2 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : WEDNESDAY , JUNE 19 , 1889.-SIXTEEN PAGES.
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WHERE THE BEE WAS BORN , JUNE 19 , 1871.
spacious , well lighted hallway , or the vesti
bule that separates it from the stereotyping
room. The magnificent proportions ,
nnd superb light nnd ventilation
impress one upon the entrance nbovo nil
other things. The light enters the room
from the north , east nnd south through
twenty-two very Inrgo plato glass windows ,
nnd perfect ventilation is securcO through
lialf a dozen circular ventilators that plerco
the wall on the south side of the room and
Into the great court. Considerable light also
enters the room through transoms on the
west side.
Ono of the finest birdsoyo views nttainablo
Is had from the windows to the north and
cast.
cast.The greater part of the south stdo of the
composing room overlooks the oxqulsito
, white walls of the court in the center of the
building. Through the largo plato glass
windows glimpses of the mngnlflcont proportions
tions of this delicately molded and finely fin
ished work of art nro enjoyed. The "Intelli
gent compositor , " as ho works away at his
case , looks out , upon beautiful de
signs in stucco ornamentation , snow-
tvhito pilasters , semi-circular arches
nnd intci laced Moorish fret-work , with
French detail nnd ornament. The effect is
at once bewildering nnd entrancing.
In the northeast corner of the room is a
fire-proof vault. The editorial rooms abut
the east end of the composing room. The
only means of communication between the
two departments nro two small openings.
The dimensions of this composing room af
ford ample space for 100 cases. Fifty-eight
double case iron frame typo stands are now
arranged on the main sides of the walls
with imposing stones , galley racks , etc , , ar
ranged In thn center of the loom. On the
south side of the room , enclosed by an iron
Bcrcen. is the advertisement department ,
nnd communicating with thoodl'orial rooms ,
nro the desks of the superintendent nnd
foreman. From this room speaking and
pneumatic tubes nnd electric boll lead to the
counting room nnd other parts of the build-
Ing. Harry Haskcll is superintendent , nnd
'
F. M. Sprague und II. W. Pinnoy nro day
and night foremen respectively. Mr. Ilaskoll
has been connected with THE Bus for seven
teen years.
In connection with the composing and
stereotyping rooms are well-appointed cloak
and wash rooms , and ample toilets. Theio
rooms are at the west side of the building ,
adjoining the stereotyping room , nnd , in
point of arrangement and finish , can not bo
'excelled.
The Stereotyping Room.
/ The stereotyping room which connects
With the composing ronm through a vestibule
8x12 , is by all odds the most superb newspa
per stereotyping shop in America. It is su
perior in every respect to any room designed
for this purpose. With two fronts lighted
by largo plato glass windows that can
[ bo thrown open at any time , it hasunequntcd
'facilities for lighting nnd throwing off the
( great beat that Is always generated during
( working hours. The floor is covered with
iboller iron rivottcd nud screwed down upon
nn oak floor. In ono corner it has a vault
for storing material and supplies. Lighted
by electricity , with an ample supply of
water for nil purposes , and immediately con
nected with ample toilets , the stcrcotypers of
THE BEE nro surrounded by every possible
convenience which would In any degree
facilitate their work.
TUB BEE stereotyping room is fitted up
with all the necessary machinery in dupli
l | cate to guard against accident. M. J. Buck
ley is the foreman in enargo. Under him
nro export workmen , who have made re
markable time in molding the plates. The
usual time required from the molding to
the finishing of a single pinto is fifteen
minutes , but'it has boon lowered on several
occasions by THE Bcu force to eight min
utes.
Facts About the Building.
The construction of the building was bo-
Run as stated elsewhere , on October 1 , 1887 ,
by the Bee Publishing company , which nt
that time owned tbo ground. On January
28 , 1683 , about MO.OOO had been expended in
the construction of the sub-basement nnd
basement. The property was sold to the
Bee Building company at an appraised valu
ation for the ground of $132,000 , being 51,000
per front foot , and the Bee Building com
pany also reimbursed the Bee Publishing
company for the amount already expended.
The Bee Building company which now
owns the Bee building wns Incorporated
under the laws of Nebraska with an author
ized capital of half a million dollar * . The
lnco--porators were
Edward Hosowater ,
Max Meyer ,
Gco. B. Tzschuok , *
Bruno Tzschuck ,
Henry A. Haskoll.
The olllcors of the company M-O -
Edward Hosowator , President ;
N. P. Foil , Secretary and Treasurer ,
Board of Directors Edward Kosowator ,
Max Moycr , Andrew Kosewater , George B.
Tzschuck nr.d N. P. Fell.
