Chicago tribune. [volume], August 21, 1864, Image 2

About Chicago tribune. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1864-1872

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Cl)icaflP tribune.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1854.
“THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE"
New Eight Cylinder Printing
Press.
1847 AND 1804*
A. DEXBOSPECIITB SUKVCV
THE TRIBUNE OF TO-DAY.
The development and progress of a city
IV *ta monetary, mercantile, commercial!
manufacturing, educational, moral and reli
gious features, Is pretty certainly and accu
rately measured by the character of Its local
journalism. Tho advancement and Improve
ment of a town and Its,newspapers are frilly
oaro to be In psrallel lines, and neither will
much outstrip or lag behind the other. This
Is the standard by which outsiders generally
determine the character of a town. They are
pretty sure to be an Index and a reflex of
each other.
What this city was when the Issue of tho
first number of the Chicago Dait-t Turn one
challenged tho consideration and patronage
ofllscltlzcrs, thcmoulderlngand decaying
process of set entcen years has sc.reefy driven
from their recollection. In people It scarcely
numbered sixteen thousand,whlje in materi
al .development It snowed nothing likela
sympathctiC'forcc. Today the footings' of
its.vltrl strength would yield atleastlTS.OOO,
while Its monetary and commercial weight
shows a power a way beyond its vital force*
and -c might add that Its present cdu’
cations!, moral- and religions advance
falls cot behind its monetary and
commercial struggle. Seventeen yean ago'
a comparative email, In-tht-woods. totra,
with no distlnctivejeatnre to mark it above
its follows; 10-dsy It stands acknowledged
pra-emineat ca -the. great grain, pork, b:ef
and lumber market ol the world, and we
might add, Mae, railroad centre. The suc
cessive. and" rapid steps by which It hta
reached tils pre-eminence, la hnt a history
ot the rise and progress of the Cmoaoo
DaziiT TTunurre, Launched on the tide of
experiment on the 10th of July, 1847, with
Tees than fMr hundred subscribers, it now
numbers hundreds, where at that time it
conntcdlnnita, and. with a relative material
progress In every other respect eqnaL
The accrselon to our establishment, which
inaugurates its labors this morning, of one
of K.M. Hoe's latest Improved eight-cylin-.
oer printing machines.seems an appropriate
period lor a retrospective glance at the his
tory of the Chicago Tbibdbe. And In.do
ing so. It would be a false modesty on one
part, which we are not willing to'asanme, to
attempt to coccesl the pride and aatlafactlon
we fed in tho prosperity of .which this Im
provement Is a logical and visible token.
Blowing one’s own horn Is an amiable weak
ness, miless It happens to disturb the equa
nimity sad sweet repose of gne’a neighbors,
and in sur case we are quite sure none can
be disturbed nr offended, for at least one of
their number has practiced the same weak
naw within a brief period.
The Chicago Daily Tribune—by ibat
mme—commenced existence, in the third
htory of a btnldioir. on the corner of Like
Lasalle streets—a single room answer
h»s the.triple pnrporo ot coantlng-room.
editorial room r and printing office,—on
Thursday, June. 10, 1847. Its originators
were James Kelly, now & eucceaefnl leather
dealer at 243 Lake street; John E. Wheel-
RR, now proprietor of the Dial at Kewanee
Henry, county; and Jo. K. C Forrest, at
present ’Washington correspondent of the
Cnioaoo Tribune, the latter giving his at.
tenUon more particularly to commercial
matters, Which. In large type,- filled' about
one-quarter of a column of each issue. The
dimensions of tho Tribune were 23 b? SO
inches, sctln brerier type, advertisements
in mtnioo.
To Mr. KELLr belongs the credit of oriel
turfing, or at least suggesting the publica
tion. Be was the owner of the Can of the
Baltic, a weekly literary Jdnraol, which he
bade short time antecedent purchased of
Mr.' Thomas a. Stewaut— afterwards and
for several years, holding a proprietary and
editorial interest In the Tbibobe. His Idea
was to start a dally, from which he could
make up the weekly Can, regarding the for
mer as In a measure secondary to the latter
In point of public Interest, and as a finan
cial measure. Here was much consultation
and discussion upon the feasibility ot the
project; probable receipts and expenses
Were closely estimated; tue slzeol the city,
(then comparatively a village,) and the fret
that there were lien two slsklydalllea, striv
ing to cam tbelr bread, were not without
their Inflatm-e against the project Still
another, end tho heaviest drawback was the
fact that the ; arlies possessed little or no
capital. But amid all the discouragements
the projectors determihed to go ahead In
fluenced to acettnin degras by the Idea that
they might gi.ln something, while It was evi
dent that they bad not much to lose. So
much being fixed, tho next matter in conrae
was a name for the new dinmid. Manywere
suggested. Mr. Foebest proposed the name
of TnmuiiE, and It wna.at once accepted by
tho other partners. Mr. Wheeibb, like ma
ny other of onr Western editors and news
paper men, was a graduate from the office of
the New York Tribune, end,-of conrae, that
fact influenced him In favor of that name
As we have already stated, tha first edition
of the Baii-t Tuibiikb ever issued numbered
fourhundrfd.copleo. It was “worked off”
on a Washington hand press, one of the pro
prietors being tho pressman. In politics It
■was Independent, with atrong Free-Soft sym
pathies.
The editor's salntatoiy Bays: ” Our views
In-aU probability, will sometimes be colucl
dont with the conservatives; sometimes wo
may bo found In tbe ranks of the radicals
batabaUat all Umca bofiUtuful to humanity
whpleof humanity—without regard
to race, eectlonil divisions. party lines, or
parallels of latitude or longitude.*’ Tho
motto under the editorial was:
•“Menor uionshtil Iw up and stilting,
“Nichlanddsy; '
Sow the seed—withdraw the curtain •
;. „ , Clear .the waj, *
■lenof action I aid and cheer them
AajemDy.”
The start was made not without many mis
givings, acd the discouragements seem to
Increase, aa time progressed. Mr. Kelly
was almost immediately Incapacitated fir
bbor or business, by a serious affection of
the eyes, and he. was thus forced to with
draw from tbe concern on the 3Uh of July
just fourteen d.ya after ho had commenced
aa enterprise in which he felt a deep Inter
est Thomas A. Stewart, who a few weeks
before had sold to Mr. Kelly tho Gem of Gut
Prairies, .succeeded that gentleman, and ho
remained In that connection for about s-ven
years.
_ On tbe 27th of September* folio wine*, Mr.
.Fonnssr severed his connection, Messrs
WnnKLCB and Stewabt remaining proprle
tore, tho former gentleman being recognized
• aarlis editor. ; Alibis point a crisis in tho
• history of the. Tamos* was - reached;
-Rnun -wot quite 5 sure : it
could not be sustained;' beuce his
" withdrawal. Messrs. Wheblsb Btbw
am had their doubts; but finally concluded
to continue It lor a few weeks longer, under
. tho Influence, of a Mlcawber-like hope that
- “something mlehtturn up” to “clear the
wvy ” It is woxthj of remembrance, that
while toe proprietors were greatly embar
rassed by the want of means to meet their
daily expemes, the public, and even the more
particular frt* nds o! too proprietors, labored
under the delusive Impression that they were
Toinlog money.
EAILnOADS.
The day the TnincNE was started, there
was not a mile of rail-ay within the radius
rf one hundred miles of Chicago. Tho near
rat track was at Kalamazoo, then the west
ern Urmlnus ol the Michigan Central,whence
Chicago waa reached by stage and steamers
conntcUtg w,th that road. At the .ttmethat
corporation had hardly seriously discussed
tho feasibility of continuing their road to
this city. New Bnflalo was surely regarded
as the western terminus; the Idea then con
trolling the Judgment of railroadmen, and
nearly all olnere, that It would be the height
of absurdity, and sure to end in dnanclal
ruin, for railroads to attempt to compete
wltli atram boats on a route where the latter
conld find navigable streams lor their ope
rations. At that time the corporation of the
Caltna and Chicago Union Railroad possess
ed a charter, arid It was doing its utmost In
urging upon the people subscriptions to the
cayttrl Stock. Mr. William B. OonErr,
as now, was then President of the
corporation, and hla labors in en
.doavpting to achieve eneccsa were heren
«ShoiuM I*™ oo * l lm
- to the people, an d appML>
through the press. In the Utter, tho Tar
•tun was orade Urn chumel. ri thU c “.
-occUonwemnat relate a scene whicho-.
• ourecdln tto TAnnmn office, and which to
• thU day la: strongly .impressed npon our
vnetnory, not.UhaUndlng the myatmcations
-cf time. It w<a on the 4thof dngnst, 1817.
The boohs for an ascriptions to the capital
•t«* of the O A C, 0. R. R. were to be
opened on the IDih lost., at various potnta
on the line of the* contemplated road. Mr,
Ogouk came into Ihr Taranwa office, In com-
P“J with atrtral Mend*, for the pntpose of
making an appeal through IU columns to tho
people Interested to'come forward and aid
tho work. Be eat down to the editor’s pine
table and commenced hti work. After
writing two or three pages, he arose and read
them to his friends, and quite a large crowd
who bod gathered In the office. At the com*
plctlon of the reading, the manuscript was
passed to tho compositors to bo put In type.
