Newspaper Page Text
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WEEKLY EDITION.
THE CONSTITUTION.
VOL. XYI1.
ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY MORNING? AUGUST 19 1884. TWELVE PAGES.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Description of Its New Building
and Equipment-
ITS FAST RECORD AND FUTURE HOPES.
The Details of Its Management and
Preparation.
TOE WORK OF EACH DEPARTMENT,
The Cuilding, the Presses, the Lights and
Who Made Them.
The Constitution enters this morning on a
new era of growth, and an ora, We trust of
intreased usefulness.
It occupies to-day for the first time its now
building and uses for the first timo its new
equipment. Its new home is a massive and
handsome structure, CO by 110 feet, six sto
ries high, fire proof, heated by steam, lit by
electricity, furnished with two fine elevator*,
and fitted up with every convenience known
to modem house building. In its press
roc ms, - besides many presses adapted to tho
different departments of its business, Isa
Hoc Perfecting press, that from a solid roll
of pnper, cuts, prints, pastes, folds, registers
and delivers 14,000 complete Constitutions
of twelve pages each, in one hour. Tho com-
posing rooms are supplied with an abundant
and complete outfit. Tho news rooms are
connected by special telegraph and telephone
wires with tho outside world.
Indeed, at a cost of considerably more than
$100,000, Tnn Constitution is provided with
a home and equipment that in convenience,
comfort and completeness is surpassed by
that of no journal iu the country. It will
bo our earnest purpose to make i\in every
respect worthy of its outfit,and to haveits col
umns show corresponding improvement with
its environment. It bos been working for
tho past two years with an outfit that it had
fairly outgrown, and lias contended with
daily disadvantage. It has now entered a
home, in which it has more than enough
room, and an equipment that is more than
«uupl<> for its needs. Whatever progress it
limy ninko, and its hopes nro high audits
ambition strong, It will bo after the hands
that now mausge it have dropped from the
helm, when it has grown beyond tho limits^
of Ibe bouse it enters to-day.
As it is to be, as far as wo are concerned,
tho permanent homo of Tub Constitution, a
detailed description of it may bo interesting
to the public. Such a description ia'appen-
ded herewith, preceded by a short history of
the paper, and somo account of its manage
ment:
How Tlie Constitution in Owned.
Tin: Constitution was established In June, 1868,
by Messrs. Carey W. Styles and J. H. Anderson. In
Oct. 18C8,Mr. W. A. Hemphill bought the iutercst Qf
Colonel Styles and became business manager of
the paper, which position ho has held ever slnco.
In 1870 Mr. E. Y. Clarko bought tho interest of
Mr. J. H. Anderson. In 1 m Mr. N. 1*. T. Finch,
. tousht a sixth Interest in the paper. In 1876
Messrs. Hemphill and Finch bought Colonel E. Y.
Clarke’s interest In the paper, the llrm of W. A.
Hemihlll A Co., having been previously changed
t* the Constitution Publishing Company. Messrs.
E. 1*. and Albert Howell in October, 1876
houfht a haH of the stock owned by Hours. Hemp p
hill and Finch paying for It €10,000 in cash and as-
sutn'ng 121,000 of liabilities. They already owned
part of about $8,000 worth of stock which had been
Bold to out-ilderr. Mr. Howell at once bought up
lor the company ever}- share of this out.-. Ido stock,
In about a year the compauy bought .the interest
ofEMr. Albert Howell leaving Messrs. Hemphill
Howell and Finch owners of the stock in the com*
y.
On May 11th, 1 m, Mr. II. W. Grady bought a
fourth Interest In the paper. The capital stock of
the company was $100,000, and chan?es in the
ownership were so made at the tlmo of Mr. Gra
dy's purchase that each of the four stockholders
owned $25,000 each. Sluce that time seventy shares
of the stock have been sold, among others, Mr.
B. A. Hemphill having bought $.>.000 worth and
Mr. W. J. Campbell 12,000 worth,, but the original
basis of ownership has remained practically un
changed, Messrs. Hemphill and Uowcll owning
*23,000 each, Mr. Grady $22,500 and Mr. Finch $20,•
COO.
None of the stock has been, or will be, offered
for sale at any price. It is probable that the own
ership will remgin where it Is until it has dcsccndel
to.the tens of tbc*e who now own it.