The cost of the building complete , includ
ing all machinery nnd electric light plant ,
Will approximate $ -140.000.
There are about nineteen miles ot electric
wire In the building , 1,800 electric lights nnd
1,600 gas Jots.
The power for presses , dynamos , stereo
typing machinery , etc. , Is furnished by two
new Corliss engines ,
In the cast and south front thcro are 140-
000 pressed brick and about 1,000,000 brick of
other kinds in the entire building nud 18,000
feet of encaustic tiling.
Of the ten strictly flro proof buildings in
Omaha the Boo building is the only ono that
has polished plato glass windows in all out
side walls.
The floors of the first , second , third and
fourth stories are of three inch seasoned
quarter sawed oak with black walnut nnd
oak borders. About 100,000 foot of flooring
was used in the building. The upper _ floors
are of narrow hard pine with walnut bor
ders.
ders.Pneumatic
Pneumatic tubes of the most Improved de
signs lead from the ofllco in the flrst
floor to the composing rooms in the seventh.
There are 405 windows in the outside
walls of the building , of which sixty nro in
the court. All of the glass In the Interior
mid exterior windows is polished , chipped
mid hammered plate.
Sixty-fivo thousand vitrified paving bricks
wcro required to cover the roof and 1BO bar
rels of Portland cement were required to lay
the brick.
The Bee building Is the first structure of
any kind to occupy the corner lot nt Far-
nam nnd Seventeenth streets. The Cd-foot
lot adjoining on tlio west , covered by the
west half of the building was for years occu
pied by the residence of Mr. Hosowator.
There are 850 tons of structural iron , 24
tons of sash weights , 143 car loads of tiling ,
and 1005 tons of cranito usedjin the construc
tion of tlio building.
The editorial floor is at an nltitudo of 100
rcet above the level of the river.
Over forty-eight contracts were made and
signed bv Mr. Hosowater in the construction
of the building.
A largo fountain of artistic design will oc
cupy the centre of the tiled court floor. '
There are 187 ofllces and rooms , great and
small , not including toilet rooms , meter
rooms or Janitors' closets. The Inrgcst room
is S'Jx4 J foot and the smallest 8x15.
The plumbing , gas and drainage works
rank among the finest nad largest jobs of
this kind in the west.
No building in Omaha oan bo compared
with the Bee building in uoint of thorough
ness and finish of its plumbing work.
The Durham system of wrought iron
drainage is usud and is carried out complete
in every part of the building. Bcsido this
there nro special ideas" illustrated in this
building which are entirely original.
Thcro nro between ono hundred and flfty
and two hundred marble wash stands , about
sovcnty-flvo water-closets nnd nine lava
tories complete U every detail.
Some idea of the extent of this work maybe
bo had when it is considered that there are
about fifteen miles of pipe laid in the
structure. Every detail has been closely
watched and nothing has been left undone
which mechanical skill and ingenuity could
devise to make the Job perfect.
The United States flag floats for the first
time to-day from a 50-l'oot staff above the
building.
The smoke stack reaches a height of 140
fuel above the side wall , Is cloven feet in
diameter , and is of octagon shape. It is pro
vided with an ample uir-draft and a patent
smoke consumer. It is lined with ilro brick
up to within forty foot of the top , and orna
mented with terra cotta cuppings.
The door locks wcro specially designed for
THE BEK. The Unobs nro minaturobeo hives
and the ton of each escutcheon is also of the
some design. They nro made of Bovver
Balft iron.
Branch Ofllces.
Tnn BEE maintains brunch offices in Now
York , Washington , Chicago , Lincoln nnd
Council Bluffs. The latter wns the pioneer
branch , having been established in 1831. A
page of the paper is devoted to Council
Bluffs news and advertisements. Mr. II. W.
Tilton , the present manager , has had charge
of the ofllco for nearly seven years , und 1ms
been remarkably successful both as a uows-
gatherer , writer nnd solicitor. This depart
ment of Tun Bii : : did moro to advance the
material interests of Council Bluffs and ad
vertise it throughout the country than all its
own papers.
The Lincoln ofilco was started in 1882. Al.
Ewan is now in charge of the oniccwhich is
located at 102'J P street.
The Chicago office is located In room 507 ,
Rookery building , In charge of Mr. A. G.
Washington ofllco. 513 Fourteenth street ,
Is in charge of Mr. Perry S. Heath.
The Now 1'ork ofllce , rooms 14 and 15 ,
Tribune building , is managed by Mr. A. G.
Richardson.
jTviicria J lgKxajrtn- j-
[ DAILY B E"B" .
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NJTJIMQ HOUSE.MI _ , !
