DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING

The building is a substantial structure, 46 ft. in width by 76 ft. in length, four stories in height including the mansard, with basement and sub-basement. It is built of stone, the floors being supported by a central partition also of stone, and by heavy iron pillars. The first or main floor is built of iron and brick, so that the basement is thoroughly fire-proof. Broad stone steps lead to the double front entrance of this main floor. The right-hand entrance opens directly into the meeting-hall, which occupies one-half of this entire floor. This hall is plainly but neatly finished, is well lighted, and is capable of seating about four hundred. Underneath the pulpit is a reservoir, which furnishes a convenient baptistry.HSFM 48.2

The left-hand entrance opens directly to the main hall and stairway of the office portion of the building. The first door at the left opens into the counting room, or business office, just beyond which is a smaller private office. Immediately in the rear of these is a large room, twenty-one feet square, used as a folding and mailing room, which occupies the remainder of this floor. Ascending the stairway to the second floor, a door on the left opens into the main composing room, a room of the same size as the folding room and directly over it. This room has six large windows opening to the west and north, which furnish an abundance of light so necessary for a room devoted to this purpose. In front of the composing room is the editor’s room and library. This room is connected with the main corridor by a narrower one which separates the composing room from two small rooms used for translating and proof-reading.HSFM 48.3

Directly across the main hall from the composing room is a large room also used for composing and job work. The remaining portion of this floor is occupied at present with a suite of family rooms; but these are constructed in such a manner that when the increase of the work demands it they can easily be transformed into larger rooms for this purpose.HSFM 48.4

The next floor and the mansard are devoted entirely to apartments for the families that furnish homes for those engaged in the work. The attic, a large room well lighted by a central observatory, is used as a store room for publications. Descending from the attic by the hydraulic elevator, which is operated by the regular pressure of the city water works, we return to the basement, the elevator reaching its landing in the midst of the press room. One-half of the entire basement is occupied by this room, which is lighted by nine large windows, opening on the south, west, and north. Here are a large Wharfdale stop-cylinder press, a Peerless job press, a large power paper-cutter, and an improved wire stitching machine. The bindery, which at present occupies a part of this room, is furnished with standing press, perforator, board cutter, job backer, and all necessary tools. This room is connected with the main corridor of the first floor by a stairway, and has large doors opening directly into the rear yard. The remaining portion of the basement, that directly underneath the meeting-hall, is divided into three apartments by transverse heavy stone walls. The room next to the street is occupied by a fully equipped stereotype foundry. The apartment in the rear, connecting directly with the press room, is used as a store room for paper, while the middle apartment is divided into small cellars for the use of the families that occupy the building.HSFM 48.5

From the press room we descend into the sub-basement. Here are the two gas motors which furnish the power for driving the machinery. One of these motors is of two-horse power, the other of double this strength; and they are so arranged that both can be used at the same time if required. All the shafting for the transmission of this power, lies under the ceiling of this room, thus avoiding much dust and noise in the working room. In this sub-basement is also located the large furnace which heats the entire building by means of hot water circulating through pipes and coils in the various rooms. The smoke pipe from this furnace communicates heat to a large shaft located in the center of the building, thus furnishing a good central ventilation for each story.HSFM 49.1

All the working rooms are connected by electric bells and acoustic tubes, thus furnishing convenient means for communication.HSFM 49.2

The building is admirably situated, fronting to the south on Weiherweg, and to the west on Rudolfstrasse. Across Weiherweg to the south is a large government park, or parade ground. The publishing house is entirely disconnected from any other building, and occupies only about one-third of the lot on which it is situated. The entire cost of the building, including machinery, was more than $30,000, and it is in every way well adapted to the work for which it was designed.HSFM 49.3