The Management of The Constitution.
The management of The Constitution rests
with the four directors, Messrs. Ifowcll, Hemphill,
Grady and Finch. Mr. Howell is president of tho
company and of the board of directors. Mr. Fiuch
Sa secretary. The directors meet on the 5th of each
month and review the business of the paper, dis
cuss the situation, and outline the work for the
future. At these meetings the exact basinsas of
the preceding month is shown. A statement Is
made showing the recelptTTrom subscriptions to
the daily and to the weekly, from advertising, and
from the job deportment. A comparative state
ment is made, showing the increase of each of
these departments over the same mouth of the
preceding year.
The managing organization of the establishment
fa as follows:
E. P. HOWELL,
President and Editorin-Chlef.
W. A. HEMPHILL,
Business Manager.
HENRY W. GRADY,
Managing Editor.
S. P- T. FINCH,
Associate Editor.
CLARK HOWELL,
Night Editor.
JOS!AII A. CARTER,
City Editor.
W. J. CAMPBELL,
Manager Job Printing Department.
W. C. HENDERSON,
Foreman New* Room.
JOHN WHITTAKER,
foreman Press Rooms.
TITIS CONSTITUTION BUILDING, Hogan 1883, Finished 18'JI,
Painters and Finish rs -if. M MAUCN.
Architects—II. I. KIMBALL, L. B. WHEELER A
:o.
Superintendent of Brick Work—MR. GEORGE
JARKEIL
Superintendent of Wood Work—MR. JOHN
BISHOP.
Plumber*—IIUNNICUTT A BELL1NGRATH,
,1*. STEWART.
Steam lie*ting ami Fitting—nCffNICUTT A
,
Mmtrfcfaxi-MR. VANDERGRIFT.
Plasterers—GOMEZ A PINK.
Slaters—A. G GOODRICH.
* The llome of The Constitution.
When The Constitution first occupied the homo
from which It moved yesterday, it W« thought It
wns settled forever tnd a day. A building hn l
b:cn erected specially for it at a cost, Including
the ground, of $13,500, and no one then expected
that In about ten yorrs It would have outgrown
that building and two adjoining floor*, and have
been forced into a new hom* that cost moro than
five times as much.
The new Constitution building Is 60 fact by 110,
and is six stories high. It Is located ou tho corner
of Alabama and Forsyth streets, on a lot bought
bought from Mr. Hugh Innyui for $15,0001
and for which Mr. Inman offered$29,000 bcioro the
building had been fairly started. The lot was oc
cupied by two stout and coraaratlrcly new two-
story brick stores which were torn down to make
way for the new building. The designs of tho
building were furnished by Messrs. H. I. Kimball,
L. B. Wheeler A Co., and are rich and artistic In
tho smallest details.
The building Is built of the best river brick. Tho
front and sides nro of tho finest oil pressed brick,
granite and terra cotta. It Is finished throughout
with polished and oiled Georgia pine, aud the
effect is very handsome. Tho press rooms and tho
engine rooms are fire proof and crush proof, so
that if tho building were burned, or otherwise de
stroyed, they would remain Intact. Tho entire
building is practically fire proof, and as neither
lamps, g«s nor fires arc need In It, a match need
never be struck within Its walls.
The chief characteristic of tho building islta
massiveness. fiuch walls wero never before seen
In this city. As they were In couno of erection
frequent protests were mado against the waste of
brick and labor In giving them double tho width
of usual walls. "We are building them to stay
here for our children,” was tho reply of Mr. How
ell who hod charge of the work.
Tho materm. was tarnished
firms:
Brick-lb G. LOCKETT it CO.
Granite—STONE MOl STAIN GRAN I
FANY.
J.mulior—GATE CITY PLANING MILL ( " . *
Hr
h\i rTi (o 11 a -1 ’ F LLIGRl NTA CAST LK It E R K Y.
Iron Work—WILKINS, l*nsT A CO.
Shafting and Pullcys-E. VAN WINKLE A CO.
The ornamentation of tho bnlldlng Is In admir
able taste. Tho doorway is of huge grnnito blocks,
designed by Mr. L. B. Wheeler, and, It shows the
surprising degree to which Stono Mountain gran-
ito can bo carved and worked Into raarblo effects
Tho terra cotta panols nro of oxquistto design fro.n
original drawings by Mr. Wheeler, and worked
cut under his direction In Atlanta. Tho steps are
Of Pickens county marble. Thcso, with various
Oips end cornices of rough granite, make up the
outside decoration of the building.