Mr. Ooden then sat down, and produced
three more psges, with which he went
through the same process, and thus ho con*
tinned to do until the article, about one col
umn and a half In length, was completed
Wo cannot resist the temptation to give a
few af the more prominent points which Mr.
OnusK enforced In that article:
Ona or two shillings or more p>r bushel
would he added to the price of cr-.ry bnsM
of wheat raised hr the farmers on the route
and other produg ts wenld he affected Ic like
proportion. The facilities. thus afforded
would, as a consequence, double the value of
every farm on the route of the road ”
‘‘The meat Increase of wealth and popula’,
tlon along too route, ao certain to result
from the construction of the rood, rddlng so
greatly to the social advantages of tho poo
pie and country through which and near
which It would pass, and the Increased com
fort and relief from fatigue, exposure and
fS C ?f°# ,beh,s * b l° to trlvcl In « com
fortahlehovered car, from the, F6x, Bock or
Mississippi Kivers to Chicago, in two to four
or six hours. In all weathers. Instead of oc
cupying several days through deep mud, as
a now often necessary, ape considerations
not to be forgotten by tho public In deter
mining them In their conclusions as to the
amount to be subscribed for.”
The more active participators in the efforts
topnt through the road ner6 Wmmu B
OODEB, Wil-TEK L KewBEBBT, J. XoDJfO
Soamhob, Chajiles WarKßs. TnOMAsDrEB,
Jobsß.Tuesee.oi thlecity; TbomasDbuh.
hobs, (dow Judge Dbohhobd, of thia city)
of Galena; Tbomas.J. Tdbbeb. of Freeport.
<Sc. The estimated coat of the road was
*2,641000, or $14,553 per mile, single tract
with bridges fora double track. Theincome
of the road, for the Drat year, was eethnatod
aa follows;
90HXAOB TBOSTBH WMT.
30*000 tons lead and copper
Wheat, flour, &c M 2,000,000 bn.,
Com, oats, bariey, potatoes, Ac.
Fork and beef. S.UOO tona,
Cfceete, lard, batter, Ac.
Wool, hides, Ac..,
Mtonftctnna. Ac.
Wood, coal. As.
Other articles.
TOSXAQE mi THE EAST.
C,OCO,OCO feet lumber tl2.nflo
salt, “-SoS
Pas» eager*.
IklaUs, arc..
Total Income... 891000
This was the first Introduction ofthe rail
foad system Into Chicago. How it has
spread, and what it has done'for Chicago, is
known to all.
On the 21st ol August, eleven days after.
The Tbibuxb published a congratulatory
article, also, if we recollect aright, written
by Mr. Ogden, stating that the corporation
had met with o success beyond their antici
pations, In the amount of subscriptions
which had been received to the capital stock.
OOMPtIMEST
On the 23d of August, a beantifnl topsail
schooner of! 80 toes, was launched from the
shipyard of Captsin Allen, and she was
christened •• Tninran.” She was owned by
G. F. Foster, J. N. Davidson, Q. M. Hlggin
son and CapL Reed, her commander. This
wa« Intended as a complimentary tribute to
the character of the Tamos®.
_ SfnaOHAKt’S BXCHANOE.
On the Ctb of September, the enbject of a
Merchants’ Exchange or Boird of Trade was
first discussed In the TEmmns, the writer
believing that the business of the city would
Justify the formation ot such an organization
or Institution.
» AS INIIDFST
At the period of which we ere writing, one,
:nd a prominent einree of intelligence from
the outside world, was St.Louis. Tho most
attractive field of nows was Mexico, as the.
war with that dlatnrbcd and unhappy conn
try was then in full blast. The latest Intel
ligence from that field of operations almost
invariably came up the Mississippi- to St.
Louis, and thence np the Illinois river toLa
salle, and thence to Chicago by stage the
lllinoio and Michigan Canal not having yet
been completed. As bearing a alsnlllcant
relation to the above frets, an incident has
been related tons by an'old citizen which
wUI certainly bo regarded by ell
who .know the parties as charac
teristic If not true. It transpired
about the time of the first appearance of the
CnicAGO TnmouE. Annum Doron and
Joror WnxxwonTii, jnblfrhed rival dally
papers Chicago Derraxrat and Chicago Com
rao-riol Aaocrtimr. These: rival editors die
played what was regarded then, as remarka
ble spirit and activity In their humble way
in obtaining the latest intelligence from the
war, which was always Immediately given to
the readers an exirot, A gentleman' who
came np from St Loots one day, by river
and stage, brought with him e paper from
that city, containing late and im'oortant
news from the seat ot war. This gentleman
waa the friend of Mr. Doicn, and determin
ed to make him tho exclusive recipient of
the ness. His house, however, was not In
tho direction of Mr. Boron's office, and ho
handed the SL Lonia paper to a friend, who
waa to pass that way, to give into Mr.
Boron’s hand. This friend had no personal
acquaintance with the rival editors. At the
hotel he met Mr. Westwoeth and the latter
saspectlng he was a passenger from SL
Louis, asked Ranch waa not the fret, and if
ho had a late SL Louis paper. The gentle
man responded that he waa from that city
and had a late paper; and then asked him if
bo was Mr. Enron. Tho Colonel “omelt a
mice,” and replied that he wga that.same
man. The valuable newspaper was handed
him, and an extra Democrat soon made-its
appearance, which sold like hot cakes.
OEM or THE PRATKIE.
From the commencement of the Daily
Thieune, the Gan of the Prairie was made
up from it, and was recognized as the weekly
iesue. It was then printed In folio form,
same as the Daily Turn cue, but on the 11th
of December, it “ made up” In quarto shape
and so continued until the Weekly Tbibuke
took Its place, of which more hereafter.
BIG PUHCHABE OP WHEAT.
The Daily Tmedwe, of Friday" morning,
September 34, records the purchase of f.v:
thousand and three hundred bushels of wheat
winter and spring, on tho Wednesday pre
vious, by the house of Raymond, Ginns &
Co, and characterizes It as the largest pur
pose ever made by a single house In one day
in Chicago. Tho price ranged from CO to 76
cents. Most of it was shipped the some dav
for the Eist - . 1
house bacikg.
Oa the Bth of October, an advertisement
was sent to tho Tamms, with the money
to pay for It enclosed, giving notice of a
borec race to take place, on a wager. The
editor acknowledges the receipt of the
money, and advertisement, but returns them
to the sender, saying that “ horse raclog on
the whole, Is a bad business—that It neither
almost and accomplishes any good cod
while the evils which attend it are great and
manifest,” " " ®
raOQBEss.
January 1,1848, tho editor* of the Tnrnmni
congratulated their friends that although tho
Turnout, a little over six months previous
had been commenced mainly with a capital
of Industry and Hope-" with occasional
misgivings as to the result, and an abiding
sense of the disproportion between our owa
capacities and the Immense and never-end
ing work before ns, and althongh the battle
had hnt jnst began, we have achieved such
a measure of success as to keep ns In work
ing condition.’’
TOST TBLUO&APB.
The first magnetic telegraph 11ns estah
llahed in Chicago waa the Erie and Michigan.
It commenced working between Chicago
and Milwaukee on the 17lh of January, 1848.
The followlrg Is the first dispatch sent orcr
the line. It came from Milwaukee:
“Hr. Cbaueu Bends hla cordial greeting to
hie brethren ot the press of Chicago, and
hopes that aa Mitwankea and Chicago are
united in the same chain, tho press may never
forget that the cities of the Northwret Ire
one in destiny, and should be one In feel
ing.M
On the same day, the following dispatches
passed between the two cities:
“Mllwauhoc..wUh her 14,000 inhabitant*
sends greeting to her fair sister of Chicago’
with her 17,000, and requests her to clear the
track to allow her to pass.”
- To this Chicago Immediately replied:
; “Chicago, with her 17,000 Inhabitants, win
soon have her railroad track east to the At
lantic, and west to the Mississippi, dear, so
that the 14,000 citizens of their sister city
can have evor possible facility fbr pasting.*’
- On the 4th ol February, the above line was
extended to Michigan City. On that occa
sion thefonbwlugdispaiches passed between
Milwaukee and the former place:
“The old Milwaukeaus send you their
compliments, and hope -Michigan City and*
Milwaukee may hereafter be as close to -
getter as lightning and steam can make
than.**
• Michigan City to Mllwaukee-May her
thonaands of trick" enable her to distance
an competition with her slater cities of the
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCHES.
The first telegraphic dispatch to the Tnt
buxb, from the East, came on the 22d of
March, 1848, and contained the announce
ment ol thc BcTOlutlon In France, hr which
Lonls Philip was dethroned. 1
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES.
On the 14th day of Angnst, 1818. the Tni
nosn hoisted the names of Martin Van
Bnren and Charles Francis Adams as candi
dates for President and Vico President, In
opposition to Gen. Zachary Taylor aod Mil
lard Fillmore as the Whig candidates, and
Lewis Cass and tVm. O. Eutlcr, the Demo
emtio-candidates. The Van Bnren ticket
stood upon th platform of “Free Soil, Free
Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men."
SEW PABTSBBSmP,
Aupnat 28,1848, John L. Scripp?, quo ol
the present proprietors of the Chicago Trj.
btxe, purchased a third interest In tbo con
cern, and the firm was changed to 'Wheeler
Stewart & Seiipps. *
* TELEGRAPHIC ESTBRTBISD«
December, Otjr, 1848, tbo proprietors of
ten Tkidose announce that they have made
n.o'n, “ r ™"P :mcnt » with the agents of
O Reilly’s telegraph lino as will enable us to
fonrlrh the proceedings of Congress, and
other news of Importance, to onr cltlzccs
daily,” and the hour ot publication of tho
Tbibcke, was changed to 11 o’clock a. m.
