The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-05-15
APPLBToN's NEW BOOK FAC
TORY

| Just bebiud.the beautiful grounds of the
Naval Hospital is a portion Of Brooklyn not
yet fully built up. II lies about equi-
distant from the c5atre; of Brooklyn proper
and old Williamsburg, and has not yet
suffered an overflow from either. Put one
leg of pair Of eompasses (on the map at
the corner Of Broadway and Wall, and the
other in this saucer-bke dell swing the latter
to the left aud it will cut New York south
of 22d st. Therefore, the spot is nearer the
financial heart of New York than Madison
Square. And for light and pure air it is as
good as Madison Square. Upon this site,
perhaps the best in all respects that could
have been chosen, Appleton & Co. have
erected their new Printing House and
Bindery. -as 81
AS the visitor approaches the buildings
from the direction of the Williamsburg
Ferry-fve minutes ride by horse-cars,
his first impression Is Of a watch factory. 1t
is all windows. Having suffered from the
Inevitable deficiency of light in New York,
Appleton 4 Co. determined that the sln
should turn bis full eye on their business in
Brooklyn. Besides the advantages Of COM
pleie solar illumination for the finest kind Of
book-work, it Is good thing for the health
and morals of artisans, and that was an
important point Sickly people may write
books, but it takes we'll ones to print and
bind them, f.. r
Kent Avenue, awide thourOughfare, up end
down which the cars run between the two
divisions Of present Brooklyn, fronts the
pile. 1t is goodly facade the western one.
Its general appearance iscsstellated. There
are great tower like structures at each end,
connected by less elevated range /; end
midway of the latter mighty double gate
of oak and iron, at which ono looks 10 see
warder standing. This front is 200 feet.
On Penn Street, to the south, the building
is one Dry high, and extends 1873 feet On
Hewes Street, north it is four stories high,
and 252 feet. When the contemplated
additions are made the Appletons will
occupy a strongly fortified quadrilateral,
where they can hold cut for an unlimited
period against the severest siege Of the book
buySrs The entire area then enclosed viii
be 81, 100 square feet, or ore and a quarter
acres. OF this the buildings, with all the
projected improvements, will not occupy
more than two thirds-thus leaving in the
centre an ample space for the sunlight to rest |
aud the winds of heaven to play in. Over |
a million cubic feet Of space ara included IN |
the bulldogs they now stand So says |
the architect. and people generally will take |
his word for il, in preference to measuring |
for themselves.
A great IA story, iu which many processes
conduct TO one conclusion, is piece Of logic, |
which, to be understood, must be followed
out frcm the beginning. Therefore. the
visitor who would examine the Appletons'
intelligently, should COM
mence with the PIintiDg house TO the right
of the central gateway on Kent Avenue
Here, first, is the White Stock" Room,
occupying large part of the basement.
Thousands Of reams are piled up awaiting
their turn, which will soon cems, to be
transformed, as by magic, into books.
Beyond this department Is long stretch OF
vaults, as dafk and snug bot not as damp
as the c1tacombs Of Rome. This is ths /
depository of all the stereotype plates sof tho
house. Taey are packed into over 10000
boxes, which are plsinly labelled, and
slowed orderly 50 thai, at moments
notice, wherever the pubic demand a new
edit'o of book, the plates may be whisked
out Of their sepulchre, aud put upon the
presses mp stairs. Iron doors and shutters,
and thick brick arches, make these vaults,
with their precious contents. fire-proof
0r the frat Aoor, Of the Printing House.
directly over the Paper-Stock Room, is
room for pressing paper. rhis is done by