National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-07
OUR OWN HORN.
A REPORTER BLOWS A BLAST ON 1T.
" The National Republicans Establishment
Big Job Office and Its Accessories Press
That Prints Twelve Miles of
Paper in an Hour.

material for notwithstanding article so reporte
was detailed to write up that establishment OF
Pennsylvania avenue, between Thirteenth an(
Fourteenth streets, known as THE NATIONAL RE
PUBLICAN Office. At this Office can be fount
the highest results OF the thought of centuries ap
piled to developing the art of printing. THE Ma
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN occupies two buildings-ont
of which extends right through the square from
Pennsylvania avenue to D street. A few month:
ago the Office occupied only one building, but the
increasing business made it necessary to secure
the adjoining building, and now these two build
ingstogether are found insuficientto accommodate
the vast amount of material, machinery, and Other
necessary appliances of such an establishment
besides furnishing editorial and composing rooms
THE TREMBLING REPORTER
who was detailed to write up THE REPUBLICAN
was first taken to the business Office, on the ground
floor, fronting upon the street. Here he was
frowned upon by the business manager, Mr.. Con-
ger, and his assistants The bookkeeping depart
ment is under the charge of Mr.. Scott Towers, q
handsome gentlemen with blonde moustache
while Mr.. Andrew Balm, dignifed young man
without blonde moustache. but with hopes, at
tends TO calls at the counter. The business Office
which is handsomely fitted up and provided with
every convenience, including q miniature post
Office where advertisers find answers to their
notices, is open day and night. This is the depart
ment that the general public comes into contact
with, unless the public happen to want to
SEE THE EDITOR,
in which ii is sent upstairs and passes through
several apartments closely guarded by pickets,
who strip the visitor of all dangerous weapons be-
fore admitting him to the SdRcuns Sdnctorm. After
the reporters hungry eyes had glutted themselves
on the cash-box and looked over the long list OF
names of new subscribers received that day, he
tod a1,
ent of the mechanical department, a gentleman
who is pleasant picture of good humor and bust
ness energy. Mr.. Helm first gently led the reporter
across hall to an apartment adjoining the bust
ness Office and called
THE DELIVERY ROOM"
This room is fitted up with tables, mailing ma
chimes, and the arrangements necessary for pre-
pairing large edition of newspaper for the mail.
The room was filled at the time of the reporters
visit with heaps of newspaper called the Ameri-
ca, which was being prepared for the mail.
There are 125,000 AmericdS in this edition., said
Mr. Helm; lover three tons and a half of
mail matter" At the request of Mr.. Helm,
young gentleman at the table took up
patent mailer" handy little instru-
ment, and showed the reporter how the names
of subscribers to whom the papers are sent
are pasted on faster than one can count. Mr.. De-
lozier Davidson, a gentleman as genial as he is
bald, has charge OF the delivery department Next
TO the delivery room is the stock room, with deep
shelves, loaded with paper and other material
u: ed in the job department. Next the blushing
reporter was introduced into long room, furnished
with tables, where
THIRTY YOUNG LADIES
were engaged il deity folding papers. This is
the foli!ng-reom, and represents one of the
branches of industry incidental to the printing
business. Passing from the presence of the fair
folders, Mr.. Helm conducted the reporter to the
press-rOOm, in the rear-a scene of Changing,
bustling life and activity typical Of the energy OF
the age Here are seven presses, Oh which the
job work Of the Office is executed; two
steam paper-cutters, besides other improved ap-
planes.
THE PRESSES
are of the latest patterns the three largest ones
being perfect lcviathanS in their way-paicnt tire
less servants, capable ofoing an immense quantity
of work. Everything was in motion when the re-
porter visited the long press-room wheels were
flying, presses were gathering cheerfuIly men
were engaged carrying bundles of paper to and
fro, while immense stacks of printed matter
showed how diligently tic big presses had been
working during the day. At the end Of the long
line of presses stands the Bullock press on which
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN is printed, and whose
music welcomes the rising sun. This machine
which
COST \ SMALL FORTUNE,
represents the alta ined in print
ing presses is built compactIy so that it takes
Vi IS space than other presses Of much smaller
capacities, and requires but few attendants. 1t
will print, cut, and fold 10000 REPUBLICANS every
hour, and print more papers in given time than
Ill the other newspaper presses i'll the city put to-
gether. Such a press is Indispensable to provide
for the constantly increasing circulation of THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. The paper for this press
comes i'll large rolls, each roll containing over
THREE MILES OF PAPER.
A long, broad endless band of white paper was
being passed through the press while the reporter
was inspecting it; while at the other end TWO men
were constantly employed bearing away the
printed papers that were rapidly piled up. "In
this job, said Mr.. Helm, eve use sixty miles of
paper, which is run through the press at the rate
of twelve miles an hour" Next to the press is a
curious but simple apparatus called
THE wETTING MACHINE.
where the paper is passed rapidly from one roll to
another and sprinkled or dampened with a thin
film of water as it passes, all paper having TO be
aampened before going to press. The press room
is under the charge of Mr.. Dick Jones, short gen.
.leman of portly figure and great skill as press
man, who has under his command a large force of
tSSlSlaulS Inc buliOCh newspaper press Is Ill
charge of Mr. William Travers most competent
pre:sman, while the stereotyping department is
under the charge Of Mr.. Barney King.
TIE STEREoTYPING APPARATUS,
which is of the most improved pattern, occupies
corner near the Bullock press. This apparatus
has been in use ever since the Bullock press has
been in the Gfice but there has recently been in
reduced a full stercotyping outfit for general
work. so that plates to be used on the presses can
be obtained at the shortest notice. expert artisans
being employed for the service. At the extreme
southern end of the main building, on the ground
floor, is the engine room, in charge of Mr..
an accomplished and grimy
knight of the lever and throttle Stored
about the preSs-roOm and engine-roOm are 500
rolls or cylinders of paper which will be rapidly
by the voraciOus Bullock press. These
rolls represent 15OO miles of paper-a length that
would reach half way across the continent.
What do you print on these presses?' inquired
the reporter, as he followed Mr.. Helm ont of the
busy room.
Anything from the smallest card to the biggest
poster, in the best style of the art.''
How does your Office compare with other
oficesg'
There is no Office like it south of Philadelphia"
Upstairs the reporter followed Mr.. Helm to
THE JOB OFFICE,
In immense apartment, chukrd up with tons and
onS of type, that there seemed scarcely room for
he printers cases, where score of"typos" were
putting words in cold type. There are cases of
ype four feet high, which are used on immense
posters, and type so small that an impress from
one looks like little speck ON the paper The
facilities of this Office well appreciated that
he Office is constantly i'll receipt CT orders for
posters from theatrical managers ard others in
distant parts of the country. Above this apart
nent is THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
COMPOSING ROOM,
where the great events of the Gay and the valuable
productions of the corps of brilliant writers on THE
REPUBLICAN are crystalizcd in time Here
score of printers work all night, under
he direction of Mr.. 4. F. Bloomer, the
foreman, TO get ont THE REPUBLICAN in the
1t is owing 20 their artistic skill that