The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-01
Harper 4 srosh.r., New York.

having each served an apprenticeship in the
printing business, tho former being esteemed
the best and quickest pressrnaa in the town,
and the latter IN excellent composition and
proof-reader, opened an establishment OF
their own in Dover street, New York, and
began printing books to order. The first
work was q Translation of Senecd's Morals
with the imprint of Evert Duyckinck, a
famous bookseller of that day. Exactly fifty
years after, they hac occasion to print an edi.
ton of the same work in the original Latin
text. They gradually undertook the printing
of books on their own account, the first work
with their own imprint, J. 4 j. Harper, being
an edition of five hundred copies of Locke'S
Essay Upon the Human Understanding.
They maue 1t a rule then. and even long after
they became famous as publishers, to make a
canvass among prominent booksellers to as
certain how many copies they would take, so
cautious were they before embarking upon
any venture.
Joseph Wesley and Fletcher Harper, their
younger brothers, having meanwhile learned
the same trade, entered the firm, Joseph
Wesley in 1928, aud Fletcher in 1925, and the
firm soon became the largest IN the city. In
1880 they began stereotyping their works;
aud three years after the style of the concern
was changed to Harper l. Brothers.. The
twenty succeeding years was a period of I'M
eXampled prosperity, and the success their
works met with was marvellous. Fletcher
Harper, the youngest Of the brothers, was a
mar of great executive ability and untirlng
endurance. 1t was stated that when the
Waverly Novels were being brought ut-an
it was of vital Importance the latest work re-
ceived from England should be issued in adj
vance of those Of several other rival publish
ers-he remained three consecutive days and
nights in the composing room, experimenting
the iSSpa pf npp of thaSn hooks In affair
years, when it was no longer necessary to
make such a struggle for success, he would
remark that the fun of publishing was at all
end On the 10Th of December, 1858, when
their publications represented over fifteen
hundred works and two thousand volumes,
the great fire swept away in a few hours the
work of half a lifetime, and the nine build
ings filed with costly machinery, plates, and
books were reduced to a smoking heap of
ruins. Although rich enough then to give
up business, and while discussing the ques-
ton whether they should not enjoy their we'll
earned competence the rest of their lives by
retiring from active pursuits. John Harper
decided the question by remarkins: sour
business is too valuable TO be given up or to
be allowed to pass into other hands. We all
of us have sons. They have helped us and
will soon be able to take our places. We
will carry on the business and shuw the boys
we are not old fOgies yet" The decision
was heartily acquiesced in by all, and though
the fire had destroyed everything, even the
sheets, forms, and copy of the January maya
zine just of the press, they had temporary
quarters on Monday, and by employing
presses in Boston, Philadelphia, and other
cities, after a brief delay the Magazine for
January was issued, looking as usual except
that it had no Illustrations.
Designs for a new building, thoroughly fire
PROOF, strong, we'll lighted and ventilated,
were at once drawn up, and the present edi-
flee on franklin Square is the result. Strictly
speaking, there are two buildings, the one ON
street. five stories, and the other six
stories in height, l20xl10 in area. 1t is sep
arated by a courtyard, IN the centre of which
is a tower containing il spiral stairway, which
communicates with both buildings by iron
bridges. There are II inside stalrcases. the
steam elevators as we'll as the furnaces, steam
ensines--ot which there are two Corliss of
l20 horsepower each the gasOmeter, all be-
ing in the court. The interior framework of
both buildings is IRON, supported by heavy
iron pillars the front Of The building an
Pearl street being Of iron. and That on Clifl
street brick, and the entire structure is con
considered thoroughly tireproof.
The character of the books of this liouse
and their several periodicals are we'll known.
Every operation entering into book making,
except the manufacture Of paper and ink, is
in the building, --tvpc-setting,
'lectrotyping, engraving. presswork, binding,
etterins, as well as the editorial work in
The lower or basement floor Oh
Glib street has eleven cylinder presses for
the Bd=dr, HaJper'S Weekly and The
Young People the second story. Two cylin-
iers and ~twenIy-six Adams, for books and
Monthly: the third floor is the pre-
barring and drying room, and the upper rooms
or folding, binding. composing and electro
yping.
The Franklin Square building contains the
business office, sa!esrOnInS. and warehouse,
and has every convenience for filling the
OF largest order with dispatch. all
goods being shipped from the courtyard re-
erred to above. The counting house, editor
and other Offices are also located in this
building. The general editor of the Nugu-
inc is Nj. Henry NJ. Alden, assisted by
George William Curtis. who conducts the
Easy Cllair;' of the Weekly. Mr.. S. 5. CO.
Of the BGzar, Miss Mary l.. Booth.
Their latest periodical venture is Harper,s
| Dung People, started November Att. 1879,
md already a decided success. The aecrc-
circulation OF their pc rl0dicals is nearly
!alf a inilii0n copies.-Printers CircuInr.