WEEKLY TRIBUKE.-
Dp Febrnary Ist, 1849, a weekly edition
had been made np from the darlylsaao under
the name of Otm of Urjit niric. At this
period a new weekly extra was commenced
under the title of Weekly Tbibcke, and has
been continued under that title to this day,
with an indefinite life before It
LABOBS7 CIBCULATIOJf,
Friday, May 14th, the advertising of
(he List of Letters was awarded to the Dailt
TamcKe as having the largest-circulation.
•In fact, there was no competition.. When
we state that the circulation of the Tbiuome
then was less than one thoueand , some idea
may be termed of the clrcolatloo of the three
other daily papers then published here. The
list of letters was .published bnt once a
month, and were required by law to have
three successive teseryons. The month's
llat at that time numbered about one third'
the present weekly .llat, and embraced all
the “drop letter®.**
T-V r/ y A DISASTER,
May lauftlSiD, the office of the Daily
Tbibuxe waa entirely destroyed by fire.
Through the kindness of their brethren of
the pitas of this city, they were enabled to
resume on Thursday, the 14tb, the location
of the office being temporarily over the
grocery store of J, H, Gray, north-east cor
ner of Clark and Randolph streets. The fire
was supposed to be the work of incendiaries
“political Incendiaries,“the editors thought
There waa an ieanrance ofs3,looontheofflce,
which “amply covered the loss.” In con- •
nection with this disaster, it may not bo out
of place to state that the bookselling firm of
Gilggs, Bross & Co. presented the editors of
the Tbibuxe with a new copy of Webster's
qnsrto Dictionary io take the place of the
one lost The Dictionary still occupies a
place of honor on the table, some
what dilapidated, bnt good for many
more years* service. We need hardly add
tbattheßeoss named in the above firm, is
William Bross who now is and has been
for the post twelve years “one of ns.** * I
.$35,000
.100.000
. 10,000
. 6,000
. 9,000
.8,000
. 4,000
. 4,000
. 8,000
166,000
$47,000
.450.000
:. 60,000
ASOTHF.It ItFMOVAF,
Above we stated that the Tbibcxe, alter
the tiro, was removed to the northeast corner
of Clark and Randolph streets, as a tempo
raty expedient. On the 4th of June follow-'
Ing, It removed to the northwest comer ol
Lake and Clark streets, where now stands
Uie build Ing occupied by the Second National
Bank, and various offices, etc., above
NEW TTTE.
On the 15th July following Its destruction
by Are, the Tninom: appeared in entlrely
new type, obtained through RobbetFemurs,
from New York, and presented a very taste
ful sppearance, especially when compared
with the very shabby habiliments in which
It paid Ite diurnal visits to itapatrona from
the time of Its disaster np to this time. The
editors then began to see their way more
clearly, and considered themselves In the
pathway which lid to the broadway of
success.
Tins PACIFIC HAILE OAD.
Thco, as now the Tbibune took the lead
la advocating, inaugurating, fostering and
pushing forward all now enterprises looking
to the advancement and prosperity of the
Qictt Northwest. Daring the months of
September and October, articles In favor of
the great Pacific Railroad were published In
its columns. During the time named a con*
ventlon In favor of the measure was called
anc held at Bt. Louis. Meetings were held
in this city in favor ol the measure, In which
onr leading citizens took an active part.
Rev. Mr. Adam wrote a pamphlet in favor
of tho measure, which was esteemed very
strong, and copies of It were circulated by
subscription raised from citizens.
Asornna removal.
May, 1850, the Tribune office was again
removed to 173 Lake street. Masonic Build
»g, 2d floor, ike old quarters becoming too
circumscribed for its uses.
ENLARGED.
June 1, 1850, the Dailt Tribune was en
larged by the addition of another column to
each page, and the lengthening of the col
umns to correspond. Its dimensions after
the enlargement were 26 by 40. The editors
in announcing the enlargement say: “ This
change we have been compelled to adopt to
accommodate the rapid increase ol our ad
vertising patronage, and to enable us to give
more space to news, commercial matters,
andthevarioussubjects of general concern.
TVc deem it proper, to say, that for pecu
niary reasons alone, the Tribune has, so far,
fallen much short of what we regard as the
ideal ol a newspaper In this age of unexam
pled progreas. Meantime we shall, as here
tofore, labor faithfully to that end-"
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
About the 20th of June, 1860, theTnmtnm
commenced publishing a list of hotel arrlv
als. The names of several of the principal
hotels at that time will sound strangely to a
large majority of our citizens. First In im
portance, forming an opinion from tho num
ber of its guests, was the City Hotel, then as
now, a popular resort. Next foUows the
New York House, Mansion House, American
Temperance House, Baltic House, Merchants
Exchange Hotel, eke. The modern Sherman
the Tremont, Briggs, Richmond, and Adams
were then merely chaotic stone, brlok and
rrortar. Even the architect of cither had
not commenced his labors.
CUJOCLATION,
On the 21st of August, 184!>, a little over
14 months after it was started, tho proprie
tors placed under Its editorial head Us aggre
gate circulation— doily and weekly editions
—etc,7oS. This figure was obtained by mul
tiplying the dally Issue by six, and adding
thereto the circulation of the weekly ) and
on the occasion published a congratulatory
article, In which the editors Slated that
’’notwithstanding tho commencement ol the
TimiUNi: is of a more recent date than any of
ils cotcmporeries with which it was in com
petion, our circulation now surpasses them
all." Tho editors lutther say that they arc
determined to make It In evrey sense worthy
of tho city of Chidgo and the great North
west. For a year nothing was said In its
columns in regard to tho circulation, but on
the 21at of July, 1860, the publication was
resumed, and continued until Oct. 1851 aa
follows, daily; *
.ISCO-July SI .1,150 IBsl—Jane 2 ,I MI
isoi-SS SSf
_ May 21 ijtlß “■ 1 J ' Boo
what was then considered a rapid in
crease of the circulation of the Tstaras
of conrse excited the envy and Jealousy of
its cotemporaries. John Wentworth, of the
DaCyDtn.ocrcl, disputed the truth of the
number circulated, and an angry di-pate
arose between the two papers. Finally Mr.
Brosa, tow of the TnmtraE, hnt at that time
of the firm of Wight* Bross, proprietors of
the Pulrit Herald, who owned and ran the
power press (of the Adams pattern) on which
t *L c J , T “ lßrac printed, cortihed, la an
affidavit, to the tra:h ot the claim.'
SBATZt or OEJf. TaTLOR.
About the middle of July, in isso the
.death of President Taj lor occurred! A
meeting was called In thl* city, -i 0 express
the sympathy and condolence of the people
fbr the nation's loss. At that meeting a
resolution waa passed, requesting Abbahau
Liaoour, who was then in Chicago in at
tendance upon tbeSupreme Court, to deliver
an eulogy upon the deceased patriot and
statesman. The request was compiled with,
and the eulogy waa delivered by Mr. Lincoln
in the presence of a large ■ and deeply Inter
ested audience The Tbxbukb commended
the eulogy in high terms. Tbls event has
nothing to do with the history of the Tun*,
us*; but it is a reminiscence which will in
terest our readers at this day. v
JIBST AKOTAL REVIEW.
: The first annual Btvlcw of the Trade and
; Commerce of Chicago appeared In the Dailt
Tnnmsn of December 87,1850, The three
great aonrees and avennre of the commerce
of Chicago at that time, wore the lake, the •
Illinois and Mlchtgnn canal, and tho Galena
and Chicago Union Railroad the western tar
tnlnna then bring Elgin. During that year
tie receipts and Shipments ofgraln footed
upaslollows:
Shipments.
• 872,841
551,314 jMMt
. si3B
• 70.W IQO.BH
'Wheat, ha.
Cora, ** .
Barter, .
Oalr, «
Floor. bN*.
THE EIOHT-CTXIR'DEB HOE PRESS,
To-day tfceabovc transactions would hardly
be coraldered a fair week’s business.
Mr, wheeled nsrinns.
On the Ist day ol July, 1651, Mr. John E.
TVhcdcr, who was one of its originators,
withdrew from the TnmcsE, ranch to the
regret of bis associates, having disposed of
his interest to Mr. Thomas J. Waite, who as
sumed the business management of the con
cern, Messrs. Scripps and Stewart remaining
as editors.
OT. SCRIPPS RETIRES.
From the retirement of Mr. Wheeler, as
related above, until the Jane following-, no
change occnrred in the management of the
TmntraE. On that day Mr. John L. Scrlppa
'“!<* his interest to a number of the leading
Whigs of the city, who acted In behalf of
General William Duance Wilson, now a well
Inown and respected citizen ot lowa. Mr.
•Stewart toot the position of local and com
mercial editor, thess two departments, at
that time scarcely affording sufficient labor
for one man. To-day it takes nine per
sons to till the two positions. Gen
eral Wilson became the political editor.
