Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-21
EN TERPRIsE.
The Largest Publishing Hsuss in
the World.
]. D. LIPPINooTT O co.


II. LrPpINcoTr q co.
IL
The city Of Philadelphia has 50 long '
heard itself accused OF slowness, old fogy- '
SIN, and inoapaci.y to keep up with the 4
lines, ths. these accusations have come to /,
Do regarded by many who ought to know
b. tier as admitted truths, and no great feat 1
,f enterprise IL looked for in this business
Nazareth. But the citizens, with imPer-
IurbAble Oalmness inherited from their '
Quaker predecessors, waste neither time nor I
breath in Barking back at their vi,uPera-
Tors, but quietly work away, until they sud
denly silence the clAmOrs of those who cry,
'Why don't you wake up and do thus'and'
so p with the triumphant answer, why
we hare done IT," And then "Ah the
world, ~ the French say, lifts up its HANDS
in respectful admiration, and exolAims, ave
knew i'll Didnt We tell you so 2"
So, when we say that the publishing
house Of
J.B. LIPriScoTT a co.
is the mos, extensive in the United States,
and probably in the world, we expect to
surprise goodly number Of readers. Yet
this high distinction is claimed BY this old
PhilAdelphiA house, and We believe the
claim has never been disputed.
The house had
ITa BEGINNING
in the last century, when Mr.. Benjamin
johnson opened store on Market street
for the publishing and sale OF books. The
business increased steadily IN his hands and
those Of his successors until 1850, when the
establishment was sold to J. B. Lippineot.
4 Co, then and for many years previously do
ing business at Fourth aud Race street.
The new administration brought with il
talent, energy aud oApitAl-a combination
which was not long in making it's effects
felt, Like all successful enterprises, this
soon outgrew the extensive boilding on Mar
ket, above Seventh, and afve-sIory buildinR
Was erected at Fifth and Cherry, to contain
the manufacturing departments bat even
this became Insufficient the separation Of
The various branches Was inconvenieO', ana
building was plAnne1 Whieh shou'a os
adequate TO meet oil the demands oil the en-
lArgsd business.
THE NEW BUILDING,
which has Just been completed and oeeEpi
cd, is magnificent structure. Its cost wa
over $3OO,0Oo. 10 is OF brick, six Store
high, with basement and sub'celiar, and !
so connected with the original edihoe ths
the two form, in effect, but one building
having sbout fifty feet front on Market stree
and one hundred on FIloert, the dis'Ane
between the two streets, being three nnnore'
aud si1ty.siH feet. One magnificent sales
room occupies the hrst floor ana extena'
from street to street, 80 that the visitor, OF
entering, gains ~ once al idea Of the mag
nitude Of the basiness requiring such al
enormous space Tor its operations.
AsWeek or two ago We accompanied MI
Walter LipPineoth the genial 'ln'efviewinI
member OF the firm, on
a TOUR OF INSPECTION
through the vast establishment over whicl
he is superintendent. Waiting un.il tn
elevator could be cleared OF a cargo o
books and stationery bound FOR Texas
We then stepped on board and wer,
transported, 10 moment to the
sixth story Of the rear building, where 81
excellent view Of the northern portion o.
the city was the 6rss thiRg that arrested oui
attention. At that elevation there wal
nothing to obstruot the vision, and the eye
ranged over miles Of roof and streets, unit
both were lost in the hAzy distance.
Turning from the window, we saw
Wslllighted. vsIl.ventilAted apartment, o
generous proporlions-As are all in THU
buiiding-Whsre multitude OF men and
women we're silently and busily ct work IN
the various empioyments incident to book
making. The printed sheets, having been
brouRhi from lower floor, were IAEen in
hand by an army OF girls, who folded them
with accuracy and dsxtsrity, acquired By
long practice. Mos, Of this work rs still
done by hand, but new machinery IS being
introduced which gives 90 much Satisfaction
that IL will, doubtless, supsrseee mAnOs
labor in = very short time these ms
chinss-Of which there we're several IN 70
rOOm-PerfOrm their WORK WIN so'Po
quiokness and finish Inc A''enaAn'P paw
sheet OF paper IN Pos''ion' TOUCHES "
with her 1901, ana IN one 'imo ~ -.
notions before 'ne 'hoe' mas ""0
think about Il" II n cut, folded, ana place
IN adge banda n row of other sheets, whic