The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-13

The Age-Herald yesterday began work on it's new Fifth avenue home. Ground was formally broken during the morn ing and large force of men began the excavations for laying the foundations of what will be the most complete and most modern newspaper plant in the southern states.
 The structure will be occupied entirely been darwn with the idea of putting into service every known device and appli- ance for the rapid and accurate publica- tion of the modern newspaper. It will be located at 20e-2111 Fifth avenue, con- venient to the business section of the city and to the new Terminal station. It will be within one block of the pro- posed Fifth avenue hotel
 signed with the double purpose of fur nishng ample and commodiors accom- modations for its patrons and friends. and to give the members of the various staffs quarters where their best work can De done The Age-Herald has in the past not only kept pace with the phenomenal growth of Birmingham but has tried to keep in the van of the pro- cession and the appreciation shown by the friends of the paper long since rem dered the quarters on Second avenue en- tirely inadequate to get the maximum results from the scores of men and wom- en employed in the various departments. The plans for the new structure were drawn only after visits to practically all of the great modern newspaper plants of fin each have been incorporated into the proposed Age-Herald building. The re- suit has been that architects and expe- rienced newspaper men, who have seen the plans. have pronounced the proposed structure the most complete of it's kind in the country
 Light and air and plenty of room are the first requisite of the up-to-date news paper plant The new building will have almost a solid mass of windows on four sides. It will occupy five floors with floor area of 16So0 square feet. The next requisite Is to have the various de-
 
 cooperative results-that is, the most thorough and accurate gathering of the news and the most rapid means of get ting that news to the readers. Systematic proximity has been adjusted to a fine de- gree in the new Age-He building. The press rooms containing two man. moth modern presses will be located in basement 20 feet high, extending 15 feet above the street level in order to get plenty of light and air in this depart ment. The business office will be To- cated in the forward portion of the first floor, while the mailing rooms will be in the rear, immediately over the presses. The main editorial and reportorial rooms will occupy the entire second floor. The floor immediately above will be for the composing rooms and stereotyping depart ment, the latter separated by fireproof wall Mats and plates will thus be made on the third floor and it will not be nec- essary for type and forms to leave this part of the building.
 The art and engraving departments will occupy the entire top floor Automatic copy carriers, automatic plate elevators automatic paper chutes and similar con- trivances will put every department in close touch with the other so that work in all parts of the building will be ex- pedited and loss of time will be almost infinitessimal.
 The plans have been drawn by Architect William c. Weston, who visited numer- ous newspaper plants to get the most modern ideas, and the construction work will be in charge of Charles M. Allen. It is expected to have the building com- pleted and ready for occupancy Oc- tober 1.