Up to this time the TnminiE had never in
any way been committed to the policy of the
Whig party, but had been, on the contrary
a recognized organ of the Fnzu Soil organi
zation, as their principles were enunciated
in the 11 Buffalo Platform,” upon which Van
Bnren and Adams were nominated for FreaL
dent and Tice President. Gen. Wilson being
a Whig, the Tbibuke under ids management
sustained the policy of that party; and it
immediately hoisted the names of Gen. Win
field Scott for President and William A. Gra
ham of North. Carolina top Vice President.
Mr. Waite continued as publisher of the
TntnoKE, and the firm was stilcd Waite
<ScCo.
KEWTTPE AKD ESLAROEMEST.
On the occasion of a change In the editorial
.department, as mentioned in the paragraph
above, the Tbibukb was enlarged to the di
mensions of 38 by 44. It also appeared on
new and beautiful type, Brevier and Agate—
from the foundry of John 8. White, of New
York. The Tbibcne at that time was uni
versally acknowledged to bo the handsomest
paper in the West, The experiment of Issu
ing a sheet ot that else, and with the lirge
amount of matter*at that time, when Chi
cago bad just risen to the dignity of a city
of 20,000 inhabitants, was regarded by all as
on extremely hazardous one.
CHANCE op noun.
On the 20th of July, 1853, the hour of pub
lication of the Tribune was changed from
afternoon to morning. The price was raised
from to 15 cents a week. *A small after
noon issue took the place of the rcgularafter
neon edition.
DEATH OP MR. WAITE,
August 2Cth, 1852, Mr. Thouab Waits.
ono of the proprietors of tho Tribune, mao.
In charge of the publishing and business de
partment, died, of cholera, agcd22 years. His
death was sudden aud unanticipated
His health had been somewhat impaired, and
he was about starting on a journey east to
recuperate it, when he was suddenly stricken
down, more immediately influenced by a
long walk to his home, in a broiling sun, the
dny preceding his death. Hr. Waite was
highly esteemed by his associates and all who
knew him.
TDK LATEST SEWS.
On tbe Oth of October, 1803, the Tbiboke
published a leading editorial, and re pnb
llshcd it dally for some time, which said that
“ without making any especial fnsa about it,
we have thus far been enabled to present
onr readers tbe latest news of the day, both
foreign and domestic, aa early as any ot our
city cotcmporarlcs, and sometimes twentv
four home in advance of them. Finding that
one line of telegraph could nSt bo relied
upon all for iu the sews received in this
way, the Tbujcse waa the first press In the
city to EMTLOT asotheb use, and although
It Involves considerable additional expense
we do not regret it so long as onr readers
appreciate It. as we have the best evidence
that they do.** Tbe editors announce that
they have suffered much for the lack ofprlnt
ing press facilities, bnt that they have se
cured the control of a power press until
their new one arrives from the East.
ANOTHER CHANGE.
Alter the death of Mr. Waite, nntU Octo
ber 20th following, his name remained at Us
htad as publisher of the Tbiddse. At that
date Mr. Uexkt Fowleb purchSsed the in
terra t held by Mr. Waite’s belts, and as
sumed the position of publisher and assoel
ate editor with Gen. Wilsos.
AGAINST VILD’CIT BANKS
Eatly in January, 1853, tho Turnons com
menced n crnsadn against the wild-cat enr
nncy, which was then largely c | r nlaiej i„
this city and
by Geohob Smith & Co. The war wa s a
eavage and acrimonious one. The Cbnuiuv
riel Advertiser, published by AnrnED Duron
came to the rescue ol the owners of the
wild-cats, and charged the Tiuboke with
being bought up by certain bankers who
were not In the “cat” business. A letter
was sent by the publishers of the TnimZ.
to the Adviser denying the cnargo lu cm.
phatlc terms. The latter published the In .
ter, but reiterated tho charge. The iLnt.
was a libel suit against JTr. Derail. ™ U
A BURGLAR—ri!
On Wednesday night, January 12 lgss
some person entered the press-room and
knocked one of the Turnrsu forms into nl
From the warm controycrey going on be"
tween the Tnincss aud the wlld-cat bank
ers, the Inference was a logical one that the
outrage was the work of the opposite nar
ties in the controyersy, ‘
™ offered by the proprietors of
the Xnir.mtK for the diecorcry of me per »c
tralor. The reward offered failing to bring
detection, a number of the most respectable
tdliiens Joined in sending the proprietors of
the Tunmsu one hundred dollars to be of.
fered as an additibnal reward. In this letter
to the publishers, they say, •• We feel that
any attempt to intimidate the conductors of
a free press, or to hinder or preyent the pub
lication of a newspaper which is pnraning
an honorable and manly course, ahonld be
promptly met and defeated by all good citl-
Ecus, and none the less promptly because the
attempt la made through the underhanded
menus of an aasanlt npon tho ‘unoffending
type-’” The letter la signed by Edwin if
Lamed, Edward L Tinkhsm, H G. Loomis,’
A. 8. Sherman. Speer & Cooptr, Edwin
Hunt, Iscac N. Arnold, John H. Klnne, a.
N. Fullerton, T, W. Wadsworth, B. W Ray
mond, Gordon 8. Hubbard, Joseph F. Rycr
son, John P. Chapin, J. B Doggdt,W.H,
Brown, J. H. Dnnhsm, Williams * Ay'ery
E. B. McCngg. C. L. Harmon. These names
embraced mebers of both political parties.
In Hie cerlj part of 1663 the pnWiehtni
commenced the IsenoolaTrl wteily edition
cf the Tbibume. It was of the seme size »e
the dally. It has been continued until this
hour, atd has to-day a larger circulation
thui all three editions ot the Tatuum when
it was started.
OKK. WILSOK RETIRES.
Gen. Wilson retired Irocn his connection
with the Tribute on the 23d of March 1853
He disposed ot his Interest to Henry Fowler
& Co. . The means for the purchase of that
Interest were eopplled by Timothy
"Wright, Esq., now residing la this
city, and General (then Captain)
J. D.'Webster, cow chlel of staff to Qta!
W. T.,Sherman, and these two gentlemen
became silent partners In the ownership of
the establishment. The names of Henrr
Fowler and T. A. Stewart were taken flora
the editorial heads of the paper aad none
other substituted.
• ah episode—a cbaixebqs.
Daring the autumn of 1858, the Pope’s
Nuncio, Bcndlai, visited this country In a
sort of eccleiiutlcal semi-official aznhassa-
dorhl character. In company with Blahop
Hughes, he tonred throngh the Northwest
via the lakes. Capt. Bigelow, of the U. 8.
steamer Michigan, ir filed them to take
a pleasure trip In his steamer, thus, as the
Tribune laid, '• leaving the commercial ma
rine of the lake without that assistance
which the steamer was intended to afford.”
In consequence of the strictures upon Capt.
Bigelow's conduct in the Tbiudsb, thatgen
tlemau became very wroth, and finally dls.
patched his Lieutenant (Cros.man) with a
challenge to the editor (Mr. Stewart).' to
meet him In deadly strUe, or in the lan
guage of the codcihitSa, “to demand such
satisfaction aa was recognised by
gentleman of honor," "that he was ready
to fight as we might prescribe, and that If
wo desired to evade such an issue, by plead
ing the Illegality of It, he was ready to pro
ceed to any other State, or Canada, at any
time; that should we refuse to settle the
affair In that manner, he would attack us in
the etreet, or elsewhere, and Inflict such
punishment as he deemed our offense de
terred.” The editor replied to Lieutenant
Grossman, that ” the proposition to shoot
Captain Bigelow, or to be shot by him, ac
cordlcg to the rules governing gentlemen,
waa modestly and respectfully declined ”'
and that ho " could adopt the alternative of
attacking us on the street, or elsewhere if
he desired to do so; that wo would neither
seek to meet nor avoid him; and that we
had never been whipped, and never expected
to be.” The editor gave the captains se
vere skinning, and then dropped him and
that was the end of it.
MB, FOWLER BETIRB3.
Mr. Fowler had only been nominally con
nected with the Tnimran for more than a
year previous to July 13, 1854, hia health
preventing his attendance.upon the duties
of his position. On that day hla name was
taken from the head of the paper as publish
er, and T. A. Stewart’s substituted therefor
and the firm was styled “T. A. Stewart*
Co., Publishers.”
ASSOCIATE PRESS DISPATCHES.
On the 2d of November, 1854, an arrange,
ment was entered into by the press of this
city with the Associate Press of the East,
ern cities, under which arrangement all the
telegraphic dispatches whlchappeared In tho
papers of the Eastern dries, would appear
the same morning In our city papers, and
thus the Associate Press system of dis
patches were inaugurated In this city, and
has been maintained np to this time.
nrriiAßOEn.
