Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

A. B. Graham.
days used to walk from the Capitol to the
White House oftentines without meeting
a single person on the avenue.
From a small beginning the business es-
tablished by Mr.. Graham has prospered
and grown to Its success of today, until now
1t is one OF the city's most progressive
as we'll as Oldest business houses. The
splendid lithographing business now To-
Gated at 1870 Pennsylvania avenue shows
the progressive spirit, the energy and the
intelligence that have marked the establish
ment from its beginning. It is now owned
and managed by the son. Mr.. Andrew B.
Graham. Rs
Mr.. Andrew B. Graham was born in
Washington some forty years ago and re-
ceived his education in the public schools
and Dickinson College leaving the latter
in 1873. during his sophomore year. to re-
lieve his father of the management Of the
business In 1879 he left the business in
charge OF a manager and accepted promi-
nent position as typographical draughts-
man in the coast survey. After six years
service he resigned this position to resume
charge OF his lithographing establishment
which he has since conducted with marked
success to the present time
The integrity and ability which marked
the character Of his father were inherited
by him. and today he not only turns out an
enormous amount Of work for the govern
ment, but Is in daily receipt Of contracts
from some of the largest firms in the coun-
try, having earned a national reputation for
the superior excellence Of his work. which
Is the highest degree of perfection yet at
tained by modern lthographing processes
Mr.. Graham has from thirty to forty en-
ployes, and has surrounded himself with
the best artists, designers, engravers and
transferrers, paying them the highest sala-
ries, which has enabled him to obtain the
very best results In lithography as regards
color, uniform artistic treatment and fine
execution. His establishment is a large
one and is fitted with every modern facility
for producing artistic work, he having six Of
the handsomest photographic presses in the
country. His collection Of photographic stones
alone Is highly valued, these stones having
been quarried in Bavaria, and the munificent
offers for them by other lithogra phlng firms
in the country have been steadfastly re-
AuSSOs IA1. vi diidul pI SlelII 10 MAINTAIN
his unequaled reputation for artistic work
During the Spanish war Mr. Graham
turned out enormous quantities of work for
the government. During this war Ameri-
can war vessels used the old Spanish maps
Of the different harbors in the Philippines
and Porto Rico, which were totally unre-
liable and for this reason several of the
American beats foundered on reefs that
were not shown on these maps The gov
ernmeEy then decided to get out new maps
along the coasts where number of battles
took place. The government sent out mo-
tees for bids for this work and stipulated
that the work should be completed In ten
days, which was very short time consid-
ering the work number of firms bid for
this work, but It was given to Mr. Graham.
who was the lowest bidder in regard to
time. Some Of the other firms limit for
doing the work was thirty days, but Mr..
Grahams limit was ten days The work
was done, however, In five days, Mr.. Ora
ham working his entire force day and night
to ccmrlete the work. Mr.. Graham was
complimented highly by the officials for his
celebrity and for the manner in which the
work was done, and received his money for
the work as soon as he had delivered the
maps Had the government wanted this
work forty years ago It would have taken
at least two years to have completed 1t.
This, Of course, is owing to the advance
ment made in TYPOGRAPHY. Years ago 1t
took from four to six months to complete
piece of work. as then every word and line
had to be cut. letter for letter and line for
line upon the stones. The process for re-
producing has changed wonderfully and the
work of reproducing Is now done by the
photo lithography process. Mr.. Graham
personally attends to every detail of the
business and has none but expert workmen
In his establishm ent.s In the office of Mr.
Graham Is a sample of the work executed
by this firm. It Is the seal of the United
States finely worked in color, and Is con-
sidered a work of art by those who have
seen It, Sc unique and artistic Is It in de-
sign that Mrs. Roosevelt. in her new set
of china, costing $4,000. for the White
House has ordered copy Of this seal to be
embellished upon every piece of the china.
and, furthermore, copy Of the seal Is to
be sent to every American consul all over
the world. This is considered quito a COM
pliment by Mr.. Graham. In addition to his
government contracts Mr. Graham does a
large business with commercial houses In
all paiSs Ct tho world. theatrical companies
and any number Of society people. Some of
his best work has been done for number
of our local institutions. among which are
the Equitable Cooperative Building Asso-
citation. Riggs & Co.. Traders' National
Bank. the Washington Loan and Trust
Company. the Ohio National Bank. the
National Savings Bank and many others.
Mr.. Graham Is held In high esteem by all
who have had dealings with the firm. and
has q business Of which the capital city
may we'll be proud. He is a member of the