The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-09
THE HERALD.
How a Great Newspaper
Is Produced.
A Glimpse at COmpOsitors, StereOtypcfs, Press
men and Mail Clerks
The Advertising Clerks and Ad-
vertiSers.

OF the thousands OF readers OF the HERALD but few
have any conception OF the OF labor expended
In lis production. While most people quietly
asleep In their beds cue HERALD building is full
of--lnc, TOT IL Is In tho early hours Of
the morning that the most arduous work The
paper Is done. Tho popular BELIEF is that as soon as
the types arc set up BY the composiiors tho principal
labor is completed and that all that remains is 10
simply put the press in motion. and with quickly
complete the production OF the newspaper This is not
the case, however. When tho type has been placed
in the forms there many mechanical operations
yet to be gone through before the paper is ready
TO DO issued the public A short description OF the
manual methods employed In producing and OF tho
manner OF mailing and distributing tho HERALD and
the CELEBRITY with which these DONE will doubtless
| be Of interest
As the compositors have finished their work
and the typcmatter has been properly arranged II
forms these forms taken 10 the stercotyping
room IN order that duplicate copies may be cast
In metal for use on tho presses, for IL
Is not from tho typo itself that the paper printed
but from plates which fc-smilics OF the original
forms, but partly rounded as to ut to tho cyn-
dcrs OF the presses. Tho way which these plates
arc obtained and the quickncss with which they arc
turned out by the stcrcotypcrs are almost marvellous
FIRST an impression taken from the typo by
means OF composition. Tho mairx thus madc
IS then placed In scmi-circular iron mould, molten
metal Is poured in and the plate Is formed II then
taken out and the rough edges arc trimmed and pancd
on, SO that II may truly ut on the cylinders Of
presses
rnx MAIN snKrr
OF the paper containing the latest news, kilograms
editorials ana other matter, IS not put to press until
three o'clock in tho morning rhis requires eighty
stereotype plates and Tho work OF double Bullock
presses IN order that the edition may be printed IN
time Ia be sent OF by the early trains and mails
For qnintu7le sheet, such as rs published to-day
zJO plates nave 10 be cast, cach weighing thirtynvc
pounds Thus the metal necessary Tor The whole mum
Der OF plates weighs over iour tons. lor the outside
sheet forty-cght plates required, and they are
made ia one hour. Tho remainder OF the plates are
cast in three hours tho average at the rate of
ono plate per minute From each marix twelve cast
ings are made
One minute only Is required 10 lock these plates in
the presses and start the machinery. When quad
ripple sheet printed 100 stereotype plates are made
Tor live OF the seven presses
Previous TO the receiving of these plates IN the press
room the little army Of waiting there can be seen
ounging about and quietly chatting At the sound Of
bell, however, all becomes hustle aud excitement for
this announces the fact that "a star,ern as i is
terned-mcaning the first OF the patcs-has been OBJ
tanned and Is on us way TO the press ROOM on the ec
vator from the top story TO tho press ROOM These
plates continue to arrive quick succession and are
NJ once placed IN position. and the rumbling and
roar and whri OF the presses commences Copies OF
the HERALD are now being printed the rate Of
$4,000 an hour by each OF the hive largo '.BulocksU
and by twenty minutes 10 1--WE A. NJ or one hour and
forty minutes from the time OF commencement on the
man sheet over 100 QUO papers oeen rolled out AS
Indicated by the register attached these On
SATURDAY night TWO single Bullock presses have also
TO be used N order to work OF the extra sun.
ply OF HERALps demanded on every hand
These seven presses easily turn over 100 900
copies tho HERALD within an hour and being worked
TO their fullest capacity would 900 cones
nm hour. As the papers from the mach,ncs ,hsy
above, tho mail room, -",,siles and carr,nh
made up into bundles ,,n.lERs
1890 same that some OF the mail clerks arc
making up their parcels others are equally busy IN
folding and wrapping single copies to be sent by tho
mails 10 individuals and clubs throughout the country
This part OF the work Is truly marvellous sight, SO
EXPERT are the employed TO count the papers that
i: would seem Impossible to bystandcr who watches
the operation Tor the first timc That they could oe
sorre maao se'whmls tho '' bundlins and whipping
are going on other are kept busy N furnishing tho
various news companies tnat Gull Tor thousands OF
cou,es The employees OF these companies, In turn,
have 10 take them to their own olccs and distribute
ihsir aas'omors A. tho parcels Tor the
trains and the mails made up they placed
bags ready hand, and are then quickly carted TO the
different dcpot These bags are Of various coors ndi
eating the baggage and mail masters The packages
they need first Tor delivery the nearest
stations. This work OF supplying the mails and news
companies is completed in forty minutes, and then
comes The business of making up the bundles for the
branch Offices a. Thirty second street, Broadway and
s,xth avenue in Brooklyn and in Harlem Several
Thousands OF papers required Mt these Offices
order furnish the dealers who for convenience 10
themselves their orders and call for their papers
al these places preference to going TO the main
ONCE. Next comes the furnishing Of the general
dealers, and u IS
TO SEQ the crushing. crowdng and lighting OF these
men In their endeavor be the FIRST served. No
counters
are delivered, but simply checks. which must have
been bought and paid Tor in tho general Office so per
feet the system and management that by Ave
o'clock nearly all the demands have supplied,
but in order TO provide against contingencies wncn
the publication OF important ncws creates an
extra demand, one press and It's attendants
are kept ready 10 turn any quantity OF HERALps
that may be called tor On Sunday mornings the timc
occupied ISSUING tho paper Is necessarily somewhat
longer owing To the demand for copies Il
can readily be understood that the work performed
ceiling out on tho street over l3V OOO papers in such
~ utuS Qf flp mi
engaged IN Il. and an onookcr would rather imagine
| them TO mechanical machines rather than human
beings quick are their movements and so swiftly do
they get through their labor.
The paper on which the HERALD Is printed is at nrst
IN the form rolls and Is cut into single papers Il
passes through tho presses Zach roll IS one milo
long aud sixty three inches vide. One hundred aud
OF papcr. As the width OF The roll OF paper double
the width OF the HERALD. the ITO rolls. when taken
from the presses had been made into over 200 miles
Of HERALps
The Uptown Branch Office OF the HERALD yesterday
presented a busy appearance. Hero was received
Y large proportion OF tho seventy. columns OF
sycrtscinents contained In todays paper From early
IN the afternoon people OF all ages aud OF every
daion OF ufc locked TO the desks making Il at times
almost impossible TO pass IN out OF tho building
There TO be IN the mass OF people Indies and
gentlemen belonging 10 the first families OF the city,
poor shop girls and mechanics seeking TO have pub
hshcd nouncauons OF their needs, ragged boys. hard
nationality and color all alike eager 10 make known
through tho columns OF the HERALD some want As
transmitted to the main Office by telegraph operators
the three special HERALD wires connecting tho
two Offices. The advertisements numerous
however, that corps OF district telegraph boys and
messengers had be employed convey
most OF them down town A. The evening advanced
coupes and carriages had to be impressed
into the order the Of matter 10
The composing aud there up 10 time for tho
press The sian OF clerks had DC doubcd and II
was even then . work OF little difficulty TO get
through the vast Of business .ha, cvniin-
ualy pouring IN. an tact, great ans the crowd
that the passcrsby stopped the sidewalk and gazcd
wonderfully at The extraordinary sight wbc ~ tho
sa,nc time they gave expressions q. belief
business prospects be improving, taking the pat.
ronncc extended the HERALD and palny exhibited
~ = basis OF judgment