January!, 1855, the then broal dimensions
of the Daily Tribdhe were extended by
adding a column to each page and lengthen
ing the columns. The dimensions of the
sheet when enlarged were 81 by 50 Inches
being equal In size to the lament
,of the groat motr^,” 1
mo enlargement became necessary
In order that Justice might be done both to
advertisers and readers. In making this im
provement, the editor gives a brief retrospec.
tlve history of the enterprise: “The Tribune
was projected In April, 1847, and the pros
pectus was written and printed by the
present senior proprietor and editor, who
.was at that time publisher and editor of the
1 Gem the Prairie,” a weekly paper nnh
llshed in this city. The first number ofthe
TnmcxEwes issued Jane 10, 1847, and met
with great favor. It was Independent and
outspoken on all political subjects, especial
ly against Intemperance, Slavery and Land
Monopoly, and waa Intended to meet tho
wants of a large portion of the citizens of
the place, whose opinions on th- se subjects
were well defined. It continued to oc-npy
that position until June, 1852, when tho pro
prietorshlp was changed, the paper greatly
enlarged, and it became a supporter of the
election cf Gen. Scott The conservative
and negative tone which It assumed, la
its new position, on nU subjects exeen'
such as related directly to party, was cvt-‘
dently not satisfactory to the public for a
very large portion of its readers became
alienated, and the subscription list was al
most entirely changed within the year. In
July, 1853, tho publisher and proprietor was
compelled to leave the city on account of ill
health, brought upon him by the Inordinate
labor, mental and physical, which he was
compelled to perform The paper then passed
to the present proprietors, and at once as
sumed a more positive character. Within
three months, its subscription list had great
ly changed, having lost several hundred sa
loon and Catholic subscribers, and obtained
a greater number of a more desirable char
acter. Experience, however, proved that
while It la much easier to lessen than to in
crease the number of readers and supporters
of a paper, tho public will properly appreci
ate and sustain a journal that is Independent
In tone, and bold as an advocate of liberty
and a conservator of public morality.....
Since the change, now leas than eighteen
months, the circulation of tho Tribune has
Increased over twelve hundred copies, and
ts entire circulation, dally, is now- two
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTT-TWO
copies, and increasing more rapidly than at
any other time since It waa established ”
FIRST TRAIN FROM CAIRO.
On Tuesday, January D, 1835, the first train
of cars from Cairo, via Illinois Central and
Chicap) and Aurora (?) Railroads, reached
this cily. The time consumed in the trip was
tweet)-one and a halt hours. Capt. C Cald
well was the conductor.
testimonial,
The Tribune, irom the start, was an ad
▼ocito of Temperance, no less so to-d*y than
at any previous hour of Its hlstorr. On tho
of February. 1855, several temperance
organizations In this city met and passed
rttoiutioHß endorsing the course of the Tri
mkf. as an earnest supporter of their cause.
''e give the following as a specimen of the
resolutions. Jt was passed unanimously by
the Garden City Division, No. 422, Sons of
Temperance:
*«***. That the coble stand taken upon the
??. D and a prohibitory Uw.br
u>c Chicago Txubdnx. Is such aa meets ihe beartr
“Srwwand warmest sympathy of the members
w ims xhrielon, and the routltmanca ot ajearies?
of the right* will command oar united so*
probation and soppotu ' r
KBW FIRM.
On the 18th of Jnne, 1855. Mr. Tihotht
WRioar.who had been a silent partner In
the proprietorship ol the Tribune. assumed
» penerul partnership; and Mr, Joseph Me
srx. of Cleveland, Ohio, also purchased an
interest In the establishment. The arm be
cemo Weight. Med ill A Co. iln Mrptt.t,
Is still one ot the Tribune Company.
reduction nr SIZE.
A change in the proprietorship of the Tri
bune seemed to afford an excellent oppor
tunity to curtail the mammoth proportions
which had been pat upon It without a Jndi
clocs regard to the necessities of the esse.
Ote column on each page was. consequently,
Kven on Its reduced propor
tions—SO by 46—It was considerably larger
than the present size of the Tribune.
HR. STEWART RETIRES.
Mr, T. A- Stewart, who had been a pro
prietor of the Tribune from the start, eDld
bis Interest on the Slst of July, 1655. to his
associates, and retired. In his farewell Mr.
S. sajs: “The admonitions of a physical
constitution which is almost broken down by
tho long and almost unceasing labors which
have necessarily been imposed upon it, leave
bo alternative but to sever the connection.
In rural pursuits, beyond and above tee life
of responsibility and excitement which the
conductor of a permanent public Journal
| anst assume, I hope to regain, to some ex*
i tentat least, health and strength." Bat Mr.
i Stewart’s hopes Were never bnt parti Uly
{ realized. He rank to his final rest a little
' less than three years after he penned the clos
| leg sentence. Mr. Stewart’s former asso
| elates In parting with him said: (> We part
1 from onr friend with regret For many years
he has stood np and done battle for what he
i oat and right with a fearless and
vigorous pen. He has bowed t« no man In
efflee, and been swayed by no man ont of of
fice, ncr baa be beaitated to oppeae any
power, however backed, which seemed to
him to threaten a right hone influence, or
damage the cause of Freedom. Hia plnme
* O3 waved ever in the thickest oi the tight,
and bo haa measured distance with the bold
est and strongest of the opposition.
rmw Trim anb a sew mass.
During the summer of 1855, the apparel of
the TnincsE presented quite a “ seedy” ap
pearance, much to the annoyance of the pub
lishers. On the 21th of September it donned
a new and beantifnl dress, from the foundry
of J. Connor & Eon, NewTork, eleetrotyped
with copper, by the now famous Kewton
company, being the first “copper taced”
type ever used in this city, or the State of
Illinois. A new fast Hoe press (single cylin
der) was also introduced, run with steam
power. The TnmnXE had been worired on
a Northrop press, which is a sort ot stepping
stone between a hand, press and a cylinder
press. The proprietors in their congratula
tion say: “Wc have the pleasure of Inform
ing the numerous friends and readers of the
Tribune, that its present' income is highly,
satisfactory; that its circulation is rapidly
increasing; that its advertising was never so
arge as during the last quarter. The num
ber of dallies now issued and sold is rlein”
3.000; tri-weeklies 500, end weeklies l,50o!
In conclusion, the publishers.tender their
sincere thanks to the public,” &c.
new editors.
On the same day that the Tribune appeared
Id new type, as printed above, Dr. C. H. Hat
and J, C. Vaughan, were announced under
the edltoilal head as editors. Dr. Rat had
really been the controlling editor of the pa*
per since the March previous, but no public
announcement had been made of the fact un*
til this time.
CONGRATULATIONS,
On Thursday morning, June 13,1850, com
menced the 10th volume or year of the Tnm
usn. On tbat occasion the publishers Issued
a card of coogiatniation, in which they stat
ed that the paper was never before in so
flourishing a condition. During the past
year, the driiy circulation increased over 30
per cent, and was then gaining at the rate of
lOOperweek. The Tni-WEEKLr had increas
ed 55 per cent, and the Weekly more re.™
300 per cent. The financial basis was pro
nounced in a healthy condition.
CHANGE OF FIKM.
On the 201h of Auguat, 1850, a change ia
the firm name of the Tbiboke took place
from Weight, Medill & Co., to tbat of
Vaughan, Rat & Medill. The change
affirm involved no change of proprietors,
although the names of Vaughan and Ray had
never before been published to the world as
occupying that poaltton. The same parties
continued In the firm, but It became necea
aary, In order to comply with the require
ments of the law of “special prrtnerahlpa "
under which the firm was arranged. Messrs.
Wright and Webster had been sllcat part
ners in the Teibcse for several years, hVt
hao not been active and working partners
Since the oth day of June, 1855, VanghanC
Bay, and Medill had been conductors of the
establishment, in ita editorial and business
departments. Mr. Alfred Cowles, at present
one of the proprietors, and Secretary of the
Tribune Cohfant, and who had had charge
of tin: finances of the office from the com
ircncementof Ray, Medill, and Vnnghan’a
connection with the office, was at the same
time taken Into the firm. The followin'-
gentie-men then constltntcd the proprietors;
Timothy Wright, J. D. Webster, Charles H.
Ray, Joseph Medill, John C. Vaughan and
Alfred Cowlee. The finances of the Tbi
iiune, it was ennonneed, were in a prosper
ous condition, and its income satisfactory to
the proprietors.
ME. VAUCHAS COES OUT,
.On theSCthof Mar.h, 1557, Mr. John C.
Vaughan, who had been connected with the
Tribune for nearly two yeara, withdrew, in
a bri« f card, in which he states tbat he goes’
into pursuits “promising to be more ad
vantageous in a pecuniary way.” The title
of the firm then became, Ray, MediU & Co.,
and from that time no change in the name of
the firm took place until July 1, 1858, when
the Tribune and Democratic Press were
con.olidated. Sometime between the dates
tamed above. Messrs. Ray, Medill «fc Cowles
purchased the Interests of Timothy Wright
and J. D. Webster, and at the date of the
consolidation were exclusive proprietors of
the Tribune.
ELEVENTH VOLUME.
At the commencement of the Eleventh
volume, June 10,1857, the proprietors stated
tbat the Daily circulation was 4,000; the
Tri weekly 800, and the Weekly 8 000.
Th.' editors say that the “Tribune is an in
stitution—a power in the land. Whatever
nay be the progress of Chicago and the
West, it Is bonod to keep ‘neck and
girth ’ with their movement ” Has not this
promise been laitfcfnlly fulfilled ?
CUT DOWN.
Everybody recollects the financial disasters
of the autumn of 1857. It affected ne «vspa
pers as well as merchants, bankers, &c.
Acting upon the theory of a judicious econ
omy, on the 10th ol November the dimen
sions of the Tribune were reduced one col
umn on each page—lt, in Us curtailed pro
portions, representing 20 by 39 inches—not
by *ny means a small sheet From the fact
of its great activity, rapid progress and Im
mense business, no city suffered more se
verely from the disasters than Chicago, and
scarcely a firm of any importance escaped
embarrassments.
