fully in keeping with the
idea Of progress and improvement Of which, we
trust, there is presented a practical Development
in the appearance Of the Enquirer TO-DAY. The
number Of hands employed in thi, department. is
twelve, besides the foreman. Mr. Win. i. Allegro.
We may safely say tina; this department j. organized
upon a footing Of efficiency both a. regards the ciasN
of men employed. and the general order Of things
within il, unsurpassed by any newspaper o:fcc ii 1.-THE
country.
THE PRESS ROOM.
OR newspaper, hool; and job presses ARE located
on the :hiri floor cg the builliag, one hall Of which.
say fifty feet. j. allotted for this purpose. The NUN
her OF presses employed is FIVE, viz: t. large mew,ra-
per cylinder press. manufactured BY Hoe * Co. Of
York: Il large book press, manufactured By Adams;
l.r,. baud ,,-a-I tr ppSt.r-. :Is. three. E.uI
presses for job WEEK.. Tie large newspaper cylinder
press Ia, perfect registering apparatus and -hec; ny
er,, also adjustable iron levers, 80 thsi stereotype
NAV he worked with the same facility and beauty rs
type foriu-. One boy is required 10 lay OF the sheets
rs feeder. and the press is driven 10y steam. With
the same attendance. il; will rrin; twice is ia,; ~ any
bed and pia,rn machine. and equally Is well in every
. resrrc;-i,s capacity being. say from Tvs" thousand to
three thousand impressions an hour. Froin the capa-
city of this Machine, WE Will DC enabled to defer
! putting our paper 20 press anti u la;e hour. AID ;aIus
enjoy the advantage Of securing the lates: news With
! OF; tie hazard Of losin. the mails. In an emergency,
we might postpone going 70 press until . or ) O'clock
in the morning without coniictingin any way will oar
. mail arrangements. THIS, it will I've seen. i, u greH;
advantage in this fast age, and not the least imInr;.l:
clement of efficiency in orr arrangements.
The large book pre-. will also be driven by steam.
With this agency, i: will be capable Of turning out
! from 500 TO loo sheets per hour, the attendance ofonly
one man being necessary to accomplish this result. In
this regard the application Of steam instead Of hand
power, heretofore in use. will operate economically,
while in tic matter Of despatch q very great advau-
;age will be gained.
The three other presses are adapted to every class
OF job work, from the largest sized sheet to the card
of smallest Dimensions. These will continue to be
worked by hand power. being so designed in their
original structure.
The boiler and engine are located in u distinct
apartment from the press room, but upon the same
lcyel. lThc engine Is fourteen horse power, and con-