The times., 1899-06-25
A NEWSPAPER MANS PARADISE
Delights and Comforts of the .Bue-
nos Ayres Press" Employees.


Correspondence OF the Chicago Times -Herald.l
Buenos Ayres. Argentina, May 2.-There
are many surprising things in Buenos
Ayres, for it continually strikes one as a
better class of European city transported
by magic TO South America. Out of
population Of 100000 at least $500 are
Europeans. The two things that most sur
prised and pleased me were the Jockey
Club and a newspaper building. The for
mer is more luxurious and artistic in its
appointments than any other club in the
world that | have seen-and l have seen
most of the noted ones.
/ couldn't resist mention of this extra
ordinary club building, but that structure
is not the theme of this letter.
/ am told that La Prensa' (The PresS)
is the leading Argentine newspaper The
building in which that journal is printed
is by far the most remarkable structure
of its kind in the world. 1t is the hobby
Of Mr.. Paz. the proprietor of La Prensa,'
and was first occupied last December. 1t
is still incomplete in some of its details
Of interior construction.
Mr.. PaZ, man Of good family. owing to
certain misfortunes started in life pen
niless newspaper reporter. Now. at the
age of fifty-siX, he is said TO be a very
wealthy man.
l can't attempt a full description Of ia
Prensa" Building. but will touch upon
few things that particularly struck ME. In
the first place, all the material was grown
or dug out and fashioned in Argentina.
The exterior is dignifed but is no hand
somer than that of many another build
ing. / didn't get the figures of width or
length, but it covers more ground than the
Times Herald Building. and every inch
Of its six stories is devoted to the uses OF
the paper and its pet projects. To begin
with, there is no cramped space anywhere.
For example, each of the numerous editors
has special room. not less than twenty
feet square, with a taste and lux
ury of furniture hitherto unknown to the
newspaper world. Each of these rooms is
fitted with long-distance telephones, AMI
pneumatic and speaking tubes to the diff
ferent parts Of the building, so that the
editors can keep in immediate communica-
tion with their own and the outer world.
The composing room, on the top lloor,
with all its kindred rooms for making up
the paper. is perfectly lighted day and
night The type cases and everything else
on that floor are the latest development
Of modern invention. and every possible
health of the men. For instance. 4 door
opens from the composing room into
huge bathroom, Dutch tiled, and with a
dozen or so shower baths. On that floor,
and only for the men on that floor, are a
kitchen and large eating room, both ex-
cellently appointed for men of that class.
with neat china, glass, and tableware and
rather coarse but spotlessly clean table
cloths and napkins. Every workingman
up there is given generous, wholesome
meals. with a pint of light native wine,
free of cost
The city department on the floor below
is absolutely unique, charmingly furnish
ed, where every man has his widely sepa-
rated green clothed table and special
green-shaded electric lamp
A large room adjoining this is the re-
porters' restaurant, with tables as daintily
decked as any hotel table in Chicago.
There is a special kitchen also for this
restaurant, and here again meals of su-
perior quality are served free OF cost.
The oldest features of the city depart
ment are the barroom and billiard table
both free. In response to my exclamation
of astonishment, the editor, who was acting
as guide said: There are three ex-
plantations of this barroom. In the first
place, we Argentinas are not given to
drink. In the second place. the traditions
and general tone Of the establishment for
bid that any man of education should make
beast of himself here, and in the third
place, Mr.. Paz wants to keep the young
men in his employ out of temptation by
making for them here a home. from which
they Will not be tempted by the lesser at
fractions of a drinking saloon"
For the reporters there is an elaborately
equipped bathroom, with lot of tub,
shower. and needle baths.
There are two stunningly-furnished
small rooms in one part of the building
for the homeless pensioned servants OF
the paper. who have their special dining
and bath rooms.
There are two stunningly- furnished
apartments in the building. of several
rooms each. One, occasionally occupied
by Mr.. Paz, the other for the use of dis
tinguished guests who are non-residents
Of Buenos Ayres. Each of these apart
ments has its own dining room There
is a special dining room for the editors,
and one, beautifully furnished, for small
banquets. There is library with walls
OF green silk tapestry, but not yet fur
nished. The books ! did not see. as they
were housed somewhere waiting for their
shelves. That room will be in order with
in a month.
At the back Of the building is a large
and very fine ballroom and theatre COM
bined, with reception and benqueting
rooms. This is lent for charity affairs.
or 10 friends of the paper who wish TO
give private entertainments
The press room rs Just as complete as
every other department, with the latest
Hoe presses. and turns out the edition of
seventy thousand in an hour, as the paper
has TO go to press at a m. to escape the
robbery OF its telegraphic news.
There are kitchen and free restaurant
for the pressmen, also. / could go on for
pages describing the other parts of the
building: the business department the ar
rangements for newsboys. etc, but my
hand is tired and you already have a good
general idea of this unique building.
Two departments must be mentioned.
however In one, a perfectly arranged
surgery. where four noted medical and
surgical specialists alternately treat free
Of cost not only employees and members of
their families. but many outside patients
also.
In another equally handsome apartment
sits for so many hours every week man
who is prominent among the lawyers of
Buenos Ayres, and gives free advice on
legal questions.
Ny guide quantity remarked: This law
yer is an honorable gentleman and be-
sides that he is paid by Mr. Paz and re-
ceiyes nothing from his clients. He has
no indueement TO foster unnecessary Iiti-
Cation and 1t was from a desire to prevent
such waste OF a poor mans money that
Mr.. Paz got the idea of creating his free
legal department"
/ never enjoyed two hours of sightseeing
more than those passed in la Prensa'
Building.
Scientifically Accurate.