National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-24
THE FAST TYPE Settlers.
NATURALIZATION FOR THE GREAT
EVENT.

ALTERATION OF THE RULEs-NEw PRIZES
OFFERED = SUBSCRIPTIONS ACKNowL-
EDGED-ADDITIo PERSONAL
SKETCHES - ASSOCIATED PRESS DIS
PATCHES.
The interest in the great type-setting tourna-
ment is rapidly increasing, and to the fraternity
il promises now TO be q very important event
The arrangements for it, with descriptions Of the
principal prizes offered, have been borne on tele
graph wires to all the principal papers Of the
country, and they arc everywhere commenting
pleasantly upon the interesting Information. The
subscription lst discloses the fact that our citi
zens-our merchants and business men, those
who know the great value Of printers tnk-aEe
manifestisg the proper SPIRIT and there can be no
doubt OF farther and hattering contributions in
aid Of this grand affair.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
The following subscriptions to the fund for the
purchase Of the prizes are acknowledged as pass
ing through this ONCE George Hill, IT., S5; Geo.
W. Cochran. IS; Dickson Patterson, Is; james
r. Young s5: VIM. S. Roose, IS; cash, 81.
The following subscriptions have passed into
the fund through the hands Of Mt; VIM T., J. Jones
Godfrey, IS; Miller Jones, g.; Isaac B. Jones,
S.; Sebastian Aman, S..
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH.
There is much interest manifested among
the five hundred printers Of this city in what they
call tournament, or, in other terms, type-set-
ting contest which Is to take place on the 9Th Of
he other Silver, neWspSpeF SIZE arc ne prizes.
There are five or six contestants on each side,
each.of whom can set twice as many type as an
equal number Of ordinary coHpositors. Cleanli-
ness Of proof in addition to superior swiftness is
one of the essential features Of the tournament.
The type selected is nOnpareiL The contestants
have heretofore set 900 ems for continuous hours
and one Of them, who numbered I,657, was van
pushed IN a contest at Philadelphia. The skill
Of the entered contestants being considered
even adds to the interest of the coming event. not
only among printers, but their immediate friends
and others in this community, and the craft else
where"
ALTERATION IN THE RULES.
At a recent meeting of the committee the fol-
lowing changes in the rules were formally pro-
mulgated:
All the sticks given as prizes will be of full
newspaper size.
The contestants in the second class will COM
nence work in the cOmposing-room of this office,
at 10 a m, December 8, working one hour and
half
The contestants in the first class will commence
work at Il m, and stop at 8 p. m.
The measure will be twenty.seven ems even for
the first and second classes.
The committee is urged to modify the ninth
rule so as to admit at least one professional re-
porter, to be selected by the contestants.
1t is quite probable that minor arrangements
will be made for a few printers to contest for
prizes in Long Primer. and with this in view Mr..
r. s. Nenamin, of the Printers CircuIGT, Phila-
delphia, has presented as second prize for this
class q copy of his Encyclopedias of Printing"
and the first prize in this class is to be gold
breastpin in the form OF "stick and rule"
The following additional sketches of the lives
Of the contestants will be read with interest:
GEORGE W. SERVER.
This Well-known printer and gentleman OF ex
cellent repute and standing was born July
1884, and on the one hundredth anniversaryo 4
American independence he will be forty.tWO
years Of age. At the age of twelve he went to
the printing business in the EUsHtHg Star office,
HUDSON, N. Y. At the age of ls he went to New
York city, where he worked on a Sunday news
paper for awhile, and then entered the employ of
T. W. Strong, Nassau street, then publisher of
the Yankee Notions, where he had charge for
resgning his position to enter in business for
himself in which he did not succeed. He then
travelled South to this city and worked under
Cornelius Wendell for nine months; then
migrated to Philadelphia; where he worked for
MIR. Ashmead; he then took charge of Sickle's
job printing office, where he remained until it
was destroyed by fire; he again wended his way
to New York in 1857 and entered John F. TrOw's
book concern and then came back to Philadelphia,
where he again essayed business for himself, but
failed the second time.
In 1851 he retraced his steps to this city aad en-
tered the Government printing ONCE, but at the
expiration Of year was transferred TO the Treas
ury Department, where he finished the first
greenback that was issued. Here no remained
Z
ductiOn Of his salary, and he retired and subbed
on the Chronicle for a time. He was then called
upon TO organize printing bureau for Provost
Marshal General Fry, in the War Department,
where he remained until the close Of the war,
when he tried his hand as employer again, but
Tor me thrd time en- ne isiIea since when time he
Globe office and Daily Chronicle, Tsss he IIsj the
positions OF prooEreader, maker-up, assistant
foreman and foreman successfully, which place
he resigned to take charge OF X. Beresford's lob
ONCE, which position he at present holds. His
10 ~ fE NEh 0rAh nz
great length Of time as compositor on a neWspa-
per.
Mr.. SERVER enters his name in the second class.
W. H. wHTCoNB.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch
was born in this city, March D. 1887. He was
taught his profession in the Office of the old Wash
ington EeIcS where he served six years and three
months. MIR. William Thompson, now q magls
trate of this city, was its editor and publisher,
He was employed afterwards for sixteen months
in the office OF the Alexandra (Va.) Gazette. He
then went to st. Louis, where he worked in the
Leader and Express offices, both of which are now
extinct, and in the ST. Louis Democrat. He az
forwards became foreman Of the Virginia State
Journal, published at Alexandria.
Mr. Whtcomb'5 reputation q printer was
now well established, and it secured for him the
high position Of assistant foreman in the office of
the Congregational Globe, Drives X Bailey, prOpri-
etOrs.) He held this position for four years. For
the last two years Mr.. WhitcOmb has been en-
plOyed in the office of THE NATIONAL REPUBLT-
CAN, where his thorough knowledge and expert
ence in all branches Of newspaper work has made
him n valuable member Of its corps of printers.
Mr.. Whiteomb has a long list OF closely attached
friends. and the result Of his night in the tourney
Will be looked for with keen interest. He will
contend in the second class.
II. w. HARTMAN.
There are very few names entered in the second
class brighter than that Of Mr.. II. W. Hartman.
and very few are more kindly spoken OF by
friends. His skill as printer is we'll known, and
his courage and endurance are equal to his skill.
Mr. Hartman was born in Brooklyn, ". Y, in
1850. AttWelye years Of age he entered the Office
OF Francis Hart Co., New York, where he re-
manned for eight years. He then went TO West
eTn New FORK TO engage in mercantile business,
but ii was with Indifferent success. He then
came to Washington and entered tho office of
months. Obtaining cleTkship in The Treasury
Department, he was there for a year. when he re-
signed and returned 10 his first love- whom he
found in the ofice Of the Sunday Herald.
w. s. BAKER.
Mr.. Baker, whose name is entered in the second
class a contestant in the grand typesetting
tournament, was born in Jersey Shore, Peunsyi-
fathers office, the Jersey Shore Republican. Be
fore attaining his majority he left home and after
travelling in number Of States, and serving a
campaign in the army, as private In the Sth
regiment, n. G. 5. n. Y, he went to New Eng
land where he remained some twelve years work
ing in printing Offices in Providence, Norwich.
Hartford and Boston. From the latter place he
came TO Washington, and for the past year he has
Lad case in the office Of The NATIONAL RE
PUBLICAN. Mr.. Baker will give his brother
knights Of the second class lively tilt for the
second prize.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
TCorresDsndence of The n itIOual Prnublicln