Evening star., 1913-06-16

lie history OI the printers CIdit III liis'
city dates back to the settlement OF
Washington. before the government was
removed from Philadelphia to this city,
and in that period when the population
gradually grew up to about 5000 there
were included a number Of printers. In
Georgetown there were few offices ana
a paper published under the name of the
Sentinel of Liberty. and in Washington
Thomas Wilson, who came from Phlla-
delphia, published a paper near the en-
tranceof the present War College called
the Universal Observer. but this was
short-lived. The material of this paper
was bought about 1895 and removed to
the house of John Crocker, at the north
east corner of 9th and E streets, which
house on the removal of the government
here in 1900 became the general post Of
fee.
In 1896 Benjamin More, who then re-
sided in South Washington, commenced
the publication of the Washington Ga
jZette. and continued this publication un-
til 179S. That printers were in demand
ments of Printers Wanted at This Of
ice,'' and also one offering such posi-
ton at the office of Thomas Thornton,
Dumfries, Va.
At Philadelphia the printing of the
Senate was being done by John Fenno,
and that of the House by William Ross.
When the government moved here and
Congress was convened, November II,
1900, the printing Of the Senate went into
the hands of Way & Croft. who had es-
tablished an office at the northwest cor
ner of 9th street and PENNSYLVANIA ave-
nue. and the House printing of that ses-
sion was continued by William Ross OF
Philadelphia At the next session Way &
Croft continued the Senate printing until
the end of the session. May 3, 1867. AT
the beginning of that session Samuel
Harrison Smith became the House print
er. Mr. Smith had established the Intel
ligencer here October q previously, his
residence and Office being one OF the row
at the corner Of New Jersey avenue and
c. street. erected by Thomas Law.
In 1903 William Duane of Philadelphia,
the publisher Of the Aurora. became the
Senate printer. He had established a
printing office and book store at the
northwest corner Of Pennsylvania avenue
and 9Th street, and in 1SO7 he was sue
ceeded by r., C. Weightman, who was
located at the northeast corner of 9th
street and the Avenue. and he continued
as the Senate printer until 1915 when
the firm Of Way & Croft had given way
to that. of A. & w. Way. and William a
Davis, who had an office near the present
site of the Metropolitan Hotel, became
the printer to both houses of Congress.
Samuel Harrison Smith continued the
publication Of the Intelligencer until
about 1SfD when he was succeeded by
Joseph w. Gales and w. w. Seaton. who
removed the. office to the south side de- OF
the Avenue opposite. the Metropolitan
Hotel where the publication was contin-
ued until about 1916. When the Office
was there and the British were in the
city devastating the public property a
British force. led by Admiral Cockburn,
presses and threw the library. a valu-
able one, into the street. This was be-
cause Mr.. Gales. the enditor of the paper.
although English by birth. was strons
advocate of the war. The once was re-
moved short time thereafter to the
northwest corner of Ith and ID streets.
where the Intelligencer was published
for fifty years or over. and during that
time much of the government printing
that of Congress and the departments
was done.
Cotemporanous with the establish
ment of the government here was tn.
printing office, bookstore and genera
publishing house of kapfne, Conrad x
Company. whose office was on the cor
ner of street and New Jersey avenue
southeast. and this firm was connected
with the firm of Conrad & Co. of Ne''
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Thi:
office was continued for twenty years ol
more and Daniel Rapine was at one tim'
mayor of Washington.
The number of journeymen Irinters ha'
gradually increased, especially during th
sessions of Congress. and ere the smok
of the devastated public buildings burne,
by the British in 1914 had cleared away
and before the news of the treaty o
peace had ended the war of 1912. tn
printers of the District were discussin,
| the propriety of forming an association
The carpenters, tailors. shoemakers ant
other tradesmen had formed association
for mutual benefits in various parts o
the country and the printers in Philadl
PHO were united in a society
On the evening of December 10. 1914.
number of typos assembled at the hous
| of H. c. Lewis, on d street between 6ti
and 7th streets, to organize a society
| At this meeting Andrew Tate, VINO ha;
come here from Philadelphia with tn
government, and was the father of Capt
Joseph B. Tate, who In 1852 published
| The Evening Star. was the chairman, an,
William Duncan, who few years afte
established printing Office on 12tl
street between E and + streets. was TIN
secretary. A committee was appointe,
to draft constitution. and after meetini