SKflTT-H
SECOND OFPIOB OP THE BBS , 013 FARNAM STREET , 1872-9 ,
EARLY TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS
From the Travail of Infancy to the
Bunahlno of Prosperity.
THE BEE'S FORMER HOMES.
A Mighty StrucRlo Crowned with Suc
cess The Annual Kxponaca of
the Hoc Circulation of
Daily nml AVcckly.
The flrstcopy of THE HEP. was Issued from
a two-story f rnmo house , which up to wtthlu
two months stood on the southeast corner of
Dodga nnd Twelfth streets. The building
wns owned by the Hcdllold brothers. The
bnscmcnt wns the repository of n hand-
cylinder press nnd quarter medium Gordon.
The first story was subdivided into two
largo roomn , each about eighteen by twenty ,
was tilled wltlt job olllco material
nnd news cases , while the upper
story was leased out for lodging
apartments to printers. From this building
THE DAILY Dun was Issued during the flrst
three months of Its Infantile existence.
On a lot adjoining the Hcdflold Hrothors
Job ofllco to the south stood another two-
story frame , with a wooUou bnsouiont and
front porch. Just before TUB BEE had boon
launched into existence this building had
been occupied as the fourth r.Uo hotel
known as the Cedar Kaphls house. In
September , 1871 , this building was leased
by Edward Uosowater and converted
Into n polyglot printing house. The Boo-
bachtcr am Missouri , with Its on tire plant ,
Including a small Job ofHco , had been pur
chased by Mr. Hosowator nnd converted
from a democratic Into mi independent re
publican organ. A full dress and all neces
sary equipments wore nlso purchased for the
Pokrok X.apadu ( Western Progress ) , a Bono-
inlan weekly founded by Mr. Hosewaoor In
the Interest of Immigration , Last but not
least Tnr. BEE established Its flrst business
oOlco nnd typo room in this building , utilizing
the Hedfield brothers printing press in the
adjoining building for Its press work. On
Juno 11 , 1872 , the Bee ofllco , including the
building and all Its contents , were destroyed
by an incendiary Ore. An entirely new
plant , Including news nnd job typo for Tun
Unu and the Ucobaehtor and Pokrok was
bought principally on credit at Cincinnati
nnd St Loul , and moved into the two-
story nnd basement brick building on
Farnam street , between Ninth und Tenth ,
which had been erected by Mr. Hosowator in
ISO'J , nnd was then owned by him. In this
building THE BEE and its German and Bo
hemian annexes were quartered with an
abundance of space. For six years Tun BEE
continued in these quarters without ma-
struck oft at Hodflold Brothers1 Job ofllco , of
Which about 000 wcro laid upon the seats at
the Academy of Music , and the remainder
wore distributed free In the stores and
hotels.
The name of II. Goraldo appeared at the
head ot the coluimiiof paragraphs as editor
nnd publisher. SJ J
Tlio Rent Iif > ( lslior nnd Venn ( tor
was Edward So'sawntcr ' , who was at that
time manager ofttho Atlantic nnd Pacific tel
egraph lines atisjwithhold ( his name to avoid
disagreeable notoriety In connection with
what ho then -jfa&irdod ns a venture that
would not survK'a * Ixty days. No prospectus
was Issued , \liijfollowing brief announce
ment was madoMnlho flrst number :
NOTl6iD TUB PUIlMCt
Attention Is rflrectod to the Special Telo-
gntphlo Ili < nntchos of TUB OMAHA HUE. con
taining ttio latest intelllgonco up to the hour
of going to press. Thoroughly condensed , the
Telegraph news of Tin : linn will , It Is to bo
hoped , nirord some evidence , In addition to
other novoltlos , that the Killtor of this Journal
la ( Ictormlneil to iloservo success In a hitherto
untrodden nnld of journalistic elTovt. To the
Umaha public , over prompt to rocognlzo enter
prise , Is thus presented , free itf cnnrtie , what
may , without exaggeration , bo called thoroctl-
tied essence of diurnal history.
The "essence , " so called , consisted of two-
thirds of a column of telegrams from homo
nnd foreign points , equal to one-third of a
column of the present Br.c.
The l < 'lrstAppronch ;
to newspaper form was made early In the
succeeding tnonhi by transforming the the
atrical dodger Into u four piiifo sheet. On
the 27th of Julv the paper was enlarged to
double Its original size , making It Slxl0 !
Inches , nnd the price of subscription made
12 , ' cents per week , or GO cents per mouth.
The nntno of 12. Roscwater , editor and pro
prietor , was substituted for that of II , Gor-
nlde , who had been merely a ilgurelioad.
