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Another Institution Moved to the Country

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 30, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 35.

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Another Institution Moved to the Country

By W. D. Salisbury

The removal of the Echo Publishing Company's business and part of the plant from North Fitzroy to Warburton, Victoria, a country town of about three hundred inhabitants located forty-eight miles east of Melbourne, has now been accomplished. The reasons for making such moves have already been fully set forth in the REVIEW. The principle applies to all parts of the world.
We believe the Lord guided us to this place. It was the last place we visited in our search for a location, and we came here as a last resort, as other places visited were not clear to all members of the committee.
Warburton seemed so far from Melbourne, and was so little known, that we did not expect to find what we wanted.
We had been looking for water power so that the saving would pay the extra expense of freight incurred by being located in the country.
A VIEW AT WARBURTON. PRINTING PLANT IN THE FOREGROUND; RESIDENCES ON THE HILLSIDE
A VIEW AT WARBURTON. PRINTING PLANT IN THE FOREGROUND; RESIDENCES ON THE HILLSIDE
We found here what we were looking for, and after a very careful survey by the committee of all that entered into the question, we asked the union conference committee to meet with us, when several days were occupied in carefully considering every phase of the question of location, and a definite plan for raising the necessary money to purchase the land, erect a factory, and buy the machinery that would be needed. We also presented to them a plan of reorganization, which would ultimately transfer the shares of the Echo Publishing Company to a membership association. The union conference committee approved of the location, gave the enterprise its hearty support, and before its members separated, they raised among themselves one thousand dollars to start the donations. From that time on, a spirit of liberality was manifested among our people in every State of the commonwealth. Up to the present time $15,734 have been pledged, and most of it has been paid.
Work on the factory and water plant began the middle of October, 1905. We began the tedious job of moving about the first of March, 1906. The first number of The Signs of the Times was printed April 9, 1906. Gradually our bindery, foundry, and engraving departments were placed in working order, and since that time we have been working not only full time during the day, but nearly every night in the week. Our staff of workers comprises forty persons, all engaged on our denominational work, as we do no commercial printing whatever. We hope in a few months to get caught up with our work, so as to have stock in hand. At present it is taking us all our time to keep up with our orders.
Before closing this report we will mention a few facts about our factory and plant. The factory is located on a flat near the River Yarra. All departments are in one large room, eighty feet by eighty-eight feet. The book store-room is in front, with the general offices above, making the front portion of the building two stories. The partition between the offices and the factory is glass, enabling the manager and others to have a view of all parts of the factory. A 12½ K. W. dynamo gives light and heat to all parts of the building, also to the homes of the employees.
Our embosser, glue pots, and various heats required during the day in the bindery, foundry, and engraving departments, also radiators in the editorial room and small offices are electrically heated. This is a saving of expense and time. The factory itself and the large general office are heated by open fireplaces, as wood is obtained at the cost of cutting.
The machinery and dynamo are driven by a thirty-inch Pelton Wheel located in the factory. This water-wheel is capable of developing fifty-horsepower. The water is obtained from two small mountain creeks supplying sixty cubic feet a minute during the driest part of the year, and over one hundred cubic feet a minute in the winter, when light is required. The water is conducted through thirty-six hundred feet of nine-inch earthenware pipe into a reservoir holding fifty-five thousand gallons. This reservoir is located three hundred and twenty-four feet above the factory, and would require six hours to empty at the wheel if there was no water running in from the creeks. With the loss in friction we have three hundred and ten feet of effective head, which gives one hundred and forty pounds' pressure per square inch on the wheel. There are two thousand and ninety-four feet of spiral steel pipe between this reservoir and the factory. A governor regulates the speed of the wheel according to the power required. This gives a cheap, clean, effective power which will run twenty-four hours a day if necessary, without special care or expense.
The employees' houses are built along the line of the water pipe, and each house has water laid on and a good pressure. They also have the electric light.
As there is beautiful scenery around Warburton, it is quite a resort for tourists. During the past few months it has been visited by several university professors and that class of people. About all the tourists visit our office, and we have been able to interest men in our denominational work that it has been impossible to reach in the city. The very novelty of such a large institution located in the bush creates a desire to know something about our work. We hope to present the truth to many through this means.
W. D. SALISBURY, Manager.
Warburton, Victoria, Australia.