From this time until the consolidation,
which took place on the Ist of July, 1853, no
event of Importance, affecting the position
or character ol the Tribune, occurred.
Having brought the History op the Chica
go Tribune op to tbat point, we must now
go back a few years and give a briel history
of the
DEMOCRATIC PRESS.
The Democratic Press waa introduced to
the public for Its support on Thurso ij, Sep
tember 16,1853, under the editorial and pro
prietory control of Jons L. Scßirrs and
Wn.rjAv Dross. The Press announced
itself a straight supporter of the Democratic
party and Its policy, and flew at Its head the
names of Frahkum Pierce and Wiixiam R.
Kiso for President and Vice President ; Joei,
A. Mattesoe and Gusta-tos Kobrkek for
QOTcrnor and Lieutenant Governor. The
editors In their salutatory, say: “It la our
intention to make it a reliable advocate of
Democratic measures, and a firm supporter
of the Democratic party—regarding the lat
ter as the only Instrumentality Ihronrh
■which the lormtr msy bo condncled tn a tri
umphs! Issue. We shall appeal to men's un
derstanding rather than their preju
dices, and all - times labor to
to accomplish our ends through
fair and honorable means—neither distort
ing truth on the one hand, nor concealing it
on the other" • » * » “It Is ohr In
tention to make the Democratic Press em
phatically a weirs paper." Its dimensions
were 24 by S4 Inches, printed on beerier and
agate. The office was located at 45 Clark '
street. We -win here state that few changes'
took place in the management and conduct :
of the Fret during its distance. Its history I
will therefore be briefl
HALF TEAUnr QBEBTIHO. j
Just six mouths after the inauguration of
the Democratic Press, U*rch 16, 1863 It
was enlarged, by the addition of a column
to each page, and a corresponding Increase
In the length of the columns, “to meet the
constantly Increasing demand which is beta*
nade upon the advertising columns of our
paper.** The editors say: “Six mouths ago
to-day we launched oar little venture upon
the open sea of experiment We did so
with the confident expf elation of success,
because we believed that In establishing an
other paper in Chicago, wc were but meet*
ing one of the wants of the city and the
Northwest *? * * The result has been
before the public. Instant In season and out of
season, we haye labored for six months with
a devotion never exhibited save by those
whose hands and minds move in conjunction
with the best impulses of the heart Our
hearts have been in onr work, therefore our
work, though - arduous, has seemed light. I
But notwithstanding we entered upon the
enterprise with somnch confidence, oursuc*
cess has far transcended our expectations.
The Democratic Press now stands side by
side with the most prosperous papers of the
city. Its subscription .and advertising lists
have nothing to fear from a close comparison
with those of Its most flourishiog cotem*
porary.”
SECOND VOLUME.
September 16,1854, the Democratic Press
entered upon the second year ol Its exist*
ence. The editors soy; “At no time since
the establishment of the Press has the sub.
scription lists of both our daily and weekly
editions Increased, eo rapidly os at present,
and at no time has the pressure been sogreat
upon our advertising columns.”
POLITICAL.
During the session of Congress, which
commenced in December, 1833, the famous
Nebraska bill was introdneed by Judge
Douglas. Until this time the Pnnss bad not
deviated In Its allegiance to the Democratic
party. Bat it did not hesitate to come oat
boldly and nncqnlvocally la opposition to
that latnons measure, and soon became en
tirely estranged from its author and all who
sustained him, and ever after maintained that
position.
PRESS ENLARGED.
March 27,1851, one and a half years after
its commencement, the Paess was enlarged,
tor the third time, its new dimensions being
28 by 44 inches—the present size of the Daily
Tunics e. In their notice of the enlarge
ment, the proprietors say: “Chicago is
growing with a rapidity unparalleled ty
Amerlcan cities, and wo desire to keep pace
with its growth in every respect If indus
try, a liberal expenditure of money, and
-such abilities as it has pleased God to endow
us with, can make onp paper a fair exponent
of the material and mutual interests of our
city, it shall be done.” At the same time of
the enlargement, a Tm- Weekly edition was
commenced, in connection with the Daily
The size was the same as the Daily, and was
afforded at $4 per annum.
rnooßEss of westbuk jobekalism.
On the 24th of August. 1854, the Demo
cratic Fuess published a long article on the
” PUOOBESS.OF WzsTEBK JounSALISU.” We
have space for only a few of the facts em
bodied in that article. At the date named
I there were published In Illinois: Dailies 20-
Tri* weeklies, 7; Weeklies. 121 ; Semi-month’
lies, lj Monthlies, 4; Bi monthlies, I—total
. . The total number published In the Mis
eipelppl valley was estimated at 1,000 The I
Democuatic Press wsb established Septcra.
her 18, 1852, It commenced with a list of
something over ono hundred subscribers to I
the Dally edition, and about two hundred
and fifty to the Weekly. At the date indi
cated above, two years Irom its commence
ment. the Daily Press had s circulation of
tgOol; and the Weekly edition 4,039. The
local force employed on the paper at that
time was: Editorial Staff, 4; Trav
eling and Local Correspondents, 5-
with 40 others, in the various positions of
foreman, compositors, pressmen, caniers.
derksj &e. The pas bills for the rear footed
ThE expenses per'day were
and per annum ■
-3,,,5032. The white paper used on the
Press cost 829.43 per day, $170.53 per week -
and $0,192.10 per year. These ficta we give 1
hero, and may introduce when we get far- 1
ther into this history by way of comuarieoD. "
KEW FIRM. * ' 1
On Monday, September, 1834, Baetox m
Speabs purchased an Interest iu the Dejio
cbatic Pum*, and the style of the Arm was
changed loTcnipps, Baoas & Speap-s, Mn.
Speahs’s labors being more particularly
connected with the operating or mechanical
department of the paper.
NEW DKE33.
The habiliments, of theDnuocn trie Pap=3
along the fleet of Ajirii, IB6f, bore somewhat
a shabby and rnstty appearance Therefore
on the 12th ol April it appeared in
new and beautiful garments—Minion
and Agate—from ' the Type Foundry
of White & Co., New York. The edit,
ore, on the occasion, say; “It is well
with the Democratic Frees, * * *
The business of our establishment has more
than doubled within the last twelve m inths.
* * ’ Our books show the business ot th
establishment for the first three months of
the year to be only a fraction short of S3O
€OO, or at the rate of $30,000 per year.”
railboao, comup.iici.vl v.vd MAXorACToa
-IXO STATISTICS.
DnriDg the early part of the year 1835
the Puess, as it had doeo every previous
year of its existence, published several ex
haustive articles, embodying the commercial
menu!; during aud railroad statistics of
Chicago. On the occasion of the presenta
tion of the latter, on the 16th day of Febru
ary, the proprietors of the Punas gave a
brief review of their own operations, from
the commencement of their enterprise. They
tay: *• The Duuocuatic Puess was first Is
sued on the 10th day of September, 185°
Commencing with comparatively a small
outlay of capital, and without a sin
gle came upon our subscription Ust
the Puess has steadily gone for
ward, surmounting every obstacle
and our general business is increasing every
day. • * • Wo have now in use 11 power
presses, combining all the latest Improye
menta, Including one of Hoc’s Double Cyl
inder machines. » • » At the present
time wo have sixty-five men employed in the
diflerent departments of the establishment,
and cur current business Is at the rate of
about SIOO,OOO per annum.
SEW PUESS AND A SEW PUESS.
Influenced by the somewhat shabby ap
parel In which the Puess appeared before its
patrrns, on the Bth of May, 1857, it appeared
in an entirely new dress. The type was ob
tained from the Chicago Foundry, and
was m no way inferior in beauty of face, and
quality of metal, to'any ever purchased from
the Atlantic Metropolis. The editors said:
“This rapid growth and prosperity of Cbl-
cogo and tbe Northwest ore both reflected in
the success ot tbe Deuocuattc Pubes estab-
lishment, and we are determined that noth
ing shall he wanting on our part to make a
proper return for a neoeroua patronage."”
VOLUjIE VI.
On Wedneedsy, September 16, 1357, the
Vlth volume oi the Pnaas, was commeuced.
On that occasion, the editors published an
article reporting prepress The looting np
of (he boohs showed that the entire basinets
ol the office, for the post ye.tr, amounted to
$111,508.16, on Increase over the previous
jear of &7,109 23 At that time the concern
hud]opo«erpr t sbcsrmmin£. The editorial
force consisted of six persois, and every
thing else In proportion Toe editors say In
conclusion: -‘The results of our labors for
the past live years have more than realized
our most sanguine expectations.”
reduced nr size.
The terrible financial disasters which
swept over our country during the autumn
cf 1857, were no less severe upon the dally
journals than upon merchants, bankers and
every other class of the community. Tield-
Irg to a necessity as Imperative with the
first »s the other classes of sufferers, the
Pbbps, oo the Cth day of November, 1837
curtailed its mammoth proportions by lop
ping off one column from each page with a
corresponding reducUonlnthe length of the
columns. This reduction In no manner cir
cumscxlbed the news columns, but only the
advertising, the diminution of which seemed
a necessity of tho times*
From this date nothing of historic Inter*
cat occurred In the condition, character or
standing of the Democratic Press, 'until
the Ist day of July, 1358, when It was con
eolldatcd with the Chicago Tribune. The
history of the consolidation we shall now
proceed to give, briefly, bringing it up to
the hour of the present idsue.
THE CONSOLIDATION.
