The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26

to another. The entire surface of the page is beaten with a wooden mallet in order that no line may be any higher than the rest After a close investigation and all the type Is found even the page is placed upon the rolling machine table and a half dozen various sorts of paper, including pink, white and tissue, all past ed together with a special grade of paste, made for that purpose, are placed over the surface of the type.
 The large cog-roller, covered with a heavy felt blanket, is rolled to and fro over the surface of the type until the impression of the type is moulded into the heavy sheet of paper. The page Is then rolled to the steam table, where 1t Is placed under another pressure and a much cleaner and clearer impression is made in five minutes time And then we have what is called a matrix.
 When taken from the steam table the matrix is put in an automatic casting box in the shape of a half circle, tho box is closed and a hot stream of metal is poured in, filling every impressed mold in the matrix the plate Is cast and trans ferred to the shaving machine, where the rough edges are smoothly polished, and the plate Is thrown into a tub of cold water to be cooled off before reaching the press room. Two plates is made from each matrix to guard against imperfec- ton.
 The plates are hurried to the press room and placed upon the running board, where the press force places them on cylinder in the shape of the plate. Tight ly screwed down with three stocks, the press is then ready for action.
 The colossal press revolves with slow motion at first but in an instant tho main lever is pulled wide open by the head pressman and with full speed and with a fierce roar you can hear the en- tire building shake as the papers pour from the mouth of the monster machine.
 These large presses will cut, print, fold and paste sheets together and count in fifty bundles at the rate of A.0O0 an hour. Thirty-four-inch paper is used from large rolls weighing between 300 and 500 pounds, printing from 6000 to 1000 copies of eight page papers to each roll. The very best grade of Ink Is used, pumped from barrels with an automatic pump in the ink foun- tains of the press.
 The moment the press starts every copy printed is rushed to the mailing depart ment where they are received by the men who make the mails and the city circulators, who handle in the neighbor- hood of 800 carriers and newsboys, and who deliver and sell the papers on the streets.
 There is nowhere else in this world where seconds are of such importance as in a mailing room of a modern news paper when it comes to making the malls.
 The mailing department covers an entire floor, reaching half a block in length with numerous large tables and racks to hang the mail bags on. Narrow strips of yellow paper an inch in width pasted together with thousands upon thousands of subscribers names neatly printed on one side to be mailed to all parts of the world, compose the mail list for the marvellous little mailing machines.
 The list is rolled in the machines and prepared for operation, the instant the first papers are received from the press room At the sound of the press every man is on his feet in a jiffy and ready for the fray. Half clothed men can be seen sweating and struggling over tho long tables, wrapping, pastng and tieing mail for the first trains.
 The head mailing clerk, seeing all the mail is ready for the first train. gives orders for the mails to be sacked up. While the seconds are gradually ticking away, each bag is filled to it's capacity with small and large bundles which are immediately thrown in the mail wagon, and there behind spirited horse wild dash Is made for the depot Just as the gong sounds and the conductors healthy voice. Is heard to shout. "all aboard, the bags are slammed through the door of Uncle Sams mail car.