USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 52
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On the 28th of June, 1855, there appeared in the Hawkeye the following from Mr. Morgan, editor of the Telegraph :
"FOR THE HAWKEYE
"THE TRANSFER OF THE TELEGRAPH
"The old readers of the Telegraph have a right to hear, and perhaps desire to hear from its editor as to the causes which have so suddenly and in a measure so strangely dissolved our long connection.
"The Telegraph was the pioneer in newspaper progress in this state, etc., the first to issue a tri-weekly sheet and daily issues, etc. It was liberally sustained from the beginning, etc. Still, the expenses of establishing such an enterprise, and the pains bestowed upon it to make it not only an honor to the city but the best representative of the city's governing interests which could be sent abroad, unavoidably brought in their train a series of pecuniary embarrassments, which finally resulted in the sale of the office to (supposed) friends at a sum approxi- mately one-third of its value, etc.
"It was the understanding that the new proprietors when they came were the friends of the paper, and they would put money enough to command for it a pros- perous business, in order to the earliest liquidation of all its indebtedness-the stockholders not desiring to take one cent, over and above the stock from the concern, but the profits to go to pay the old debts. With this understanding, and with a most ardent desire to pay off at the earliest day every cent of indebtedness
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of the establishment, the undersigned consented to continue in the conduet of the paper, etc.
"The management of the affairs of the office was entrusted to our actuary (John G. Foote), and the paper started off, as I supposed, under most favorable circumstances, etc. The zeal of the actuary was that of short duration and soon cooled down to positive indifference.
"The editor did not abate any effort to make the paper all that its readers might desire. He hoped one day to realize the fond hopes with which he had entered upon his duties. But, one day, greatly to the astonishment of its stock- holders, greatly to the mortification of its editor, and greatly to the injury of the paper, 'the whole Telegraph office' was offered for sale. For months, this ill-advised, execrable, self throat-cutting, clapboard-looking advertisement was kept hanging at the editorial head of the paper, etc. Such an act made the public believe the paper was 'as good as dead.' Thus the actuary took upon himself the responsibility of leaving the writer of the paper, not even allowing it time to say its prayers, or to bid adieu to its readers. And it has been thus, that I am now reduced to the necessity of singing the 'Swan Song' of my fondest ereation, and the five-year-old idol of my heart, and in columns that are strange to my voice, etc." He further states he proposed to lease the property and pay what was reasonable and right, but that was denied him. The actuary claiming it had to be sold at its appraised value. He then offered to purchase at the appraised value, but that was denied him. Finally it was sold to Dunham and Brown at the appraised value, or nearly so. He does not blame the Hawkeye for pur- chasing it, it was its privilege.
The article is a long one and is well worth reading. It is to be found in the Hawkeye and Telegraph of June 28, 1855.
The paper of the same date contains the following from the pen of the editor of the Hawkeye: "We admit the address of General Morgan, former editor of the Telegraph, to the patrons and readers of that paper to our columns with some regret. For him we entertain a high opinion. His editorial course has been able and high toned and uniformly courteous. In the purchase, it has been our wish to do nothing that would interfere with his interests. We purchased the paper because, if we did not, it would be sold to the first outsider that came along willing to buy, its publication being suspended. Believing that by uniting it with the Hawkeye, we could do what had not before been accomplished, sustain a daily paper without sinking everything in a year or two, we made the purchase. Under those circumstances, standing in the position we do, we regret that there should be any feeling between the editor and the stockholders," etc. "To the patrons and readers of the Telegraph Daily and Weekly, very little need be said. The two have occupied nearly the same ground on political questions. The pres- ent proprietors will seek to deserve the support of all the old readers," etc.
The Telegraph was the first journal in Burlington to find a sepulchre in that graveyard in which so many journals have since been laid to rest. With its pass- ing, went the activities of General Morgan as a journalist.
In 1856 Mr. Dunham became sole owner of the Hlawk-Eye. From the time of the passage of the Kansas Nebraska Bill, coupled with the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Dred Seott, were the last and most strenuous efforts of the slave powers to extend the territorial limits of its cherished institution.
