USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 25
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prevent the expression of my political predilections except by steering entirely clear of politics, therefore, the Union will maintain politically a wise and masterly silence.
"For the many favors I have received at the hands of the citizens of San Diego I return my sincere heartfelt thanks, and only bespeak of them the same kindness, courtesy and consideration for my little pet, to be born on next Saturday.
WM. JEFF GATEWOOD."
The first number of the Union came out, as announced, on October 10, 1868. It was a four-page, six-column quarto sheet, contained fifteen and a half columns of reading matter, and was well set up and printed. In his salutatory, Colonel Gatewood said of his paper :
"Its influence shall be used in urging the people to lay aside the animosities engendered within the last few years, and so sedulously fostered by the selfish political aspirants of the present day-to foster and encourage fealty to our political institutions-obedience to the laws of the country, and charity towards all mankind We * pray that our lives may be spared to see the waters of our bay fretting beneath the burdens of busy commerce-to hear the shrill whistle of the iron horse as it spurns the sand of the desert-toils over the mountains and shoots through the valleys in its flight from the Atlantic, to meet in our harbor the rich cargoes from the ancient Orient-to see our bay surrounded by mammoth manufacturing and mercantile houses, princely resi- dences, domes and spires of churches and schools of learning-the streets teeming with a prosperous and industrious people, and our lovely valleys lifting to our genial skies flowers and fruits, in tints as varied and gorgeous as our incompar- able sunsets."
For the first two years, it is recorded, that the Union had a hard struggle for existence. The subscription list was about one thousand, considered good at that time, but the advertising patronage was not on a paying basis. In May, 1869, Gatewood sold out his interest to Charles P. Taggart, and Taggart and Bushyhead became the publishers.
The prosperity of the Union dated from the advent of Taggart into the firm. He was a hard worker, hustled for subscriptions and advertising, and soon had the paper on a paying basis. But other interests claimed Taggart and he sold out his shares to Fredrick A. Taylor, of San Francisco, who took charge of the paper in January, 1870.
On the 20th day of January, 1870, the Union, still published as a weekly, was enlarged to a seven column paper. Another change in the management came when Taylor dropped out of the firm and was succeeded by William S. Dodge.
But the Union was in Old Town. At this time Horton's Addition was pro- gressing and threatening the supremacy of the older settlement and the Bulletin, installed there, was enjoying the new prosperity. By an agreement with Alonzo E. Horton the Union removed from the old town into the new addition and thereby secured the exclusive advertising patronage of "Father" Horton.
On June 30, 1870, the first edition appeared from the new headquarters in Horton's Addition. The office was in a building at the southeast corner of Fourth and D streets, then thought "quite out of town," with only the little
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Methodist church across the street and the "Era House" to keep it company. The foundations of the old Horton House were then being laid.
Shortly after the removal from Old Town, William S. Dodge retired from the newspaper. Douglas Gunn, for a time employed on the paper as reporter and printer, succeeded him. His ability, enterprise and courage were soon mani- fest in the affairs of the Union.
His first big "beat" was the publication of the message of President Grant to Congress in full. Gunn had arranged to receive the message by telegraph and he called the publication as "a piece of newspaper enterprise never before attempted by a 'country paper' in the United States." It had never before been done in San Diego.
On March 20, 1871, the first daily paper in San Diego was published. It was called the "Daily Union." The News and the Star, of Los Angeles, were at that time the only daily newspapers in Southern California.
Ten days after the publication of the Daily Union the weekly paper was en- larged to eight columns and became the largest weekly south of San Francisco. The next April John P. Young, now editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, was employed as business manager.
The formation and publication of a great daily newspaper was not a "bed of roses" for Bushyhead and Gunn. It was for both men a long, hard, uphill pull, with hard work and perseverance called for at every turn of the road.
The first year of the daily found about $1,200 expended for telegraph news. The next year about $2,000 was thus spent and although both men worked like troopers to keep things going, it is not said that neither found themselves under- paid for their work, but on the contrary made money. The partnership of Bushyhead and Gunn lasted through three busy years, years which marked an epoch in the history of the new town, and then Bushyhead retired and Gunn became sole owner, paying Bushyhead $5,000 for his interest. A month later the daily was enlarged to twice its former size, and San Diego was in the midst of its palmy days, the great "Tom Scott" boom being in its zenith. Then the boom collapsed and the paper was hard hit. Gunn in 1877 said that for four years he was editor, reporter and all of the staff, doing many men's work each day to keep the paper on its feet.
