The Forrest City times., 1903-11-20
MAKING OF A GREAT NEWSPAPER
Over Three 1onths Work by a Large
Staff 10 Produce Single Edition.


Newspapers are SO quick to follow
news happenings with full account of
the occurrences that people have come
to believe all newspaper processes are
instantaneous. How far from true this
belief is, becomes evident TO one who
has been privileged 10 see great edi-
ton OF metropolitan paper in course
of preparation.
The st. Louis Post Dispatch is pre-.
pairing to celebrate Its 18th birthday
on December - by the issue of news
paper which will contain at least III
pages and will weigh over two pounds.
This newspaper will cost its publishers
over l. cents per copy. but will be sold
at the regular prices cents. The
work of preparation for this enormous
edition began last September, when
five members of the editorial staff were
detached from service on the regular
editions and constituted the Anniver-
sary Edition Council.
The first work was the formulation
of plans and these having been adopted,
a schedule was prepared which resem-
bes a railway timetable. On this
schedule is space for each page and
the dates each portion of the work on
that page must begin and end-from
the reporter and photographer to the
pressman. The members OF the cour-
Gil were assigned TO divisions of the
work and directed artists, photogra.
pliers, reporters and stenographers in
the preparation of the features for their
divisions. The head of the council
keeps them in such close touch that up
to date the work has followed the
schedule faithfully.
Eighteen color pages were planned,
and, as color page occupies more than
thrice the time in preparation that is
necessary for a black page of equal
merit, the first work was on these
pages. BY the latter part of October
all OF the color pages had been compile
ted and were in the hands of the press
man. They had gone the long road
from the suggestion of the editor, the
collection of material by reporters, the
taking of pictures by photographers.
the combination of pictures in accepted
designs by artists, the engraving and
electrotyping. They were ready to be
printed on the Post-Dispatch' huge
four-color presses.
Before November began completed
section of the anniversary edition was
on the press.
The necessary paper had beed brought
in special train of 10 enormous freight
cars from the mills in the East and
stored in the Post Dispatch warehouse
So fast as the tirst section was printed
on the big color presses on the first floor
of the Post Dispatch building the copies
were carried by elevators to the sixth
floor.
There, as soon as the printing Of the
second section was begun, force Of
men was employed "stutfing" the sec
ton into the first; when the third sec.
ton came up the elevators that was
also stuffed and so the process will
continue until all the sections Of this
enormous edition are combined in the
completed newspaper. The total
weight OF this paper is 600, 900 pounds.
The problem Of distribution is the
most difficult ever presented to the cir
culation department of any newspaper.
The edition will Approximate quarter
OF a million complete copies and will
be read by more than one million
people.
Not a Sick Dav Since.