The steam and t!ic xuotivo power for the building Is
fupplied by a double engine of forty houso power.
This supplies the steam 1 or tho elevator and for
the heating pipes, power for the electro dynamo,
nml for tho proves. It runs smoothly and noise-
lo-aly, and Is pronounced by experts the
finest piece of machinery in the eity. It is
made double, so that If ona side were to fall or
break the other would run the establishment un
til the disabled side could bo repaired. The boiler
a very large one, of tho latest pattern, is sltuatod
under the sidewalk, and Is encased in heavy ma
sonry.
The building Is lighted by electricity. Good
light is on essential iu a printing hou e. A light
that docs not heat, that Is steady and strong, that
emit* uo foul gas or odor, that ha* no flamo and
needs no match or taper to light with. Is a pcfcct
light for printers. All of this is tho electric light.
By careful inquiry it was found that tho United
States Electric Co., offered tho beat Incandescent
light. A* Tin: CoKSTiTUTion needed about 250 lights
it wss thought beet to buy an outfit and make its
own light. A dynamo with a capacity of 850 light*
was purchased and put up at a cost of $1,000.
About 250 light* are fitted up. Tho dynamo alts
by the cnglno and when light i*
needed the shafting of tho dynamo Is
put In motion. In less than a minute, the cur
rent Is started and the entire building sparklet
ou* 80x110 IgOt. SI*'Stories High,
>b, dinr* and tJu»i*—OG LETREE, ROBINSON
..(*£<• Lights—UNITED STATES ELECTRIC
'e* aud Bailees—RK INX ER, WOOD* GO.
•T. M. CLARK A CO., and MURK WON
•Lroflngnnd Guttering—Ht'NNlCUTi' A
UNORATH.
vlding it with comforts and luxury. You have
but to touch a bell aud a cushioned elevator waits
to carry you up or down faster than you could
walk. But turn a button and your room is flood
ed with a light that emits neither Jhcat nor odor.
Turn a screw and Instantly the room Is filled with
equable and gcntlo warmth. Press a knob and there
is a llmv of clear and cool water. Telegraph and
telephone operators within the building await
your orders. Situated ns tho building fs, on tho
highest point in tho city rave one, there Is Mo-
lightful view from the upper windows and con
stant breezes. From tho fourth, fifth and sixth
•torlca ono may see from the tower windows, Stono
Mountain, Konnetaw, and tho Blue Ridge. Alto
gether it Is a homo that I** an inspiration to tho
workers who Inhabit it, and It may be that In tho
columns of The Constitution, tho reader may
find something of the suggestions It brings aud
the ambitions it enkindles.
How Tire Constitution Folk* nro Located*
In taking a tour of The Constitution building,
it Is best to begin with tho bnsoitcut or first floor.
In the rear of the building Is the coal cellar, out-
shloof the main bufldingand connected with the
boiler room, also under the sidewalk. The boiler
room Is reached from the outsido by broad stone
step*. By narrow steps cut through tho wall, tho
cnglno room is reached. Hore Mr. Bowling Dun
can is in charge, with his assistant, Mr. Goorgo
Long, and a coal-heaver. Both nro excellent engi
neers, and ns proud of their machinery ns a boy is
of his awsctlicart. Tire cnglno room is kept as
clean as a parlor, and the engine fairly glistens
The engine room Is occupied also by tho electro-
dynamo machine, under charge of Mr. Vaudergrlft
and his assistant, Mr. Kcmptcr, and by a huge ma
chine for dampening the rollaof paper from which
Tiif. Constitution is printed, so that it will tako
ink readily and evenly.
From tho englnejoom tho main press room is
re ached through two heavy lrou doors that are fire
proof. Into this room the rear clevutor delivers
Its freight, and the great Hoe press occupies prac
tically the rest of tho space. Tho press Is under
charge of Mr. John Whittaker, for many years the
trusted aud efficient manager of The Constitu
tion’s presses. Ho was sent by The Constitution
to New York, whero ho studied the working of
perfecting presses for some time, that ho might bo
capable of handling this one. Ho saw it put up
piece by piece, and is os familiar with it rj tho
man who made It. Messrs. Montoto and Holt man,
two courteous experts, who superinteudod tho
erection of the press here, arc still in supervising
charge. Mr. Whittaker’s assistants nro Mossrs.