But better tintes came. In 1878 conditions had improved and San Diego was reasserting herself and the Union benefited. On the first day of June in that year the Union moved to a building on Sixth street, one door below where the postoffice was then located. Quiet but prosperous years then followed.
In July, 1881, the paper was enlarged and the first steam printing press in San Diego was set up for use. Five years later the paper was enlarged further.
On August 3, 1886, Douglas Gunn retired to devote his labor to other business and the newspaper passed into the hands of the San Diego Union company, with Col. John R. Berry as manager. His associates were William Collier, now liv- ing at Riverside, and J. Russell Smith. Colonel Berry had been city editor of the Union.
Three or four months later Hosmer P. McKoon acquired an interest in the Union and later Bryant Howard and E. W. Morse came into the new company. In the early months of 1888 a "white paper famine" prevailed, and the Union appeared in a coat of many colors, sometimes printed on dirty white, yellow and
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
pink paper. In May of that year cards were issued inviting all to come and view the workings of a new double cylinder Hoe press and feeders and the installa- tion attracted great crowds.
In June, 1888, John C. Monteith became owner of some stock in the publish- ing company and assumed business management of the Union. Later in the year Howard M. Kutchin became business manager and later editor, in which post he continued until June, 1889.
In the closing days of the year 1888 the Union company purchased the Daily Bee from Harry A. Howard, Thomas Fitch and others and the papers were merged under the name of the San Diego Union and Daily Bee. In the follow- ing year Berry stepped out and the Monteiths acquired his interest.
Berry went to Ohio. He returned in a few months and took charge of the paper again. Andrew Pollock was then associated with him in the direction of the property.
When the appointment as Collector of the Port came to Colonel Berry in 1890 the dawn of the new era of the Union and of the development of Greater San Diego came by the purchase of Berry's interest by John D. and Adolph Spreckels, who were then represented in San Diego by E. S. Babcock.
From that date these men have been the owners and publishers of the Union. On August 1, 1890, Thomas Gardiner, one of the founders of the Sacramento Union and of the Los Angeles Times, was named as manager of the newspaper. He continued in that capacity until his death which occurred nine years later.
On June 19, 1899, James MacMullen became general manager for the Union company and still continues in that capacity. Under his management the Union has achieved its present growth. In March, 1900, the Union purchased the plant of the Morning Call, formerly the Vidette, and on September 27, 1901, became the owner of the Evening Tribune, a newspaper established in 1895. The Union company has continued the publication of the Tribune, and its circulation and influence has grown steadily.
The Union and Tribune occupy now the Union building which takes up the whole block on D street between Second and Third streets. It is a modern six- story office building and the owners are contemplating larger quarters to accom- modate the growth of the two publications.
The Spreckels interests still control the Union and Tribune. James MacMul- len is manager and director for both papers. George S. Bates is editorial writer for the Union. He has held this place for many years.
Edmund F. Parmelee is advertising manager for both publications and is the dean of the newspaper corps in San Diego, having been in his present capacity since 1888.
The Union and Tribune have grown with San Diego. Today both papers print in full the news of the world as it comes from the Associated Press and manifold correspondents and connections. The local and special staff of each paper is of the best talent in the country. Many noted journalists have had their early training on the Union and the editorial policy of both the Union and Tri- bune is noted for its saneness and progressive dictation.
The pioneer editor and publisher of Horton's Addition was William H. Gould, who began the publication of the San Diego Weekly Bulletin on August 21, 1869. It was a four-page, six-column paper. In this first number Mr. Gould expressed
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
the opinion that: "There is nowhere on the globe a finer field for newspaper enterprise and the exercise of newspaper power than exists today in our young and growing city of San Diego."
The paper was enlarged to seven columns in December, and in the following June Major Ben C. Truman purchased a half interest and became editor and business manager. In July, 1871, W. H. Ogden became editor, Truman remain- ing as business manager. At the end of that year Major Truman's connection with the paper ceased. On February 13, 1872, the first number of the Daily Bulletin appeared. It was a small sheet of five columns and four pages. In the following month W. W. Bowers became the business manager and D. T. Phillips became editor of the Bulletin in June. The paper was soon afterward sold to Colonel Gatewood, who took over the entire plant and began issuing a new paper, called the World. The last number of the weekly Bulletin was July 13th, and of the daily, July 23, 1872.
