Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-07

Mr.. Gannett was so crowded by his
growing business, it was necessary to
provide more room, and foundation
was laid south of the wooden building
on which rose a five story brick block
fitted with every convenience for the
rapid handling of work, and adding to
the plant a floor space of about 10000
square feet. Into this block was moved
the business and advertising as well as
several other of his important depart
ments
When the Worlds Fair was first
planned Mr.. Gannett contracted with
Messrs. Hoe & Co, for second per-
fecting press. This was to be color
press, the first to be used With a ca
pacity of eight thousand copies hourly.
So great an undertaking was this, that
the celebrated firm of press builders
were unable to deliver the machine at
the time specified. Suit for damages
on account of the delay, was brought
by Mr.. Gannett which was finally COM
promised and in the spring OF 1895. this
wonderful machine was installed in the
sub basement of the brick block.
In Sept. 1895. the wooden building, to-
gethor with the perfecting press No. /,
and other valuable machinery was al
most wholly destroyed by fire BY good
fortune it had been the custom to keep
the mailing and subscription lists in
fire proof safes in the brick building,
so these We're unframed. With char
acterist;c energy, MI Gannett began
the work of clearing up and without
the loss OF hardly days time. the sys-
TEN and routine of the entire plant
We're kept in motion.
To provide more room to replace that
lost by fire, building was at once COM
menced. On the ruins of the wooden
building rose another better adapted to
the needs Of the business. while be-
yond it was erected two story build
ing for storage etc. South of the brick
building was erected large wooden
building of great strength. for the stor
age of heavy merchandise, paper. etc.
TO be more secure, a fire proof addi-
ticn was made to the original brick
building and in this addition are
spacious press room, and various offices
in which are kept secure from danger
by fire all of the valuable letters. cor
responaence, records. files, mailing and
subscription lists. etc.
The publication which emanates
from this plant-Comfort-i probably
better known all over America than
any other. 1t stands alone and unique
as having a monthly circulation of a
million and quarter copies. which eN-
ceeds that of any other paper in the
world. In character it is high class
home paper published at price to
meet the masses, and its very growth
attests its popularity.
Mr.. Gannett is undoubtedly the larg-
est consumer Of white paper in the
state and pays as we'll the largest
postage bill. He maintains for the
convenience Of advertising patrons,
we'll appointed offices in Boston, New
York and Chicago, while at his home
office in Augusta. he employs a force
Of 25o skilled clerks and printers.
At this writing workmen from Hoe &
Co. are erecting q third perfecting
press in the fire proof press room
This press which has wire stitching
attachment, will prove to be a valuable
machine for MI Gannett for by its as
sistance he will be enabled to print
most anything on it from a two page
circular to a - page paper the size of
Comfort and at Il rate of speed which
is not exceeded by the larger presses.