CHICAGO PRESS AND TRIBUNE.
At the date mentioned in the preceding
sentence, there were published In this city
lour daily papers, which, although at the
time of starting, were controlled by varied
political sentiments, though the chaotic
and purifying iofigeucee of the times, had,
in that respect, become almost entirely Men
ileal. True, personal differences, engender
ed by competition, la a business point of
view, bad kept up an apparent antagonism,
which freqnenily.fotlLd expression In bitter
words through the columns of each journal.
The financial and commercial disasters
which opened their blighting influence upon
the business world, in the antnmn of 1557,
was not, without thilr subduing iofiuences
upon the proud-llppcd and stiff necked jour
nalists, who, in the more prosperous diys,
each considered himself abundantly able to
paddle his own canoe. Two of the unre
uppish and influential ones, started original
ly with little or no capital, had Improved
their condition but slightly up to this hour,
save in the fret of having accumulated ex
tensive establishments, which bad been paid
for in port, and in part not. Those accumu
lations at the time they were made seemed
necessary tg keep pace with the great pro
gress wltfchhad blessed Chicago, but now
they were a draw-back upon them, as It re
quired the best efforts of judicious care, in
the troublous times which then were upon
us, *to carry them to a success- ■
fnl result. As we have before intimated, ap
proaching the first of July, a truce was
sounded between the proprietors of the Chi
cago Tribune and the Democratic Press
which resulted In the consolidation on the
day named. The parties to the consolid*.
lion, and who became proprietors of tire
Press and Tribune, were Charles H. Rat
Joseph MEDiLLatd Alfred Cowles, on tho
part of the Tbibims, and John L. Scripps,
William Brobb and Barton \y. Speaks on
the part of the Pbess, and the combined firm
took the atyle ot the Press and Tribune
Cohpant. The Tribune was removed to 45
Clark street, the building occupied by the
Press. The reasons, as set £forth in the
Tribune for the consolidation, were
given at some length, from which we cull a
few extracts:
44 There aie too many Republican papers
in Chicago. Four large dailies In the Eng
lish language, and one in the German * *
have literally glutted the newspaper mar
ket. It is not unjust to our city contempo
raries to say that among these, the Tribune
and the Press have held no second rank. In
point of circulation they arc abont equal
To a certain extent they have been rivals
and though both have liberally sustained
their respective proprietors, by three years
triel, have become convinced that neither
can ontdo the other; and ,that so long as
they both live, neither can take that rank in
the world of journalism which the import
ance of oar cit} and the Northwest., and Its
own merits, will justify the new paper—the
Press ant> Tribune —m assuming. To pnt
on end to the expensive rivalry which has
heretofore In cn kept up; to lay the founds
tlons deep and strong of a public journal
which will become one of the established
Institutions ofCMcago; to enable ns to com
bat more powerfully, nn-l. we trust, more
successfully, public abuses; to give ns a
wider influence in public affairs, in behalf of
sound morality auda just Government, we
have become parties to the arrangement an
nounced above. We trust our readers will
be satisfied with the change ”
And in the Hist consolidated issue, on the
day following, the editors say: ll lt
is scarcely necessary to sav anything
to the former readers of the Press or
the Tribune, as to. the political course
of the consolidated paper. The steady, zeal
ous and consistent support which these jour
nals have given to the great cardinal doc
trines of the Republican patty, Is a sufficient
earnest for the future.”
The Press and Tribune was enlarged
over the size of the previous issues by the
addition of one column to each page, and
by considerably lengthening tho columns.
The consolidation embraced the idea of a
morning and evening edition, and both were
ior a time Issued, but the impossibility of ob
talnirg telegraphic dispatches for our evo
ning edition, owing to the monopoly whicn
u rival establishment exercised over them
, sod which it refo'ed to yield, tho enterprise
was finally relinquished, although It was fl
very decided success from the start.:
AN ASSIGNMENT,
An important era In tho history of tho
Pbess and Trirenr occurred on the J3th d ty
of November, 1858. Wo need not partlcui ir-
Izo tho canses which led to tho event which
we are abont to refer to briefly. Wo will
only ear that they are to he foand io the
financial and commercial disasters, which
commencing in the antnmn of 1857, after the
exhaustion of over a tor, hsd experienced
scarcely a perceptible abatement. At tho
date mentioned (Novembers, ISSS) the pro.
priefors fonod then-selves oppressed bv ma
. tnred pecuniary obligations, wnich, although
at the time the estab'ishment had never
been eo prosperous before, thev fonni It im
peesiblc to meet. Trey felt that if time was
given them every doliar of their obll-allona
■would be paid. They therefore called a
meeting of their creditors, exposed to them
the exact condition of their liabilities and
aseetts, nod proposed to them that if an ex
tension of three years was granted, they
would pay dollar fur dollar, with ten per
cent interest. After consultation, this prop
osition was most generously acceded to by
the creditors, althonehat that time there was
an almost unparalleled scarcity of money
Influenced by the fanic which then over
spread tie land. Mr. Spears at this time
disposed of his interest to the other partners
and retired The amount of indebtedness of
the establishment was found to be a little
upward of $65,000, while the firm possessed
visible aeeets, in the shape of type presses
accounts, &c., which would considerably
overtop their indebtedness, but which, if dis
posed at public sale, would at that rj mQ have
hten literally sacrificed, flon. Van H Hig
gins was chosen assignee of the establish
ment. Jnst twenty-one mon.hs from the
date on which the assignment was made
every dollar owed by the Press and Tribune
Company, with ten per cent interest, had
been paid, and the bill books—receivable and
payable—kicked out of the office, never It
Is to he booed, acsin to have an abiding plach
In the establishment. Not only this but
during the period named, every article’por
chased lor the use of the establishment, every
man’s salary, and every other item of run
ning eipcnecs, were promptly ptld; and
further, during the same period, the office
was removed from 45 Clark street to its
present location, at an expense of marly
fi,CCO, and new type for the Peess asd
Taicran, obtained at a still further expe-se
of SS,OOO. And tons when the Presidemul
campaign of ISCO had been fairly inaugurated
the Teibuke Compast found themselves
freed from every pecuniary obligation, ready
to labor in behalf of Honest A bra Vim Lin
coin, for the elevated position which he
now holds.
“ Chicago TntucTnt ,f *
On the 25th of October, 1860, the Panes
AJ,D Tbibdke, on the occasion of appearing
in a new dress, dropped a portion of its idle.
and tbercalter took the name of Chioaoo
Tnnjurm. This design bad been entertained
from the consolidation, and the donblename
was only maintained to tola time, in order to
get its patrons thoroughly to understand that
the two names simply indicated one Journal
In this connection we consider onnelvea
bound to virdicate the truth of history. The
lorn is very general—almost universal—that
the first Journal ever Issued in the United
States or in the Old World elther-under
the name ot Tribche, was onr New York
namesake—by Horace Greeley. This is a
mistake The honor of oririnattag that name
b . a lro ß to , Chlca S°- Hon. E. G. Ryan, now
of Milwaukee established a journal nnder
that name In this city about the year ISi?
It was not long-lived; Out it waf tt c
newspaper ever known under that title The
Iprii 5^“""* ™ Eot atar,ed ' “**>
INCORPORATED.
During the e>sslon of the Legislature, in
the winter of 1861, the Trimuss Comjmnj-
ZTofSmlSt*# ,hat bod - wlth * “Pl
tsl of $200,000. The then proprietors—John
L-Bcrlpps, Wm.Bross, Charles H. Ray, Joseph
Medfllan 4 Alfred Co wles, to sh eh was ad
aed william H. Ran-?, became tbe st ckholJ
€re. The company was organized by tbe
election of John L. Scmrrs as President,
and Alfred Cowles as secretary. With the
exception of Dr. Bay, all bfar tbe same rela
tion now. Within a short period, several
employees of tbe establishment have become
email stockholders in the comp ny, by pur
chase. The officers of th-? company for ISGI
are; President— John L' Soripps; Vice-
President— William Bhoss; Secretary and
Treasurer— Alfred Cowles; Editorial Su
perintendent—Joseph Med ill; Mechanical
Superintendent— William H. Ra>d.
A TOUR CYLINDERPRESS.
During the early days of the year 1851,
from tbe rapidly Increasing circulation of the
Tbibdke, which had thru reached ova’’ 20 000
dally—lt became painfull? apparent that the
capacity ot the ‘‘doable cylinder 1 ’ press,
which we were then using, was entirely in
adequate to the task Imposed upon it; and
consequently an order was given to Hoe «t
Co. for one of their famous “ four cylinder’»
machines. It was completed and put in
operation about the Ist of July, 1801. Al
though the new press was good for eight
thousand an hour, we soon discovered that
It was not up to the necessities of our npH
ly Increasing circulation. But Impressed
with the conviction that this war would b«
of short duration, and that Its
would greatly reduce the demand for lb-*
Tribune, we continued to Impose our fuar
cylinder duties beyond its capacity until May
lost, wh*n the or«!er was givm for tee new
Eight Cylinder Pristine Maching which
seats fortn this piloted sheet this n-ornU-*
But of It, more herealtcr. **
OR. RAT RETIRES.