The Bulletin was established by the friends of New San Diego to counter- balance the influence of the Union at the rival town. The Union "coppered" this move, however, by removing to Horton's Addition and having secured Mr. Hor- ton's exclusive patronage, the Bulletin proved unprofitable and soon languished. It began as a Union republican paper but a year later became straight republican and continued so. There is a complete file of this paper in the public library, presented to it by Daniel Cleveland.
William H. Gould left San Diego in 1874 and had a checkered career after- ward. He established papers at San Bernardino, Los Angeles and other places, none of which lived long, and was connected with the San Diego Bee in 1887-88.
The first number of the Daily World was issued July 25, 1872, and the weekly two days later. The daily was a small quarto sheet, with four pages of five col- umns each, and the weekly was a large four-page sheet of seven columns. There were elements of fitness in Colonel Gatewood's being its editor and proprietor. The paper which he had founded (the Union) was now a republican organ, while he was a democrat, and many people thought that the time was ripe for an opposition paper. J. N. Briseno, an old employe of Gatewood on the Union, acquired an interest in August. In October the daily was enlarged to four full size quarto pages of six columns each, and in December the office was removed to the south side of D street, between Second and Third, in what was formerly called the Stockton House.
Joseph D. Lynch succeeded Gatewood as editor and in the fall of 1874 the paper was acquired by Jacob M. Julian and N. H. Conklin. Both were new- comers, from Warrensburg, Missouri, where they had been associated in the publication of a weekly paper. They continued to publish the World a year or two and then it was merged with the News, published by Julian & Company.
Mr. Julian began the publication of the San Diego Daily News in 1875 and continued it until April 9, 1882, when it was purchased by the Sun company.
The Sun first appeared July 19, 1881. Mrs. Charles P. Taggart originated the enterprise. Horace Stevens, Fred C. Baner and Robert Campion served as editors or managers.
Mrs. Taggart disposed of her interest to A. Wentscher, Edwin Parker, Hor- ace Stevens, Dr. T. C. Stockton and C. P. Gerichten. The first office of the Sun
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
was in a small frame building on the east side of the Plaza, where the Schmitt block now stands.
In 1886 Warren Wilson of San Bernardino purchased the Sun, and in Decem- ber of the same year the paper was established in the Sun building on the Plaza, built by him and now owned by Nathan Watts. In February, 1889, Wilson sold the Sun to Walter G. Smith, now of Honolulu, and W. E. Simpson, the money being furnished by the California National Bank. The purchasers turned the property back to the bank in January, 1891, and Dr. D. Gochenauer was appointed general manager. The failure of the California National Bank in November of that year resulted in the Sun being thrown upon the market, when it was again purchased by Warren Wilson, who in turn sold it on June 3d to Paul H. Blades and E. C. Hickman, the money being furnished by E. W. Scripps, the millionaire newspaper publisher. Mr. Scripps had just come to San Diego from his home in Cincinnati on a visit and was persuaded to invest in the Sun at the request of. his cousin, the late Mrs. Fanny Bagby Blades. From this nucleus has grown the entire Scripps league of western newspapers, now covering every important city on the coast.
In November, 1892, the Sun purchased the San Diegan, being merged under the title of San Diegan-Sun. With the San Diegan was secured the services of F. D. Waite as editor, who until recently remained as editor of the paper and is still a member of the staff as associate editor.
The Sun has had various business managers, most of whom are now identified with the Scripps properties on the Pacific coast and elsewhere. In March, 1901, Mr. Scripps purchased the interests of Blades and all others in the Sun and trans- ferred a half ownership to himself and the other half to W. H. Porterfield, which ownership has continued to the present time. For several years past Mr. Porter- field has been engaged in the management of other Scripps properties in northern California and the active business management of the Sun has devolved upon H. E. Rhoads. C. A. McGrew, formerly of the New York Times, is editor. The Sun is independent in politics, with democratic leanings in national campaigns. In 1908 the Sun company moved into its new home, a handsome brick building on Seventh and B streets.
The San Diegan was established by J. M. Julian, E. J. Bacon, and Julian Regan in 1885 as a democratic organ, and four years later sold to Chaffee, Sulli- van & Waite, who remained the owners until the consolidation with the Sun in. the fall of 1892.
The next paper established in point of time was the Daily and Weekly Bee. The Bee Publishing Company was incorporated in November, 1887, by William F. Hutton, William H. Gould, Thomas J. McCord, Harry A. Howard and Thomas L. Fitch. The company had been organized in the spring by Messrs. Benjamin & Cothran, and had for its editors a Mr. Zeigenfuss and Mrs. Clara S. Foltz. The Bee was a live paper, while it lasted. It was absorbed by the Union in December, 1888.