William J. Leak and Jeff Skinner,'who by yoars
of long service have attested their worth and re
liability.
Hqunrcly across from the press room toward the
front of the building Is tho maillng-rooiq. Hero
Mr. John Lively, who has been for twelve years In
chargo of The Constitution mailing dcioirtmciit,
presides. Tho papers are bundled Into him fresh
from tho press, and bo and his assistants address
i by machines. Ho Is assisted by Mr. 8am
room nml tho mailing room is
with a window which
about sixty feet long and
Between the pn
a little cuddy,
opens Into a r»»<
twclve/oet wide.
In this cuddy Mr. Jufnes Cortor, superinten
dent of tire carrier* and nowsbajrajjUkeH his place
while they ocrupy tho long fool* and receive
their papers 'frpm him. Tbelonf rtioiij will he'
heated, as is the rest of the building, otfc cold
morning, /or tho l*m.lU o( llio soung.toM, »ho ( - ,»i*cil with Hip, Cotmc^BovItU hl„rooo<«
first tone, and whoso record is made up iu Its re
markable success. Connected with this room
by folding doors is one that Is
its counterpart, and Is occupied by
Mr. E. P. Howell, the president of the company,
and editor in chief, whose sagacity Is unerring,
and whose judgment in politics, and in business,
is as infallible as the judgment of men over gets to
be, and whose work, as the head of The Constitu
tion company, has been a groat one, no Ion for
the company than for tho public at largo. These
rooms are large and cau be thrown Into one. They
thus furnish a central place for meetings of public
interest, and many an enterprise, having for its
object the building up of Atlanta, or of Georgia,
will have birth and encouragoment Iu them
rooms.
The Constitution docs not occupy any more of
this floor than tho rooms described. Back of Mr
Howell's room is the telegraph ofllco. To the left
of the office Is tho liall in which Is tho elevator-
room and the main stairway. Next to this Isa
(spacious store, which has boon leased to tho
Georgia marblo company for a term of five yoars.
1 ho entire second floor, consisting of rooms and
offices, either has been or will be rented. The
third floor is'occupied by tho railroad commission
and other tenants, Tub Constitution ntcdlng nono
of It. •
The front of tho fourth floor—tho fifth floor,
counting the basement—is occupied by tho edi
torial rooms. To the right of the elovator on this
floor Is a small ante-room, through
which visitors to the editorial rooms
aro admitted, occuyied by an office
l>oy. It opens through gloss doors into the library
which will le used as a general reception room,
and through another door Into the corner room
occupied by Mr. II. W. Grady, tho managing edi
tor. This is flanked on tho left by a room on suito
with Mr. Grady’s room, ami for
prlvato consultation. Tho managing
editor’s ** room Is connected with tho
library by foldliigdoors, and tho library Is occu
pied by Mr. Wallace P. Reed, ono of tbo brightest
of editorial writers, whose power of graceful and
comprehensive condensation Is something remark
able. Connected with the library from the other
side Is a large room with an alcove, that is oacuplod
by Mr. N. P. T. Finch, whose sterling good senso
olid large information has for many years contrib
uted so much to tho cdltorlnl pages of The Con
stitution, and by Mr. Joel Chandlor Harris, whoso
Inimitable special sketches for Tiie Constitution
that have carried it* name and bis over tbo
country, is but a small pari of tho rich and
sparkling work ho docs daily for tho paper. Thcso
rooms nro finished in Gco.gla pine, and will bo
when they aro fully furnished and equipped tho
most delightful editorial rooms to bo found any
where. Above tho dust aud nolao of the street,
and yet as accessible as If thoy wero ou tho first
floor, with charming pictures unfolding from each
window, and perpetual breezes playing through
them all, they make a pleasure of work, and far*
nfsli striking contrast to the stifling dens In which
tho editorial work of The Constitution ho* been
done for the pnst ten years.
Almost the whole front of tho sixth story I4 oc
cupied by tho night editorial forco of the paper.
