Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

64 Yearbook
afternoons for a period of two months, It was possible to
complete the painting and occupancy of the new factory by
convention time. This had been set as a goal so our brethren
coming to New York for the convention could see their new
factory dOing what they wanted it to do. Speaking on behalf
of the Bethel family of the United States branch, I can
thankfully say it certainly filled our hearts with joy to be
visited by 35,081 appreciative brethren the first three days
after the convention. Particularly interesting was the first
day as 28,142 swarmed through the factory. A sight to behold,
and a rare one indeed, as factory visitors standing from two
to eight abreast formed a waiting line 16 blocks long. At
[) : 00 p.m. of that day it almost seellled as if Jehovah had
performed a miracle as the last ones of the line had entered
the factory doors. Hence everyone of this great number
had shared in the mile-long trek through the factory, flanked
continually by humming production lines Singing Jehovah's
praise. It thrilled all the visitors to know that they were
part of it, and I am sure each one departed strengthened
for greater activity.
All eight floors of this factory tie in directly floor by
floor with the old section. This makes for unbroken, efficient
manufacturing. However, the new section of the factory is
one 11001' higher than the old. Hence the facilities of good
light, quietness and isolation from the manufacturing floors
that the ninth floor has are excellently employed for housing
the general office. It is from this office that field service
throughout the United States is directed. During the past
year the brethren working in this general office received and
handled 387,382 pieces of mail. In conjunction therewith,
they at the same time prepared and dispatched 261,565 pieces.
Holding first interest in the way of new equipment in the
new factory is the recently installed 46-ton high-speed rotary
printing press. This new press is especially constructed for
the printing of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. It
is capable of prodUCing 29,000 magazines per hour. What
thought does this cause to flash to your mind? Why, increased
magazine production and distribution. The past
year's production clearly indicates this definite trend. Notice
the astOUnding increase: There were 2,090,454 more copies
of The Watchtower and 2,321,565 more of A-wake! sent out
of the factory this year than during the previous year, an
increase of 4,412,019 magazines in one year, reaching a
grand total of 34,010,355 Watchtower and Awake! magazines
mailed out of the factory during the 1950 service year.
Surely now, equipped with a new magazine press, both magazines
standardized in size, a new spacious factory and a
devoted, ever-increasing, efficient field organization for dis-