From the renungumion of onr f„„r cilia
ner press until to day. nothing of .eon,e l
hos cecorrcd In tie history of tb» T„.r,r
E “ ve ‘. he reiirement of Dr.’B-y, which took
place m November last, to the extreme re
gret o. hiscsscoiat-s, who not only part’J
nnlccn” o .' ° ca,tc ' J ’ Eencrona friend, hot
an as.ociate whose capacity k not pa.'- d hr
comparison with the aoket of the land.’
TO-Dat.
Wc -will now speak of the Tr.ir.cNE 0 f tO
- and wiil h,»in with
OLE NEW EIGHT C7LIXDEK ntIXTIStI ■- \-
CUINE.
It was reserved for Kichard M IK-, of
New York, an American mechanic, to make
the first successful type revolving prt-s, 3 f.
ter many costly and. nnsnccsssfal experi
ments, in 1547. Onr new press prop r is
four test fire Inches wide,’twenty i e »t hi -t,
atd the machine itself, independent = of
“flics,” is thirty-one feet six itches in
length. The large central type cylinder on
•which the forms are placed Is sixteen feet
six Inches in circumference. The eight evi
inders, or drams, on which the paper re
volves to receive the “Impression” from
the types, arc each one-third that size, these
smaller cylinders each making three revolu
tions to one of the central cylinder. The
forms or pages constitute segments of the
centiai circle, and occupy about one-fourth
of the circumference, the remaining three
fontlha being naed as an ink-distnbnling
surface. The estimated weight of the press
proper la nt least .twenty-three tons. There
arc in it over ten thousand regular pieces
Twenty composition rollers, for the diatri
bnticn of ink, are used upon it. There are
one thousand yards of web tape to pass the
sheets in to and away from the cylinders.
Five hundred and forty-two tape pnilies, one
hundred and eight gear wheels, one hundred
and twenty-two steel springs, together with
bolts, screws, huts, rivets, pins and keys
are parts of this mammoth concern. There
arc two hundred and fifty “ oil holes” in It
The machine and Us balconies occupy a
Sals f "S feet iD length ttLd tw “‘F in
width, taking np in height the basement and
first etory of onr building. The floors about
the press are laid on a frame work of iron
of which material, also, the stair-cases lead’
iog to the different parts of the machine are
constructed. One may ascend and descend
fifty-seven regular steps in examining the
press, without touching the same one twice
orcemlng in contact with the machinery.
Eight feeders' are rcipiircd, and twelve
persons in nil f u rm a fall c implement
tor turning the monster. Tho machine
pilnls 16,8(0 sheets per hour, which capaci
ty could be increased to twentv thousand.
It runs with an astonishingly small amount
01 noise, and the motion is a miracle of beau
tiful mechanism. It is located in the’neat
est sod most convenient press-room in the
United States.
the raocEss or pbistixo.
After the type is set up In tuc composing
room, it Is made up into forms (or pages)
upon a convex surface, constrncUd ct steel
and brass, and called a “turtle.” The fvpo,
btinp divided ix.to columns by rules running
lengthwise, is hehiiu place by ncU)g*‘lockcd
up” with screws cctiig upon the “ slde
etltk" and “foot-slick.” The “tnrlle” is
then lowered to the press-room and Secured
upon the central cylinder. • The large cylin
der being set la revolution, the form of
types is carried successively to all the small
er or impression cylinders; on each of
•which a sheet of paper is introduced and re
ceives tbe impression ot the types as tic
form passes. To each impression-cylinder
there is a board on which the sheets arolaiu,
and from which they arc “ted” to the ma
chine, and also tapes to - carry away the
printed sheet and deposit it on the delivery
board at the end of the press. This laU
process Is entirely performed by the ma
chine itself, without the aid ol any attend
ant. One person is required at each imp»*ca
fcioc-cjlladcr to supply or “feed” thesbeets.
which arc taken at tbe prop.r moment by
fir-gcra or grippers, and, alr-r being printed
are conveyed out. The ink is eoatauivn In
a four tain beneath the main cylinder, and is
conveyed by n»..ims of distnbutirg rollers
to that part of the surface of the mam c lin
atrnot cccupkd by the forms. This'eur
fuce being lower than the Uprs, pasres hy
the impnSsio£.-cy liiders without touching
them. *
now oun rnrss cot ncun
When Col Hon announc- d tint oar press
wns HMrhcfi and really for shipment, we
Knew just tto mm win, w :o„i wc could
entrust, the responsible duties of bringing it
to ns—lt was no other than J. tT Smith
agent of the Merchants’ Dispatch fast Irei-ot
W. Dow well he did his work, ma/hc
rradlly inferred irom the fact that, notwith
standing the press wdgha ahont 05 000
pounds, and occupied Ove laree freight carl
it was delivered at onrdoor in the Inercdiolo
short rpace of nvn bats from Nea fort,
probably the hi st time ever made with the
C!a n- ° f f e- Sl "- The rouw «-e
Dadeon Rtver, -New York Central. Great
estem, and Michigan Central Rell-vaja Of
conree, Smith, and every one ol the men, had
some ambition and pride In the matter, and
tinn „n r 0n thorough examine
tion, after its arrival. It was ascertained that
not a single hoi, bar or bolt was missing. Tbe
,! C J >rt ‘ s . 8 > ■“eluding transportation,
putting up, Ac., is very nearly &52 000 This
5®7 Is placed in a tnuldto'c 20 by 40
tw«» stories, m the rear of our present
prtss room, and ia open to the Inspection of
all who may desire to vr »the monster It
is very Jaubfuilj reproduced on paper in the
cut which adorns the head of this article
folding machines.
We hive in tbe pressroom three of n
S'^r'i^hl 8 t Fo, 4‘"ft M ’!5 bln <-3, mannlaetnred
?- ir ?ho ti. ter ’ r’ij ? he C cao.ct
t of the three folders is about 8.000 shorts
P rb °“ r - It Is asnperiormacnine—them-st
wo thltk, e-er invented It does Its work
with a speed, accuracy and ncatncsa unuo
preached By any other machine 1
OCH OFFICE.
We annex a frw details, in order to give
the outside world an interior riew ot the
leibcse establishment.
AT THE LAEORIXO OAR,
ertlrf forc“ rpqninvi r<> pod the
Tbiboxe daiJj, is canaiera'ca »n la i,|. he .
low. 1 tit ir name lt> L»;? Irm:
Editor® actJ Reporter?, <otcw. .. , r
C* -rretpond- nt e
Viz;
Armv Potomac 1
Wus*hiDsion
PirlaiWphu? ..i
New Yonc
AUany 1
CiDdrnaU. **j i
Detroit 1 1
ndian.-ipoHr 11
Nafibtnle 1 |
Sherman’s Army 1t
Mcaphia 2
I To‘al
Vick^hjr? .
L'rt’e Rock.
Cairo
Sr. Lum-t
Sprlti^Gfiil
Moines,
S». Pmul ....
MuJjeon ....
'lllwantee..
Paris
Proof Headers
Porrznan, News D eps rtrae a ►.'" * * *.." ’
4t? Bf .? L ’. l Foreman, News Department'
*DcTflߔNcws Department
Ctoinposflorß, New* Department..
Prosmcn,News Department
Foreman. Jobßoo.n-
At* etantForemen, Job Room
rompoeitors and Pressmen. Job Room'
Boys, Job Room
ContUnc Boom ...***.**”"*****”’
Mailing Department *'
Circnlators *’*'
Carriers *. ..'....***”*.*
Total.
Tbe amount of new* paper used the
tear, from Jnjtl, 16K1. to July 1, IseCWm.
litUe onr 22 CCO reams, or say 10,000.000
sheets. Tiuse sheets if spread out p-nsth
«o,Coo 000 Inches, nearly
.I’JvSr? iT 1 ’ ? r over 7 - co ° mile—about
onc lblid the ci-ctm,Terence of the earth
... an ’" nil ‘ is simo y for the three editions
?* lf e 7Rn! ™ E . »”d Includes no piper used
In tie job room. It bas be»-n chieflv sup-.
by J W. Butler & Co , of tMs
tre , bave be-n obliged to
otluTmacufacturrrs; tb* eaoacitv
of Messrs. Bctl*r & Co. ’3 mill not
equal to cor c*c*B-It|?a. In round fleures
t>e amount of paper named boa n*
flfO 000 for tbejeor. To 1860, the a*c«-
P3P€rWM P"
rnrlrcr the period named Id tbe previous
c rcsQm ' d 22.078 lbs. of
«» kbap n been Bu PoHed as by C. H.
ScfiiVEN, the popular advertising a ’eot, woo
!t ft r the lawt printers’ Ink dealer In
tbe Intirriiwesf. rhree years aeo -we paid 14
ctnis a pound for news ink. To-day wear*
pacing 32 cents. 3
OUK JOB DEPARTMENT,
ly-ft nccrl hardly eunmirate the ftciilties
whlchour Job Department otrera to the pnbt
lie. The»are familiar to thepnhlic. who ire
qnentiy prece them nnder contribution. W*
they embrace 13 firat-clsas presses!
fierent f ° nta ° f ' tjpe and ““wSr
TELEGRAPHING.
our ordinary expenses tor tele
*T^E£a IC dispatches were $25 per week, or ray
lom? To-day they ran** from
1300 to $250 per week, or about sl3 000 oer
Jwl This la. not all. Tho" uses to which
*£? naw employed in the way of
special dispatches, necessitate the emnlov
ment of numerous telegraphic eomom
dent., numbering with
ditorni'” eXPOT “ of WWO or $13,000 »d
--#