During the month of August Tin : Bii : : was
ngaln enlarged by the addition of one col
umn to each page , and on September 0 , the
first number of Tin : WEEKLY BEE was is
sued.
The First Homo of tlio Boo
was In the Hcdllold building , a frame which
stood on the southeast corner of Twelfth ana
Dodge streets. All material necessary for
the publication of the p.iper were owned by
the Kcdfiold brothers.
On the Oth of May. 18T2 , Tna BUB was
ngaln enlarged , this time to double Its size ,
nud the publication otllco removed to 511)
( old number ) Twelfth street , two doors
south of the original ofllco. The proprietor
had purchased a now dress of type , but the
presswork wns done in the Hedlleld building
on a Cincinnati drum cylinder press , oper
ated by hand. This press , now owned by
the Columbus ( Nob. ) Journal , was worked
by Archie Richmond , n muscular colored
man , nnd when Rlchmoml was in prime con
dition from 700 to SOJ Impressions , or from
330 to 400 Manors were turnoJ off in an hour
Destroyoit by Kirc.
Early in the morning of June 11 , 1373 , Tnr.
never boon equalled , much loss excelled by
any paper In Chicago or St. Louis. Slnco
that tlrao Illustrated supplements and trndo
reviews nave bccomo distinctive features ot
Tun BBB , nnd have done moro than any ono
ngcney to advertise and proclaim the pros
perity of Omaha to the world ,
The Second Important Event
In the history of Tun Ben occurred on the
1st of February , 1878 , when the Boo Publish *
lag company was perfected nnd the building
nnd grounds , plant nnd good will of the
paper turned over to It. The articles of In
corporation , signed by Edward Hosowator ,
Andrew Hosowater , A. H. Hotter , Henry A.
Haskcll , Alfred Sorensen nnd Edwin Davis ,
were filed with the county clerk January 15 ,
1878. The capital stock was limited to SICK-
000 , but only $10,000 was Issued. A committee -
too of the now company Invoiced the stock ,
material and subscription list of
the paper nt $31,831.03. The vnluo ot
the ground nnd building was placed nt
810,000 , making n total of $ U,8Sl,02. The
company purchased the property for ? 40,000 ,
nnd Issued stock to Mr. Hosownter In pay
ment , giving him a controlling Interest. The
first board of directors consisted of E. Uoso
water , G. W. Llninger , Max Mayor , Edwin
Davis nnd A. Hosowator. Mr. 15. Kosowater
wns elected president of the company , nnd
given complete control of the policy nnd
management of the paper. Both positions ho
holds to-day , nnd owns nearly four-fifths of
the stock In the Bee Publishing company.
The capital stock of the Bee Publishing com
pany now consists of 400 shares. $250 each , or
u total of $100,000. The organization of the
company placed Tun But :
On n Solitl Foundation.
A mortgage debt of $18,000 was liquidated ,
nnd n balance of ready cash placed In the
treasury to meet Immcdiatu demands. The
change brought with it great improvements
in the paper nnd machinery from time to
time , to meet the demands of the public.
Now typo was added nnd a double cylinder
Boo press with folders attached supplanted
the old Bnbcock Job press. Then another
doublet-cylinder Hoe press was added. Step
by step the paper reached a metropolitan rank.
The morning and evening editions were en
larged from four to olght pages. In 1831 a
Council Bluffs department was added , fol
lowed In 1855 by the establishment of n news
bureau at Lincoln , nnd the employment of
correspondents in Washington , Chicago , and
in the principal towns of Iowa nnd Nebraska.
Early In Juno , 18SO , the morning edition
grew to such proportions that n force of
writers nnd printers entirely independent of
the evening force , was employed.
Ono or Inn Harriest Struggles
which Tin : BEE experienced in getting to the
front was with the toleirraph companies. The
usual avenues of news was barred against it ,
nnd it was compelled to pay enormous tolls
for special dispatches from various points.
These tolls were little less than robbery.
While the papers in the Associated press
were supplied with telegraphic news for
about Bcvcnty-tlvo dollars per month , TUB
WMHUKPt MWtilt'MUmh1 ! k lMil'UlJ ] ' 'M' '
. T' tTt.T.-f ' 7. , . . . -v&v - ' - J fcj. j' .
_
RECONSTRUCTED OFFICE OF THE BEE , 18B5-9.
tcrially increasing its facilities nnd without ,
replenishing the job ofllco to any groatcxtent.
In 1879 the wooden structure on thn lot adJoining -
Joining the Farnam street building on the
east was leased , nnd finally the lot was
bought by THE BBB Publishing company
from Milton Rogers for § 5,000. That made
n frontage of forty-four foot on Fnrnam
street , including the twenty-two foot brick
building and the twenty-two foot frame
structure , both being two stories in height.