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During these times the whig party had almost disappeared, and the democratic party had lost thousands of its voters. lowa was the second state in the Union to have practically become republican when it elected Mr. Grimes governor. On the 17th day of June, 1856, at Philadelphia, Pa., was held the first National Republican Convention, which nominated Col. John C. Fremont for President.
Mr. Dunham had sufficient prescience to foresee coming events and long before the meeting of the Philadelphia convention had abandoned the whig party and hoisted the flag of the republican party. His paper was a charter member of the new party.
In an article of June 9, 1856, it nominated Col. John C. Fremont for Presi- dent, and from that time to the present its course has unswervingly been repub- lican.
The democratic party had for years been anchored at Washington, from which place it ruled the whole country. It had back of it the solid South, made so because of the slavery question, which fact was the principal cause which led to a solid North. for it was clearly seen and announced by Mr. Seward and Mr. Lincoln that ultimately the whole country would be slave or free, and the same thought was expressed by Mr. Toombs, that the master would chastise his slave on Bunker Hill. With such thoughts expressed by both sides to the contest, some idea of the struggle can be had.
Political campaigns of the present, compared with those of 1856 and 1860, are like the cooing of a dove to the scream of an eagle.
Mr. Dunham continued the publication of the Hawkeye until 1864, when Messrs. Edwards and Beardsly became proprietors with Mr. Beardsly editor. Never before had the paper flourished so well as during the time Mr. Dunham had charge. The times were auspicious from the fact that a large portion of it was during the Civil war, when everybody wanted to hear the news every day.
Mr. Dunham was an excellent writer, was well informed on all the questions of the day. Ilis editorials were short and to the point, and had enough of pepper in them to heighten the effect.
During the reign of Edwards and Beardsly the paper maintained the high standard which it formerly possessed. Mr. Beardsly's editorials were thought- ful, showing that he had studied and thoroughly comprehended that about which he wrote. He came in at a time when there was being brought about a change to a large extent in the style and manner of editorial writings. Generally a larger courtesy was beginning to be shown, and the ethical in editorial writing began to appear, and much for the better. Mr. Beardsly was a clean man in his life and thoughts. He published a clean paper in every respect. Nothing gross, nasty or sensual was allowed to appear in its columns.
In 1874 there was organized what was called the Hawkeye Publishing Com- pany, which company became owner of the property. The editorial staff was composed of the following persons: Frank Hatton, editor-in-chief ; associate editors, R. J. Burdett, J. L. Waite, C. Beardsly. Mr. Hatton afterward became assistant postmaster general, then postmaster general from October 14, 1884, to March 6, 1885.
Mr. J. L. Waite, its present editor, took charge of the editorial department of the paper soon after the time Mr. Hatton dissolved his connection with it. Mr. Waite has had charge of its editorial columns for a longer time than anyone con-
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nected with it. When he became the editor of the paper, he fully recog- nized the responsibility of one who through the columns of a paper speaks to the people ; that in a sense he is responsible for their beliefs and acts, at least in so far as they affect public affairs for the reason, that in governments of the people, government acts are the people's acts, and whether what has been done is right or wrong, the best that could be done, depends on the conception of the things done. An editor in a sense is a creator of public opinions, and such being the case, whatever is written to influence the public mind should have careful and unbiased considerate thought. An affirmative answer to the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" applies to the editor of a journal. He is in a sense the creator of the beliefs of his readers, and as one thinks so he acts. An editor becomes responsible in a degree for the moral qualities of those whom he advises through his paper. Only that which is pure should receive sanction. What- ever is sensual or immoral ought to be condemned in the columns of the press.
Mr. Waite, recognizing the responsibility in which his position as editor and proprietor placed him, has fully and well discharged the duties resting upon him. In discharging them, at times he has run contrary to what some consider their material interests ; but he never faltered in his course, when he considered any material interest conflicted with the public good, the moral and well being of society.
