Evening star., 1939-06-25
Fifty Years Ago
In the Stur

A much-needed addition to The Stars
publication equipment was undertaken
fifty Years ago with the
7""e~ =" erection of a new building
Oio otoI to accommodate the press
building room and other units of
publication processes. The Star OF June
%, 1889, thus describes the improve
ment which was in development:
"The extensive excavations now going
on on Eleventh street just north of The
Star Building, together with the deposit
at the same point of immense pieces of
machinery, are attracting considerable
attention and exciting general curiosity
as to the probable outcome of such
formidable preparations. In fact the
hole in the ground is so large and the
machinery gathering there promises to
be SO powerful that the preliminary op-
erations concentrate much more inter-
est than the commencement of an ordi-
nary improvement usually secures. The
explanation is very simple one and can
be made in a few words. The whole
movement means another long step for
ward on the part of The Evening Star.
Ever since the permanent adoption of
the double-sheet or eight-page form for
the paper, its management has been
taxed to the utmost limit to provide
working room for the increased force
required in every department of the
establishment, and, as its business is
constantly and rapidly growing, both in
circulation and advertising, thus render
ing necessary still larger force, it has
become q question of but a very short
time when the needs of the establish
ment will entirely outgrow its present
accommodations, which, it may be add
ed here, were considered but few years
ago ample in every respect for long
time yet to come. But the reality has
exceeded all expectations. In order,
therefore, to meet existing demands and
at the same time to make suitable pro-
vision for the future, The Evening Star
Newspaper Company few weeks ago Sc
cured long lease on the large and eligibly
situated block adjoining its own fine
property and made arrangements to
erect upon 1t at once a spacious and sub
stantial annex to its present premises,
which, when completed, will be equipped
with new and powerful machinery of the
most improved design and Of the best
possible construction, adapted in every
way to the needs Of the first-class, pro-
gressive newspaper Office.
"The lot secured as above has 'front.'
age of SIS feet on Eleventh street and a
depth of 100 feet, running well back to
Twelfth street, and, excepting necessary
area space reserved for light and venti-
lation, the new structure will cover the
entire lot, thus affording an additional
space to each connecting floor of the
present building equal to nearly $500
square feet. In the basement of the new
building will be located the boilers en-
gines. coal rooms, ash vaults and one of
the delivery departments of the paper"
tThis arrangement was later changed)
THE new mechanical equipment to be
thus provided for will be ample in ca
pacity and in quality the best that de-
signing and constructive skill can pro-
duce. In addition to those now in use.
pair Of enormous boilers, built by the
famous Whittier Machine Company at
Boston to be furnished and set up by Fos-
berg & Murray of this city, will supply
heat to the building and furnish steam
power to the present engines and also to
new, magnificent double or twin Corliss
engine, built by the w. A. Harris Steam
Engine Company of Providence and sup
piled and set up by the Washington
Architectural & Bridge Works. These en-
gines, acting separately or together, will
furnish any driving capacity needed by
the establishment up to $50 horsepower
and will be arranged to drive all the
machinery In both the old and new build
ings, including that in the wetting and
stereotyping rooms, and of three colossal
fast Webb printing machines, which are
required to print the daily issues Of the
paper.
The front Of the new structure will
conform In general style and appear
ance to the present building, and, when
finished, the nearly 200 feet Of uniform
facade on Eleventh street will present q
somewhat imposing and decidedly at-
tracttye appearance"