There was an entrance cut in the side wall
of the brick building effecting a passage be
tween the two buildings. In this condition
Tin : BIB olllco remained till five years ago ,
when the frame building was sold nnd re
placed by a ono-storv brick. That was followed
shortly afterwards by the reconstruction of
the whole building. The wooden joists on
the flrst floor of the brick structure were
torn out , brick nrches were mudo between
iron T rails on the floor nnd the basement
. This work
was made perfectly fire-proof.
was accomplished without interfering with
the publication of the paper. Then the front
was torn out and two moro stories were
added to the building. The basement of the
ofllco was tiled with marble , the walls were
beautifully decorated and u cherry counter
was put in , so that THE Bun had the finest
counting room in the city at that timo.
But the oflico room ngnln became too con
tracted and twenty-two feet of the upper
story on the west belonging to the Strang
building wcro leased , so th.it Tim BEE prac
tically occupied forty-four feet , together
with the one-story annex on the east , as will
be scon by reference to the cut.
Two weeks ago ono of the fust urcsscs wns
transferred piecemeal to tbo now Bee build
ing , its permanent homo , and the removal of
the entire ofllco wns accomplished a week
later without the slightest jar and without
loss of time or any of its editions. Both of
its lightning presses wcro again running In
nerfecl order on thu sixteen page edition of
laat Sunday.
HISTORY OP TJ1E UEI3.
Its Rirtli , Early Strugf-lna , und Mar *
VOIOIIB Growth ,
The history of TUB BEE Is n panorama of
stirring events and thrilling incidents. It Is
the history of a i mighty struggle against nd-
verse circumstances , formidable opposition ,
nnd obstacles which , during infancy , seemed
almost insurmountable. It Is a history of
years of ceaseless toll , crowned with popular
approval and support. Its success is not duo
to mere accident or good luck , but Is the re
sult of nearly eighteen years of hard labor
nud untiring exertion.
Tns DAILY BEE made its flrst appearance
on the 10th of June , 1871. It was a two-
page , 12x18 sheet , five columns to a page
nnd had the appearance of a theater pro
gramme , In fact the programme of the
Academy of Music filled all but two columns
of thu first iiaxo. Five hundred copies were
BEE ofllco was destroyed by the torch of an
iiiccndiary.aiidtho flrst announcement of the
flro was made by Tin : BIE : on the afternoon
of the same day. The paper was reduced to
one-half its size nnd Issued from Hodtlcld's
Job ofllco. Two weeks later the olilco was
removed to the brick building owned by Mr.
Hosowator at 010 Farnam street , where it
remained until its' present magnificent homo
was completed. Tun BEE continued to grow
in patronage and influence , but not without a
constant struggle against disheartening odds.
KcnHns.s nnd Outspoken
on all vital Issues of the day , the paper was
equally vigorou1 ? in advancini-'tli omaiorial in
terests of Omaha and Nebraska. Al the very
outset THE Bii : : took up und championed the
cause of the Industrial classes and advocated
their rights when all other papers
"bent the pregnant hinges of the Unco that
thrift might tollow fawning. " Jobbery In
ofllclnl llfo and the encroachments of corporate -
ate power found in It an unyielding opponent.
It fearlessly assailed public abuses of every
nnturo , creating enemies on every side , nnd
desperate efforts iwero made by personal
attacks nnd nrlvAtf ? combinations , to crush
the editor nnd drivq Tin : BISK into nn early
grave. Coupled \ylth those malignant ,
schemes was tbo depression following the
panic of 1879 , which added financial compli
cations to the difficulties against which the
paper battled. A , .history of that terrible
struggio for existence would form a thrilling
chapter. , , : , ,
In spite of all ndyorso circumstances nnd
dlllicultlcs Tim , BEK continued to grow in
popularity und AiHofulncss. In September.
IS ; ; ! , the subscription list of THE BEE had
reached proportipns requiring bettor ma
chinery , nnd a IJQOjSlnglo cylinder press was
purchased , nnd UiOi facilities of thu paper
enlarged in ol'iiCK , , ileimrtinents. Up to this
time Tin : Hir.-\vat : strictly u local paper , but
its circulation , ovjii jthon , wns greater than
any paper publislipdjn the state. Ha power
und influence extended beyond the confines
of the city. To mvot this growing demand ,
the experiment of issuing
A Morning Kdltion
wns made. It mot with a generous reception
nmong the people residing along the various
lines of railroads leading from the city , and
proved such a success that it was enlarged
and Improved from time to time along with
tbo evening edition.
