Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-17
sTHr 1EnGgR AT THE EXPOSITION.

One of the features OF the Exposition,
and we trust not one of the least at
tractive, is the printing of the LEDGER
and other publications on Hoe eylin'
der press, worked by one of the engines
belonging to this establishment. The
speed with which this will be done every
afternoon will not only illustrate our Ia
cilities for printing, but will give thous'
ands of people, especially ladies and
children. a definite idea of part OF the
mechanical process by which newspapers
are made. True, the type.setting for
the LEDGER, which is only done by hand
and is quite tedious and laborious, will
be done at the Office, as usual, and like
wise the editorial work, which is often
supposed to be very easy, but Of this we
do not propose to speak now. 1t may
interest many of our readers to know
that the LEDGER, as it appears in its en-
Iareed form to-day, was set up by
ten compositors or printers, who worked
on it steadily at least ten hours, and
each daily issue will require the same
amount of toll. So the mere working
off" on the press, being accomplished
snhiefy by the aid of steam, is only
q small part of the labor required to
make a newspaper. The visitors at the
Exposition can see for themselves, as
long as it lasts, and while the proprietor
like other exhibitors, makes this mat
Ter of business which cannot fail to be
proftable, he desires to entertain and
crafty the curiosity Of many even OF the
male sex who have never seen any OF the
inside workings ola printing office When
this press is in good order it will easily
strike off thres thousand impressions
ner hour. This is a vast improvement
since the days of Franklin's hand-piess'
which can yet be seen at the Patent
Office in Washington, ard even on the
hand-presses of the present day used by
many weekly papers which do not require
a mower press. We knew Of country
editor once wko boasted that he not only
attended to all the Office business and
wrote all the editorials and locals, but sci
mn the type, worked off the paper on his
hand. press and then mounted a horse
and delivered the paper to all his sub
scribers. That was before the days o.
railroads, but that man was no doubt
mower in his county, even if he did moi
have power press Such feats cannon
be accomplished to much purpose nova
DAYS. for even the weeklies require three
or four men, and prosperous daily like
the LEDGER has in its employment al
least forty men and boys. The cost Of
publishing daily newspaper is much
greater than its readers generally sup
nose. The expense Of running the
LEDGER establishment is at least hfteer
hundred dollars per week, which mus
be paid out in cash between each
Monday morning aud Saturday night
This Hoe press cost $4,000 the sinai
engine by which it is run cost the pro
prietor $3.50 in New York few week
AGO and this is the first time it was eve
in operation. These facts and inquire
will give some idea Of the magnitude U
which the press as an institution ma
grown in the last few years, and 1t stu
leads the van in all that pertains to tn
material progress of the age. The pres
has great mission to perform, ana =
ia ranks are found reformers, scholars
statesmen and philosophers, who ar
loud of the profession and conseiou
their responsible station. But tbl
i the moral view Of the subject who
We da not set out to present. We nerel
nreoosed to greet our readers and tn
,,obiic from new and attractive quarter
md 10 say that such encouragement q
our enterprise and outlay may seeur
win be appreciated.
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