Evening star., 1960-06-02
TALKING OF BUSINESS r 41c
Big Publishing Plant Is Survivor
OF Century-OId RopIey Plans
By WILLIAM MacDOUGALL
Star stah Writer ...

6tAI cJau writer
The road was dusty but traf-
fic light the day William WASH
ington Rapley walked into
Washington more than 100
years ago.
He actually walked all the
way from Baltimore, but, young
and tireless, went to work the
following day on the dome Of
the Capitol.
His business climb in Wash
ington was no less dizzying. In
rapid succession, he acquired a
coach-making firm, a steam
ship line and the National
Theater.
Two succeeding generations
Of Rapleys have divested them
selves of all those interests, but
a fourth enterprise-indirectly
spawned by the third-still
thrives. The National Pub
fishing Co., started in 1893 for
the printing of programs for
the National Theater, is more
vigorous than ever-and still
in the Rapley family.
One of Largest
Headed by w. w. Rapley, who
was named for his grandfather,
the firm now prints some so
publications, includes about 400
employees and has an annual
payroll of $2.5 million. One Of
the Districts largest publish
ing firms, it is typical of the
growth enjoyed in recent years
by the printing industry.
More than 10000 persons are
employed by the entire indus
try Excluding the Govern
menO in the area.
Our principal business is the
printing Of publications for
large organizations" Mr..
Rapley said. However, we do
all kinds of work-all the way
from calling cards on"
Like many other Washington
publishing firms, the company
has experienced its biggest
growth in the last 20 years. In
that period, the city has at
tracted hundreds of national
groups-from labor unions to
professional societies - which
have brought their pLyrolls and
business to the Capital.
NPC has won a goodly share
of printing contracts from
those organizations. It prints
such blue chip publications as
the National Educational AS
sociation Journal, the Machin-
iSt. American Rif1eman, Broad
casting, Journal of Homebuild-
ing, Science Magazine, the
Transmitter, and New Repub-
Elic.
Although the company prints
100 million copies of all such
publications every year-which
reach about 5 million homes
only a few appear on the news
stands. Most are intended for
distribution to members of the
organizations only.
Ninety per cent Of our work
is for dissemination national
Ily," explained L. C. Shomo, ex-
ecutive vice president. "Ten
per cent is for strictly local
consumption"
325 on Production
To cope with its ever-in-
creaSing volume, the company
employs a production staff of
325 persons including every
body from artists to printers.
Editorial copy is provided by
the organizations and they Su-
perviSe the publications from be-
ginning to end. Not unexpec-
tedly. there are occasional prob
lens resulting from an editors
forgetfulneSS, an authors over
sight or a messengers hardness.
But we always straighten it
out all right" Mr.. Shomo said,
"and that's the advantage of
local service. You can straighten
it out on the spot"
He noted that while a few
publications have moved their
printing operations away from
Washington, many more have
shifted to the Capital.
There's been about 20 per
cent growth in the publishing
business in the Washington area