The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-26
, CONGRATULATIONS, and the
many expressions of interest
T by our friends almost warrant

the already extensive plant of the
Herald will not be a surprise to
very great number of our friends.
But, for the information of those
who have not yet learned of it, we
will state that this article is a sam
pie of the work of the new linotype
machine installed two weeks ago in
this office. The linotype is one of
the most wonderful inventions, in
many respects. of the age, and one
which is revolutionizing the news
paper and printing business through
out the entire civilized world The
small cut at the head of this column
gives but faint idea of the machine,
and to get a clearer idea of it's work
and workings, the Herald's friends
will have to call and witness it in
operation. This they are invited to
do at any convenient time.
From the time of Benjamin Frank
lin down to hardly more than a dozen
years ago, there was very little ad-
vancement made in the art of print
ing, other than that made in print
ing presses. But for forty long years
of this time Otto Mergenthaler.
German, was working and planning
the machine which in its present
highly perfected state seems to the
beholder to be almost endowed with
human intelligence and reason. Like
all other great inventions, the prod
uct of Mergenthaler's genius was
looked upon with great deal Of
skepticism by printers. who could not
believe that the claims made for it
would ever be realized. There was
expression of feeling expressed in
opposition to 1t, Furthermore, coming
from the journeyman printers of the
old hand days, who felt that II 1t
were ever perfected and made prac-
tical, their lucrative occupation, like
Othello's, would be gone. But it was
destined to be a certain, sure sue
cess, practical from every point of
view, permitting greater possibilities
and saving large sums of money for
employing printers. No opposition
could delay its coming into gene al
use when state Of comparative per-
lection was reached, and today there
are more than 10000 of the ma
chimes in use, each costing in the
neighborhood of $4,000. Each ma
chine does the work of Ave hand
compositors. and requires but one
operator. thus saving the office the
wages of four high-priced workmen.
There are many advantages other
than economy in the operation of the
linotype. For example, a long ar
ticle, the body type contained in a
large advertisement, circular, pam
phlet or a book wanted in a hur-
ry can be set in one-fifth the time
required to set the same by hand.
And, again, each issue of the paper
or each job is set in a clean, clear,
new face of type-an advantage in
itself which every painstaking print
err greatly appreciates.
This wonderful invention Is usual
ly referred to as type-setting ma
chine. This is a misnomer, however,
for it does not set or use type. 1t
is more properly described by the
specially coined word linotype" a
contraction of Line of type" for the
finished product resembles and is
used in the same manner as line
of type. Each line of this article is
printed from a slug cast by the ma
chine, bearing the letters on it's top.
The process is too complicated to be
described here, but. as stated be-
fore, the Herald's friends may see
the machine in operation and learn
more of it by calling at the office
and watching it perform it's work.
The Herald, We think all will ad-
nit, is not given to blowing it's own
horn.' or sounding it's own praises
W any 5lSdt CAtSht, anu uSuCC d lew
words along this line at this time
will, we believe. be kindly received.
1t will be remembered that the pres
ent proprietor purchased the prop
erty. then in very much rundown
condition, about seven years ago. AS
ISOLATED with him were Robert Nc
Comb and Walter F. Tuesley, whose
interests he has since acquired. The
purchase of the property was looked
upon by many as venture full of
risk, involving a great expenditure Of
money and subsequent expense and
labor, while the promise of returns
was not flattering. But the task was
undertaken in confidence, based on
the promises of growth and develop
ment of the Yakima valley. This
confidence was we'll placed; the most
sanguine hopes of the men who have
helped to make the Yakima country