On March ? , 1S74 , THE BEB again appeared
enlarged in length and breadth to nine
columns , with now and attractive typo
throughout , mailing the fifth enlargement of
thu paper in the three years of its existence.
Gradually but surely it continued to grow in
publlu estimation , inspiring confidence In its
sturdy worth and uoqulr'ug force ! and char
acter among all classes. The 1st of January ,
1875 , witnessed.
Another Nev Departure ,
the publication of an illustrated supple
inont nnd annual review of the
trade , manufactures , etc. , of the city
for the year 1874 , It was a costly
und laborious undertaking , ouo which hai
BEE was compelled to pay from SiOO to $ SCO
per montlufor Its service. The exactions of
the tilogi- ! companies became unbearable ,
and u persistent and successful effort was
made to coi.nr.il recognition of Tun BIE as
ono of the live newspapers of the west.
Finally , in 18'4 , Tim Bin : wns admitted into
tlio Associated press on the payment of a
cash bonus of § 9,000. The purchase of the
franchise added greatly to the news facilities
ot the paper. But it did not rest on the
laurels won at such great cost. It extended
its corps of special correspondents in every
direction , completely covering every impor
tant point in the trans-Missouri region. THE
Bin : was not content with its pro-eminence
ns u statepaper. . It broadened its fluid by
including Iowa on the cast. Dakota on the
north. ICausas on the south , nud Colorado ,
Wyoming and adjoining territories on
the west. It is to-day without n rival in the
west , and has acquired a national reputation
unsurpassed by any newspaper between Chicago
cage and the Rocky mountains.
The Third Grunt Knoch
in Tun BEE'S career began September 23 ,
1885 , when a perfecting press and a complete
stereotyping plant were put in operation ,
The preiis is known as the Scott perfecting
press , the Invention of Walter Scott , n
Scotchmanwho , with his business associates ,
sold the patent to the well-known firm of H ,
Hoe & Co. , for * 100,000. It wns made by the
Potter Printing Press company of Plainfield -
field , N. J. , under a license from Hoe & Co ,
It weighs nineteen tons , nnd cost Tin : Bur.
In the neighborhood of $18,000. It is n
mechanical marvel compact , complete and
powerful. It prints , cuts , fold ? nud pastes
15,01X1 copies of un eight-page paper per
hour , or ! iO,0K ( ) copies of n four-paio paper.
Two years later a second perfecting proas
was purchased , together with n duplicate
plant of Blcocotyplng machinery. Both
presses uro now in operation in TUB BEI :
jirc. ° s room , making the most complete newspaper -
paper plant In the west. At the time of the
purchase of the flrst perfecting press , there
was no wob-porfocUng In use west of the
Missouri , nnd THE BUB justly claims to bo
the pioneer in fast presses as well as In
every department of newspaper llfo.
The Dampening Mnohlni ; . |
The paper which is run through the press
from a continuous roll , must flrst bo
dampened , otherwise It will not take a good
impression. The machine for wettinB it is a
simple ono. An iron axle is run through the
core of the roll of paper , and the roll Is sus
pended in bearings nt ono cud of the ma
chine , so as to revolve free. The end of the
web is then attached to another core and
axle , similarly placed at the other end of the
mac ill no. These axles are attached to the
driving cylinder. When this cylinder Is
started the roll of paper is unwound from
ono core and rewound UIKJII the other , nnd
in its passage moves through n spray of
water from two Jots nbovo it. In a few
hours the roll has absorbed the necessary
moisture nud is ready for the press.
Stereotyping.
The process of stereotyping is coinpara-
- - - ' - - - - - ' ; ' S'
w.iv ! a-iJi > ( Wii.vr..t'1-J. r-Tf , ! r : . - . U.-Ui5.v-'V : Oi S'jTvrf : a.- > .W {
OFFICE OF THE BBB , BURNED DOWN JUNE 11 , 1072. I' '
lively now In the West. Although the In
vention is u century and n half old , it wns
not introduced into the United States until
1813. It did not meet with much favor in
newspaper circles until the sixties , when the
growth of the great Now York dallies de
manded nn Improvement on tlio slow nnd
tedious work of printing from type. Thomas
N. Hooker , the famous foreman of the Now
Vork Tribune at that time , foresaw that
some process must bo procured to expedite
the printing of n great and growing daily ,
and began an Investigation of stereotyping
then in use In the larger job ofllces. Borneo
Greoley entered heartily Into his plans , but
they soon discovered that no mollification of
the process then In vogue could bo made to
diminish the time required fortho production
of n plato. Time was nil-Important. Half
nu hour wns the limit of time which n paper
could afford for the entire operation. About
this time two Swiss brothers perfected
n process and tested It on the London Tunes ,
but before It could bo Introduced In this
country a Now Yorker perfected n similar
method , which proved a success and wns
soon ndoptcd by the leading papers of the
city. The process is n simple ono. When a
form is mndu nnd sent to the foundry it is
transferred to a heavy Iron turtle , and
the typo brushed ami cleaned. Several lay
ers of specially prepared paper , moist and
pasted together , are placed on the iaco of
the typo nud pounded with heavy brushes
until an exact Impression of every letter nnd
picture is taken. The form is then blank
eted and placed on n steam nhcst to dry.
