Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-22
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEWS
OFFICE.
A Steam Observation-Disclosures of
the Composing Department-New
Editorial ROOms-A typographical
Feat.

In our review Of the many improvements
In the way of new buildings, remodeling
and engagements of establishments and
other changes, we have refrsined from men
tioning the marked and advantageous i'm
provements which have been In progress
for the past two months in the MORNING
News establishment. As the work is ap-
preaching completion, and all the changes
will be perfected in time for the improve
ments which have been decided upon, 1t is
proper now to refer to them.
The Bates hand elevator, which has been
in use since the occupation of the present
quarters, though 1t worked well, did not at
ford the rapid mode of communication be-
tween the press room in the basement and
the Composing Department on the fourth
floor that was desirable, and in newspaper
establishment like the MORNING NEWS,
where the forms are kept open until the last
possible moment for the latest news, every
minute of time is valuable, and conse-
quently it was determined to do away with
the hand gear and substitute steam, thus
saving time and labor in the transportation
of the forms. The steam apparatus has
just been put in by that skillful mechanic,
Mr.. L. A. Mccarthy, the engineer of the
the castings, in the building, and the elevator
was worked for the first time on Monday
morning. As is sometimes the case when
first trial Is made, there was slight accident.
The daily edition of the News had just
been worked off, and the outside form was
being brought up to the Composing
Department. On reaching the fourth floor
the pressmen became a little bewildered
with the working by steam, and failed to
pull the stopping rope In time. The con-
sequence was heavy jar, which pitched
the form from the bed of the elevator to the
floor, striking so heavily as to spring the
chase, and the entire first page, filed with
reading matter, was entirely 'pied"-
minion, BREWER, nonpariel and headlines
a fearful mass and tumble. 1t was
terrible sight, and we well remember the
time when such an accident would have
created general CONSERVATION in news-
paper office and delayed the next issue OF
the paper. But on this occasion the oppor-
tunity was offered for the MORNING NEWS
typographical corps to display their ability
to equal any emergency, and to perform
feat which will be appreciat- in everv
printing Office. The form was ''pied"
about half past six O'Clock in the morn
ing, the compostors who had set up the mat
ter having only left the Office two hours and
a half before, and those who live at a dis
lance had scarcely time to get to bed. The
competent foreman, Mr.. John Nugent, was
at once notified of the accident, aud leaving
the couch to which he had repaired not an
hour previous fastened to the office, sent
messengers for his typographical corps, and
by half-past seven the entire force had re-
sponded, and at oGce set to work to
sort the mammoth pile of Cpl"
By half-past eleven O'Clock every
type was sorted and distributed in the cases.
The magnitude of such feat can only be
understood and appreciated by the frAter-
nifty. It was a credit to the efficiency, skill
and swiftness of the NEWS typos, and the
greater 10 that they had been at work at
1.-THE case" all night. We mention this en-
PEASANT as worthy of record among typo
graphical achievements.
Now to the other improvements In the
| building, from notice OF which we have
| depressed In relating this Incident and acct
| dent. The Stereotyping Department, which
| occupied the second floor at the rear, has
been removed to the same floor In the
| adjoining building. and the two front
| rooms opening on Whitaker street are to be
used for the new photographic outfit. The
present editorial rooms, on the fourth floor,
| are to be abandoned and thrown into the
composing room, giving the MORNING
NEWS undoubtedly the largest and finest
composing room Of any newspaper office in
the South. The rooms on the second floor,
| lately occupied by the Stereotyping Depart
ment, are being finished in excellent style
| for the editorial staff.
The water closets are all to be removed
| from the interior of the building, and are to
| be placed in convenient positions on the
outside, decided improvement in sani-
tary point.
On the first floor the stairway leading
from the Stationery Department to the press
room below and to the several upp floors
has been removed and the PASSAGE. closed
up, thus affording greater room. Access to
the upp r floors is now obtained through the
Job Press Department, immediately adjoin-
ing, and also by the stairway on the lane.
| These improvements have greatly increased
the facilities FOR the conduct of the incress
ing business of the establishment, and also
add TO the appearance and enhance the
comfort of the numerous employees.