The Hawkeye from its foundation has been a temperance paper, though not radical. In discussing questions affecting the public, not in a political way, Mr. Waite has always taken the larger view and directed his course accordingly ; while in political matters he has stood for the traditions of his party, not being carried away by every cry of discontent to his party's acts. He has never seen as many lions in the way as others of his party. His style of writing is not exuberant or lofty, but plain and smooth. The dominant part of his method of expression is to make clear the thought intended to be conveyed. He believes in progress ; but does not readily take up with every nostrum which is advocated as a cure for public or party evils. For this reason, he did not advocate nominating at primary elections candidates for United States senators, congressmen, or state officers. He was called a "stand-patter," and the Hawkeye a "stand-pat" paper, which designation he accepted, and believed the times were such that justified the position he had taken. He could not see from what had been done at the Chicago convention in the nomination of Mr. Taft, warranted the Roosevelt movement. The political storm then created has passed by, and nothing can now be heard except the muttering of the thunders in the faraway distance. The sun has come out, and Mr. Waite rejoices in the belief that 1916 will see the republican party once again victorious throughout the nation.
GERMAN JOURNALISM
The first paper printed in the German language in Burlington was the Volks- blatt. This was in 1852. A man by the name of Metz was its proprietor and Mr. Adalbert Loeber its editor. Mr. Henry Kompe succeeded Loeber. Then Doctor Scholer became its owner and editor. H. C. Ohrt was editor in 1853. Then F. Goll became proprietor and editor. Weber and Wolf purchased it in 1855 and changed its name to Frie Presse. Mr. Mader was its editor from this time until
JOHN L. WAITE
A
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1856, when H. C. Ohrt once again controlled its editorial pages. In 1860 Mr. Vanzelow became proprietor and editor. Vanzelow died in 1861, when Daldorff and Guelich purchased it from the Vanzelow estate. They changed the name to Iowa Tribune. Theodore Guelich in 1863 sold his interest to John Daldorff, but continued its editor until 1864, when he was succeeded by M. Sangeloth, Conrad Greiner and Prof. E. Poppe. Daldorff and Schilling owned the paper in 1868, when Dr. G. Schilling became editor. The Iowa Tribune Company was formed in 1871 and became its owners. The Iowa Tribune Company sold it to Paul Lange & Company in 1875. At this time L. Mader was editor. L. Weinstein succeeded L. Mader as its editor in 1877. Mr. Weinstein continued to edit the paper under the Wohlwend management for a time, then he went to the Hawk- eye. Then Theo. Guelich came into its management. The paper had a hard struggle for existence until 1899, when it came under the present management, who changed the name, substituting Volksfruend for Iowa-the name now being Volksfruend Tribune.
The paper is published by the Volksfruend Publishing Company, of which Mr. Carl Lohman is president and W. C. Lohman, his son, secretary and treas- urer. Mr. Carl Lohman has been the editor of the paper since 1899.
During the time Mr. Lohman has had its management, the paper has had remarkable success. This has been due to the wise management of its affairs. When Mr. Lohman acquired it, the paper was in bad shape financially, but with good management he has turned it into a paying institution. What before was unprofitable, he has made profitable. The fact that for so many years the paper has continued without any change of proprietors, while before it changed owner- ship almost every few years, shows that the paper is now on a permanent basis. Under its present management $12,000 of property has been added to it. Mr. Carl Lohman as an editor has few superiors in German journalism. What he thinks he says, and that so as to be understood. The position which he has filled has been a hard one, and but for his ability the paper, which was founded in 1852, would have passed out of existence.
BURLINGTON BUSINESS BULLETIN
This was a weekly published by Gilbert & Bell in 1871. It had a short exist- ence.
In the same year Bonsall, Lillibridge & Co. published a monthly paper called the Burlington Index. Bonsall & Lillibridge were its editors and proprietors.
The Iowa Journal, a weekly paper, made its appearance in 1878. It was pub- lished by the Iowa Publishing Company, office No. 207 South Main Street, Wood- ruff and Wood its editors.