Tbo comer room is occupied by the night editor,
Mr. Clark lluwufi, who bus eliar^u during tho
night uutJl It goes to press, „
and wbo v represents tho mau aging
editor in bis absence, and whn^y unusual uptltuda
•bd diforctloti, has shown fylmm'U • born journal •
Maud inspired tho confidents df albwho are
brighter thnn day. Tho lights aro enclosed in poor
shaped globules of glass or porcelain. A button
is turned and tlie light streams through thorn
Tho button is turned again and tho light Is oX
No match Is seeded, and there is not tho slightest
clinnco for a shock In handling any part of tho
wire* or globules. When lit by thcso shining
globes a room is literally as bright-as day.
The building Is heated by steam. There Is not
a fircplncu In tho building and no flup. Each room
and hull Is furnished with colls of stosm pipes
that give just what heat is needed by simply turn
ing a screw. Tho danger, the dlsdJmfort and tho
unsightliness of having kindling and cool in every
corner of tho building is thus avoided, and de
lightful heat for each room is-rcady at tho hand of
the occupant.
Connecting the six stories of the building are
two elevators and two spacious flights of stain.
The front stairway Is n liaudsomo flight with low
and broad steps and is made of Georgia pino>
The rear steps are not so broad and are onolosod.
Tbo elevator in tho front of tho building has tho
finest car over put up south of Washington, and is
made entirely, of mahogony and mirrors. It Is
made by Otis, and Is perfectly safe and makes the
six stories in six second*. The rear elevator Is
used principally for freight aud is very strong and
speedy.
Water is supplied to tach floor from two Im
mense tanks on tbo root of tbo building. These
arc supplied from a woll, tho water being forced to
tho tanks by a steam pump. It was noocssary to
devise the system of water supply as the city sup
ply could not be carried to tho upper storle* of
the building. An abundant supply of clear well
water Is assured by this plan, and every floor Is
supplied with closets, lavatories, and with bath
rooms where they are needod.
Fuch is the homo of The Constitution. It really
looks as if ingenuity had exhausted Itself in pro-
Tito front part of tho basement Is occuplei
tho Job printing department. In this room
several presses, including tho press on which
The Constitution bos been printed. They aro
now used for tho bookmaking and Job printing
business of tbo establishment. This business Is
under chargo of Mr. W. J. Campbell, who has been
for some years bookkeeper In tho gonorul business
department and Is a gentleman of excellent basi
net* tact and ability. III* superintendent is Mr.
Wyly Harris, and his pressman John
Cawley. Tlicro aro employed In this depart
ment nn average of a dozen men, Including
Messrs. Lowry, Wilson and Dclphy.
QThe burincr* ofllco of The Constitution Is
the first floor, and corners on two streets. It Is
fitted handsomely In Georgia pine polished very
highly and given an oil finish. Thera are sepa
rate windows for advertisements, subscriptions,
cashier, etc., and behind each I* an attentive and
courteous olerk. Mr. R. A. Hemphill is In charge
of this section, where ho hss been, with occasional
intermission, for about twelvo years. Universally
acquainted and universally popular, always cour
teous, It fs a pleasure to <lo business with him.
He is assisted by Mr. Charles Bllder. Tho city
collectors aro Messrs. J. T. Carter, who Is tlie right
band of Mr. Hemphill, and Mr. C. It. Howard, an
activo aud attractive young gentleman. Mr. C. T,
Logan has charge of city advertising, canvassing,
and docs his work gracefully well. Messrs. Ed and
Charles Johnson represent the pape* <n the rood,
and are tho best known and most popular pair of
travelers that leave tbeclty of Atlanta. Nest to tho
business ofllco is a small room, fitted up
Miugly for Mr. E<1 White, Jr., who has for years
been tho bookkeeper of The Constitution, and
whoso accuracy and fidelity havo become prover
bial. Back of this room, but cu suite with tbo
row of offices, is a handsomely finished room, oc
cupied by Mr. W. A. Hemphill, In whose trusted
mid capable bauds tlie business of Tiie Constitu
tion lias been confided almost slnco tho day of Its
j h (*11 tor, who In
for twelve years, an
tlon and ability,
his advance. C
has steadily risen in post-
and always Justlflod
1 each lido of
him aro tho telegraph operators, that feed out
dispatches to him ns fast n* ho can group thorn Into
shape. Next to his room Is that of Mr. Joslsh Gar
ter, tbo admirable city editor, who worked his way
from tho bottom with The Constitution, and who
though the youngest of eity editors perhaps, has
fairly won his spun and enjoys tho fullest confi
dence and esteem of the proprietors aud his asso
ciates. Ills room Is In telephonic connection with
the city. Occupying desks near him aro Mr. P. II.
lUchnrdson, tho brilliant Washington correspon
dent of The Constitution, who, between sessions
does special work and docs it specially woll. Mr.