Other papers have been started at different times but permanently suspended publication. The most important of these was the San Diego Vidette, a daily and weekly paper established by D. O. McCarthy, August 6, 1892. From December I, 1894, to March 7, 1895, Harr Wagner leased the paper, after which the founder again became managing editor and J. Harvey McCarthy business man-
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
ager. In 1899 it was leased for a short time to B. A. Stephens, T. Spears and Frank Gregg, in succession. In January, 1900, the name was changed to the Morning Call, and in the following March the Call suspended publication and the Union bought its plant. The motto of the Vidette was: "Thrice armed is he whose cause is just." It was a live and vigilant paper, independent and fear- less, which attacked wrong and corruption wherever found.
In the way of periodical literature, the first ambitious effort was that of Harr Wagner, when he removed the Golden Era monthly magazine from San Francisco to San Diego, during the boom. It was established at San Francisco in 1852. The plant arrived at San Diego early in March, 1887. It was intended to change the name to the Coronado Illustrated Magazine and public announce- ment was made of that intention, but for some reason the plan fell through and the magazine continued to be published as the Golden Era. In the fall the Golden Era Company was incorporated by Harr Wagner, J. D. Wagner, E. C. Thorpe, C. E. Maxwell and G. C. Berlew. It was a magazine of fiction, travel and general literature, and the oldest illustrated magazine on the Pacific coast. It was the literary journal of the southwest and had a number of notable con- tributors, among whom were Joaquin Miller, Madge Morris (Mrs. Wagner), Rose Hartwick Thorpe and others. It was published in San Diego until March, 1895, when it was again removed to San Francisco and soon after changed to the Western Journal of Education, under which name it still continues, with Mr. Wagner as editor-in-chief. While here Mr. Wagner engaged in a variety of activities connected with education-was superintendent of schools, connected with the San Diego College of Letters at Pacific Beach, etc.
The next important venture in this line was the Silver Gate, established in January, 1899, by James A. Jasper. Sixteen numbers in all were issued, the last one being April, 1900. It was devoted to local statistics, current politics, articles on climate, horticulture, etc., and also contained views, maps and portraits of value. With the September number, 1899, it absorbed the Mother's Club Maga- zine (a monthly started February 1, 1899), and the "Mother's Club Notes" formed a department of the magazine until it suspended. It also had for a time a department edited by the Woman's Relief Corps. The back numbers of this magazine are highly prized.
The West American Scientist was established by C. R. Orcutt, December I, 1884, and he is still the editor and publisher. It is the organ of the San Diego Society of Natural History and was the first scientific publication established on the Pacific coast. It has at different times absorbed a number of other similar publications and its files contain matter of great value.
The Western Magazine issued three numbers-August, September and Octo- ber, 1906. It was the most ambitious example of periodical literature ever under- taken in San Diego and its early demise was a matter of sincere and widespread regret.
The following is a list of newspapers and periodicals known to have been started in San Diego from time to time. All these periodicals are now defunct, unless otherwise stated.
In May, 1885, D. P. St. Clair started the San Diego Californian and pub- lished it about two months.
In 1887 the Bennett Brothers established a paper which they call the News
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
(Julian's paper of the same name having been absorbed by the Sun five years before). It was issued as a' daily for six months and then removed to Ensenada in Lower California.
The Deutsche Zeitung, a weekly, was established by Charles F. Kamman in 1887 and is still published.
The Free Press, a tri-weekly, was published by J. G. Overshiner in 1887.
The Semi-Tropic Planter, devoted to agriculture, was published by Cooke & Hufford in 1887. C. R. Orcutt afterward became its editor.
The Coronado Evening Mercury was established May 16, 1887. It was an evening daily, published at Coronado by Kimball, White & Company, and later became a weekly issued by F. E. A. Kimball.
The Southern California Information Agency, Augustus Merrill, manager, issued the Southern California Informant in the latter part of 1887. It purported to be " a journal of reliable information and just criticism."
The first issue of the Echo was December 3, 1887. It was a critical and humorous weekly.
R. H. Young issued the Pacific Beach Magazine in 1888. It was subsidized by the Pacific Beach Company and lived about a year, expiring with the boom.
The Beacon was a small weekly published in 1889 by Sigismund Danielwiez, devoted to the discussion of social ethics.
The Clipper was established in 1889 by the Bayside Publishing Company. It was a weekly, edited by John C. Monteith.
The Great Southwest, edited by R. H. Young and devoted to horticulture, was issued in 1889.
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