The Burlington Weekly Argus made its appearance in 1880. It was a weekly and came out every Monday morning. The veteran newspaper man, Charles I. Barker, was its editor and publisher. The Argus was strongly democratic in politics.
Many others followed the above, and seemed to flourish for a time, and then were laid away in the graveyard of "newspaperdom."
The Critic made its appearance in 1875, with Woerner Boecklin its editor. It criticized, but not long. One month was the time of its existence.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
The Evening Star made its appearance in the same year under the manage- ment of Mr. Seth Eggleston, with Boecklin editor and Frank Phelps his asso- ciate. The Star reached its greatest elongation in about three months, then com- menced to sink, and finally disappeared below the horizon, never to rise again.
C. Y. Wheeler and Frank Phelps published the "Every Sunday Morning," to assist in the work of furnishing reading, such as would be appreciated on the Lord's Day. Mr. Phelps was assisted by the following pious gentlemen : Hon. Charles Beardsley, W. Boecklin, George Jamison and E. S. Huston, one a news- paper man, one sold crockery, one fire insurance and the other practiced law. It had entirely too many contributors and died early.
It can be said of Frank Phelps that during his residence in Burlington to the time of his death he had been connected in some capacity with almost every paper published in the city. All will agree to the statement that as a versatile writer he had but few, if any, equals among the newspaper men of Burlington. He was born in Middlebury, Vt., graduated at Union College in 1854, came to Burlington in 1857 and was connected with the Hawkeye as local item writer until 1859, when he went to Louisiana and taught school for one year. Was for a time editor of the Toledo (Ohio) Times, then came back to Burlington and continued in the newspaper work until his death. Without fear he expressed his opinions on all questions concerning public affairs. Prior to June 10, 1878, stock were free commoners in the City of Burlington. Many complaints had been made to the city council by people whose premises had been invaded by cows and other domestic animals. The council gave but little heed to those complaints, for each ward alderman had friends among the owners of cows, pigs, etc. The council finally became possessed of this much courage: On June 10, 1878, it passed an ordinance which provided "That no swine, horse, mule, jack, bull, heifer, steer, or cow, or any animal wearing a bell, shall be allowed to run at large within the limits of the city, at any time." They were goaded into the passage of the ordinance by Mr. Phelps. From the time he commenced the war, he kept it up until he had accomplished what he wanted. Among other things which he wrote and published attacking the council for its failure to pass an ordinance restraining the running of stock at large was a two-page pamphlet which was freely circulated among the people and sold at all the news-stands in the city. On the cover of the first page was the picture of a cow with her calf standing by her side. The head of the cow was turned to one side, while she was looking upon and admiring her offspring. On the inside was a Shakespearean paraphrase and below it the following :
LAMENT ( Free after Schiller )
Who vas it broke mine gate avay, Und in mine garden eat all day, Und on my flower beds roll and blay ? Der cows. Und who alous dose dings to be, To drouble honest men like me, Und leaves mine yeart midout a tree? Dose council.
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BURLINGTON POST
The first number of the Burlington Saturday Evening Post was published on August 11, 1882. The paper was established by J. W. Murphy, and during the thirty-two years of its existence since then has never had any other editor or owner. The Post was started as an eight-page sheet of five columns to the page, but several years later was increased in size to six columns to the page and the number of pages increased to ten, twelve and fourteen pages, as the pressure of business required.
The Post is an old-fashioned, well-edited and well-circulated weekly news- paper, and has an aggressive and intelligent constituency which stands by it. The paper is quite well known all over the Middle West by reason of the energy with which its business is pushed and by the good sense, originality and independence of its editorial utterances.
A great many weekly newspapers have been started in Burlington during the past thirty-five years, but the Post is the only one among the number which has succeeded in establishing itself on a firm foundation.
In the early years of its existence the Post was an advocate of the enforce- ment of the prohibitory liquor law, but later abandoned that policy as it later abandoned anything approaching to a strict adherence to republican doctrines. At the present time, nearly thirty-three years after its inception, the Post is enjoy- ing a good advertising patronage and a wide and growing circulation.