Seven minutes completes this part of the
operation. It comes out brown nnd hardened
into a matrix ready for the casting box. This
Is curved In the form of the cylinders of the
press. When the matrix is secured , the
metal from the furnace is poured Into it and
in a few seconds the rough stereotype plato
is taken out. It is then trimmed and beveled
at the edges , the blanks cut down , und the
shell placed in the machine where n revolving
knife shaves the interior until it has a uni
form thickness. It taitcs from fifteen to
twenty minutes to make a stereotype plato ,
nnd any number can bo taken from one
matrix.
These improvements in machinery.togothor
with the reconstruction ot the building , en
tailed an expenditure of $30,000.
Circulation.
The phenomenal growth of TmD.Mi.Bnu
is shown by the following statement of circu
lation , taken from the books of the ofllco :
IHPO . Mali IHS& . smo
1NS1 . IIU.VlBSll . 12iH
1832 . ISlliVlbST . H.VJ.J
1SS3 . UT'Jl 18 < 8 . IKOiM
1884 . 7B7llbS.i | (5 ( months ) . 18 JU
The following is a statement of the circu
lation of Tun WEKKI.V BEE for the respect
ive years :
' ' ' ' ' ' '
ISROav'r'g circul'n Kill'ian av't'eclrcul'n 27OT !
,
IBS ; " i.7,177 isss
1881 " MtJUl83'J | ' ( S months ) 44131
Yearly Kxpensos.
The following statement taken from the
books of the ofllco shows the cost of operat
ing THE BUB establishment :
I'AYKOI.L OP COMl'OSIXO IIOOM.
ISCT . 8 7. " ! > 3 5 IS31 . S17.457 74
1881 . iL'ri71 36 183.5. -
18S3 . ] l,75 ; ! 00 ,
1883 . 10,351 to ! 1887 . 311,58(1 ( 81
Total Telegraph
coat. espouse.
isso . sno.T'.w 10 $3,5:1743 :
18,11 . ; VM3 40 a.15125
1SKJ . MiiKM 81 7.077:18
JH83 . 1W.1W3 30 4,370 CO
18S1 . Ol.ira 1)1 ) 4,7411 111
188,1 . jC,5i7 ; ) : 13 ( MIAOU
18SI ! . ini.atU 4K 10,17180
18S7 . 2)7l58rU ) 1I.3M 11
lb8S . ! UltKiya 10.U28U1
Statement of amount of postage paid dur
ing the past eight years :
1M . 81.747 511,1883 , . $4.G.TJ 45
J831 . IU7 ! 1H18S8 . nWH 34
UbZ . 4,81318 InlsT . 7bll 07
1883 . iym 5)5 ) 18 . UMO SI
issi . fi.'JGi IH |
* l'ostngo rertuco j one-half on nowspnpors.
The weight of paper required for printing
THE 13ni : amounted to 1 , 030,250 pounds in
The Great Newspaper Buildings.
THE BEE building covers nn area of 13 ! ?
feet by 12 ! ! , or an aggregate
ground dimension of 17,421 feet ,
making n total florago of lliS/JOO feet , which
is the largest space covered by any news
paper building In America , In other words
it 1" the largest newspaper building on the
globe at this time. While it is surpassed by
several other newspaper buildings in height ,
it Is equalled by no other structure of its
class in its imposing architecture , Us distri
bution of light and ventilation , elegance
of finish nnd perfect flro proof
construction. It is the only newspaper buildIng -
Ing covered by a brick roof. It is the only
newspaper building in America large cnouch
to accommodate a metropolitan composing
room , stereotyping room mid compolto edit
orial room on the sumo floor.
Up to this time the Now York Trlbtinb
could truthfully boast of being the Inreost
and most complete newspaper oflico building.
It now ranks next to Tin : BEE.
The Now York Tribune occupies a buildIng -
Ing covering n ground area of 12 , ' 00 feet. In
cluding its annex nnd ouUido court. The
total floor nroa Including the space not cov
ered by the building , by its ten stories is
122,000 , foot.