8. W, hinnll, whose special bnslncssls wUh tho
courts, bntwho can do brilliantly and forcibly any
work connected with tho paper from original
poem* to market report*—Mr K. O-
liruffey, ubiquitous, popular, and capa.
ble, a regular night-hawk, whose adveuturcs In
news-hunting would fill a book—Mr.IUce, Mr.Mur-
phy.Mr. Logan and whateverotborspoeial orspoco
men Mr. Carter finds It necessary to press Into ser
vice. These rooms aro tho highest suito of rooms
inthodty and the editors and reporters who
dwell therein and who have looped tho lightning
to their eyrie sit tho night through, really sen
tinels In the watch tower.
Back of this suite of rooms (s tho composing
room, which is probably the finest In America. It
Is sixty feet across and clghty-fivo feet in length,
with light and air on threo sides. The celling Is
high and the ventilation Is psrfect. In the center
is the fereraan’s desk, occupied by M*. Walter G.
Henderson, who has been with The Constitution „
so long and so closely that {10 has become a part of
It. Tho printers’ cases aro i*trkcd about this con
fer. earh nan having plenty of room and air. To
the left la the proof reader’s roopi, occupied by
Major Henry Winter, Intelligent and capable, and
one of The Constitution’s standbys, and bis assis
tant, Mr. J. H. Rice. In tho
upper corner of tho room to tho
force of The Weekly Constitution,
consisting of Mr. T.C. Wilkinson, who has boon
with Tiie Constitution sine# Its Jlrst lusuo, Mr. L.
G. Moye, and Mr. rtili Green, tinder charge of Mr.
Claude F. Cochran, whose make-up of The Week
ly bespeaks his taste, skill and care. On this floor
arc doeeto, dressing rooms, lavatories, etc., for the
printers, and every convenience for the occupant*.
Tiie Conttitution to prouder of nothing than Its
printers. The roost of them havo been with It for
lhem fc j nc# | te flri | <1*7,. They
As
The Constitution's New Type Web- Perfecting Press. Capacity 15,000 twelve page papers per hour.
yeam-mony of them since Its first days. T1
nave stuck to It through thick and thin, and
many occasions have proved their devotion. —
n class they are sober, moral, and many of them—
the most of them, we may say-own their homes.
As for manuscript, they can eat It up (aster than
■ny fifty men In the country, and with le*s fuss.
We print the list of them In full, and can avouch
It os a list of tueu of whom we are proud, aud to
whom Tiie Constitution owes much of its fiuo
appearance.
Composing Ilooui.
W. c. Henderson, Foreman.
If. J. Htoue, Assistant.
Henry Winter, Proof reader.
J. If. itlee, COpy-holder.
W.VSfe,} AdrtrtUln, Dcputmmit.
J. B. Lively, Commercial.
Dan Green. Galley boy.
Walter Martin, Telegraph
coMruairoB*
J. A. Gorman,
J. M. Barron,
W. E. Jefferson,
If. It Durant.
If. ft. Kistruns,
8 8. l ovinpgeod,
• v • Dennis.
Louis Kaloshin,
If. L. Bara,
T. J. Farr.
Tom W. White,
II. M. Barron,
O. B. Mackey.
Henry galoiblp,
A. J. Brown,
K. W. Woodstde,
Joe J.J lobby,
A. M. Wler,
G. A. Knabe,
J. A. Cooper,
W. A. Hehell,
i iconic’ 1 f cm phries,
J. B. Lowndes,
TshnuKeUlchardv,
C. Rice.
A. B. Blnglcy,
C. F. Cochran,
T. G. Wilkinson,
L, O. Moye,
Ifow the Constitution Is Made.
There to much curiosity to know exactly hpn a
great newspaper to made. Tho history oia day
I INDISTINCT PSXNll
