Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-01
FRANKLIN W. HEATH
On PhlladelphIa's Part In American

Printing
THE City Of Philadelphia has always been
L one of the leading centers. II not the
very greatest center, of printing In the United
States, for all the leading branches Of the
printing art. books, newspapers and COM
mercial printing. says Franklin W. Heath,
secretary of the Typothctae of Philadelphia.
THE distinction which Philadelphia won
in Colonial days" said Mr.. Heath. las the
greatest center of American printing, was
in a large measure due to the fact that
Benjamin Franklin, the patron saint OF
the craft, whose birthday, January II. Is
generally observed by printers, was estnD-
lished in this city as early as i'l3. Inc
printing house set up by him and his part
ner, Hugh Meredith, near the market at
81 High street (now 135 Market street,,
Is still in existence.
but Benjamin Franklin. besides being
a printer, was typefSSunder, r.unIf an INK INK
in his own career all the chief branches OF
the great printing trade which We're to come
In later years. He engraved the plates
himself and printed an issue of the paper
sides having no rival as public printer
in the Colony Of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphis's Rank Today
AS DuDlSUcT OI lne iNiilSy Hh'i"
Gazette. which lives today as the Saturday
Evening Post, the literary and tvpographical
ability OF Franklin soon made his pub!ica-
tion the best American newspaper OF ITS
day in every way. With a prestige ,e IKE
now is and always has been among the
very leaders of the art in the United States.
Printing in Philadelphia has increased
in volume until 1t is now the third city
in the United States in the commercial value
tn, hn EtnT nj nyin infv
Printers Association of PHILADELPHIA was
formed, embracing in its membership most
Of the reputable shops in the city. In 1883
the Typothetae Of Philadelphia was formed
and still continues to function. Clayton
McMichael was its first president.
Extent Of the Trade
''Some idea OF the extent of the printing
trade in Philadelphia 'today may be gained
from the figures of the last canvass made
that time the general survey showed the
sales to be in excess of $50, 900 900 for
the year, at an expense OF more than Sl9,-
000, 900, the average profit being 7.6 per
aside from the private plants, ther. ar.
about 1000 persons directly employed in
the trade and 1900 more in Office work.
Considering dependents, 1t may be con-
servativcly estimated that at least 40, 900
persons are dependent upon the commercial
Ahuoo'is "a WV ivy Aoh 'hSii iANV'A-
hood
THE Typothetac, through Its educational
work In accounting. selling, estimating and
improved methods of production, has prac-
tically revolutionized the printing industry
and put the printer on sound financial
footing, elevating him from the bottom Of
the list of commercial ratings to well toward
the top. 1t Is probable that today the
printer knows more accurately the manufac-
turing cost Of his product at all stages tlNn
any other line Of manufacture, and this is
due almost entirely to the educational work
Of the Typothetae.
Many Philadelphia "Firsts''
"Philadelphia has an imposing list OF
'frsts' in the commercial development of
the United States, but 1t is doubtful if in
any line the. showing Is more impressive
than In printing and it's affiliated branches,
plant in the United States was established
In this city In 1912 by Bass Otis; the
first advertising agency In the country in
1910 by Voney r. Palmer; Godey's Lady's
Book the first publication of its kind was
started here in 1886 by Louis A. Godev'
and the first religious newspaper in t6e
country in 1918 by John Wewood Scott.
'Besides these, one Of the leading mann
facturers of printers inks was established
here in 1904 and still is in existence n
period of us years, and one of the princi
pal stationery houses has been in existence
for more than century. Philadelphia also
Is today the leading center for Sunday school