The third largest newspaper building in
the country Is now In process of erection by
the Pioneer Press of St. Paul. It has n
ground nrea of (1,900 feet nnd is to bo
twelve stories In height , making utotulfloor-
ngoof IIS.SOO foot.
The Now York Times which , in uoint of
dimensions , stands fourth m the list , is an
irregular quadrangle , with the largest
frontage 101 feet and the smallest sixty feet ,
making nn aggregate ground areaof approxi
mately 8,500 fee . It has thirteen Btorles ,
with an aggregate floor area of 120,000 foot.
The St. Paul Globe , ten stories in height ,
has ground dimensions of 100x85 feet , mak
ing n total ground area of 8r 00 , and of floor
areas In all stories of 85,000.
The now ten-story building of the San '
Francisco Chronlclo covers an irregular plat
of ground with an nrea of 0,803 foot und a
total iloorago of 05,030. j
The Republic building at St. Louis , five ;
stories In height , covers a lot 109x70. or total
nrea of 8,011 feet , which is Just ono half the
nrea covcioJ by the Boo building.
The Chicago Tribune , which occupies the
only fire proof newspaper building In Chicago
cage , covers n lot 120x75 foot ; total area ,
O.IIiiO fool ; total floor area , -JB.SSO foi t.
The building of the Baltimore Sun , at Bal
timore , has a ground area of 4,070 feet , and \
an area on all Hours of 20,350. |
The Louisville Courier-Journal is
- a fivo-
story building with a frontage of 105 fcot by
SUJ-J feet , making a total ground nrea of !
14,273 feet. The total floor space ii 71,300 I
feet. Tlio building is not fire-proof. I
The Evening Post , Now YorK , lias a nino- s
story lire-proof building , the dimensions
being IDHJ xliU fcot. The ground area is
0,521 feet and grand tloonigo fiS.tJS'Jfeet.
The Chicago Times building is a Ilvo-story
structure , ISlx'Jl foct. The ground area Is
W.liiil feet. Total lloovage , 73,1)05 ) feet. The
building is not lire proof.
Of the ten lire-proof newspaper buildings
of America , the Bee building stands lirat ;
the Now York Tribune , second ;
the St. Paul Pioneer-Press , third ; New
York Times , fourth , in point ot interior
and exterior area. Of this cliiss. the Now
York Tribune's represents the largest invest
ment in money. The Philadelphia Lodger
has a frontage of lOQx-S-l fcot , six stories. Us
ground area is 111,800 loot. Its aggregate
floor space is 83,100 feet. Thu bulldingis not
flro proof , however.
The Philadelphia Record building is tha
most elegantly constructed and finished
building in the country. It is strictly fir
proof and fronts on two opposite streets. Its
height is six stories , built of cut stone with
mnrblo trimmings. Its dimensions are
about XSxlSO fcot.
Inquiries made for the dimensions of the
leading European newspaper buildings ,
elicits the information that none of them approach
preach THE BEE in size or architectural do-
sign.
Retrospective.
Few editors and publishers have survived
the trials and torments inseparable from iu-
fnnt journalism. The elder Bennett estab
lished and lived to see the Now York Herald
at the front rank of American Journalism.
Horace Grcoloy founded the Now York
Tribune nnd enjoyed its success before his
death. The World drifted from hand to hand
until Pulitzer took it elf the shoulders of
Jay Gould and made it a phenomenal success.
Tlio Sun and the Times had several owners
before Dana and Jones gave thum "a habita
tion and a name. " The Chicago Times and
Tribune were not founded by Stoioy and
Modill , the men who mndo them
the rcconnlzed organs of western
thought and energy. The Chicago News
rose from the ruins of the Post nnd
the Inter-Ocean from the wreck of the Re
public. The Louisville Courier wns founded
by George D. Prentiss , but it did not attain
the commanding influence and prosperity
which the consolidation with the Journal and
the abilities of Henry Watterson brought it.
The Cincinnati Commcrcial-Gazetto and the
Enquirer have changed ownership several
times. On the Pacific coast the San Fran
cisco Chronicle was founded by the Do-
Youngs. Charles DoYoung lived to see it a
power for good in California , and It is still
controlled by the surviving brother , Michael.
There aru really less than u dozen influential
newspapers to-day whoso original owners
llvud to see them rise from struggling In
fancy to heights of commanding influence
and power , and THE BEE is ono of them.
: Ci : ; ! i
$1 $ v fepa
, fb * s
* jFf s5S3SB e ' < Ktes
iWmW % $ ® * Baps.t.-ir1 -
Sjrffe lH lSJiCTScfesSrrr.- :
L Sf&rA * vw4 ! ? & & . '
ENLARGED BEB OFFICES , 107O-B6.
5JJ