J
HESPERIAN STUDENT
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.
Vol. XII.
LINCOLN, NEB.JE'HRUARY
! i, i88$T
No. VIII.
Our attention was called to an editorial published
in Vol. 4, No. i, of the Student, advocating a Uni
versity Printing Oflice as part of the industrial de
partment of the University, and we give to our read
ers nearly the whole article as it originally appeared.
"A department in which students could learn the
art of practical printing, we believe, could now be
established in the University, with very little expense
compared with the great benefit which would result
therefrom.
As most of our readers are aware, we already have
a student's printing and publishing association in the
University, under whose control the Hesperian
Student is published. The benefits already realiz
ed by a number of the students, from actual experi
ence in our small office, have not been trivial. All
the typographical work on the Hesperian is done
by students.
There are now at least twelve students in the Uni
versity who understand something of type-setting;
as many more would be glad of an opportunity to
learn, especially, if by so doing, they could earn
something to assist them through their college course.
But we have no press, and but a limited amount of
material, even for our present requirements.
We have long felt that a printing office, provided
with good presses and ample appliances, could be
established in the University on sufficiently large a
scale to allow all the printing of the Institntion, in
cluding catalogues, circulars, letter heads, addresses,
the Hesperian, etc., to be performed therein, at a
great saving to the state; besides conferring many
benefits, as an industrial school. We were much
gratified to learn recently that Prof. 9. R. Thompson
had already partially matured a plan for carrying in
to effect a project of this character. In response to
his request, we have made a careful estimate of the
material and expense necessary to establish a print
ing office on the following plan: A room will be fit
ted and furnished in the basement; type and fixtures
procured sufficient to keep ten typos constantly em
ployed, with the design of furnishing employment
from the first to twenty students, working by relays,
each student laboring a certain number of hours each
day; a good power press also to be procured; the
work performed to comprise all the Uuiversity print
ing, including the Student, and in all probability,
a large journal connected with the Agricultural de
partment, published semi monthly; in addition "job
work" could be done. The approximate cost of the
whole establishment would be about $2100., includ
ing a $1250. power press.
It seems to us almost unnecessary to advocate an
enterprise which on its face promises so much. It
would be economical for the state. We now have
one industrial department connected with the Uni
versity the Agricultural College. It is doing a
good work; but many thousand dollars were expend
ed in its establishment. Four students are now en
joying the advantages afforded by it, receiving for
their labor nearly sufficient compensation to meet all
expenses of board and incidentals.
In this new enterprise only a comparatively small
sum need be expended, while many more would re
ceive the benefits. At least fifteen students from the
commencement would willingly accept employment.
There is no more instructive art than the printer's;
certainly none more useful and necessary. As a
means of mental discipline it is invaluable. No bet
ter school could be devised for a person entering up
on a literary life than a two year's drill in a well con
ducted printing office. Here punctuation, orthogra
phy, taste in style ofcomposition, would be acquired.
To be an expert proof-reader or type-setter would be
a valuable possession to a literary man. The value
of this art as a life profession places it among the
most lucrative and desirable industries.
There would be another source of practical benefit
in the enterprise. An establishment of this kind
must be carried on systematically. Everything must
be done in a business-like, methodical manner. In
fact, an opportunity would be afforded of learning
the practical management of a printing establishment
in all its minutiae. There could be no better means
of acquiring a business education.
We believe, from actual knowledge, that a print
ing office such as we have described, could be con
trolled and managed within the University itself,
without employing professional aid, within less than
three months from its organization. It would not
only be a great advantage to many students practi
cally, but it would attract students to the school,
and be another upward-step in raising our University
to the first rank.