Some years after the establishment of the Saturday Evening Post, Mr. C. M. Hyskell published the Evening Journal. Prior to the publication of the Journal, Mr. Hyskell was city editor of the Gazette. For a time the Journal seemed to succeed fairly well. After having continued its publication for some two years, Mr. Hyskell sold it to other parties, who continued its publication for a time, then removed it to another place.
MEDIAPOLIS PAPERS
In 1874 a printer named Newton commenced the publication of the Mediapolis Enterprise. At first this paper was published at Morning Sun and sent to Mediap- olis for distribution, but after a few issues O. S. Green was taken into partner- ship and an office consisting of a few fonts of type and a hand press were pur- chased. Green soon had the business left on his hands, as his partner had the printer's traditional liking for strong drink. The plant was purchased by J. W. Merrill in October, 1875. The name was changed to the New Era in 1881.
The printing office was first located on the site of Doctor Kilpatrick's present residence and office. Later it was moved to a building on Main Street near the present site of Mrs. McDonald's millinery store. This building was moved to Harrison Street between Main and Middle streets and later it was again moved to the present site of the New Era-News office.
March 1, 1907, this paper purchased the Mediapolis News, which was owned by a stock company, having been left without an editor by the death of James A. Bridges.
In 1911 the present modern building was erected. It covers an area of 30x65 feet, is of pressed brick and one of the best newspaper buildings in the state.
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It is fully equipped for job work of all kinds and for the issue of the Mediapolis New Era-News, which is semi-weekly, a modern Cottrell press and Eclipse folder are used. The machines are run by a gas engine. Besides these, the office is equipped with a Gordon jobber, paper cutter, perforator and all necessary machinery and equipment for a country printing establishment.
Mrs. Merrill has been a valuable assistant in the office for several years.
The New Era was edited and conducted from October, 1875, to May, 1904, by J. W. Merrill, one of the pioneers of this county. He came to Iowa in 1855 and with the exception of about ten years, when he was in Illinois, he resided here the rest of his life. He retired from active life in 1904, at which time his son, Thomas A. Merrill, who had assisted him in the printing office for years, but at that time owned an office at Nichols, took charge. In 1897 J. W. Merrill pub- lished a history of Yellow Spring and Huron townships which is valuable because of the thorough manner in which it treats of the subject. He died October 16, 1908, aged seventy-five years. His mind was active to the last, though he had been feeble some time.
CHAPTER XXVIII
RAILWAYS AND THEIR BUILDERS
Nothing has done so much for the material welfare of the human race as the making of highways and improved methods of transportation. A railroad is a highway, over which engines and cars are propelled, and constitutes an improved means of transportation of freight and passengers. In ancient times, and at the present in many places, freight and people were transported from the interior of different countries to great cities situate on the banks of rivers and at the harbors of seas, and on the seas, by boats propelled by oar or sails. In other parts of the world, before the coming of the railway, transportation was had by wagons hauled by the horse or ox. On the discovery of the power of steam, and its application to assist in moving bodies, the greatest change took place in meth- ods of transportation known in the history of man. By this means, cheap and rapid transportation of the products of different sections of the world, and of the same country, was brought about, making it possible for the people of one sec- tion to have and enjoy the products of other sections. In the first settlement of a country, one of the great questions was concerning the means by which to get the things produced to market, and to secure the things produced by other sec- tions, and the world at large.
To supply one of the means, the nation under the power conferred in the "gen- eral welfare" clause of the Constitution, entered upon the construction of national highways, which served the purpose for which they were constructed, in a degree, for a time, to a small portion of the country. On the application of steam power to draw vehicles over two iron rails, the construction of national highways ceased.
The first railway in the United States was projected by Gridley Bryant, a civil engineer in 1825, for hauling granite from Quincy, Mass., to tidewater. His lit- tle railroad had switches, sideways, etc., and was operated by horse power.
The second railway in the country was built in 1827. It was constructed from Mauch Chunk, Pa., to the Lehigh River, was thirteen miles long, and used for the transportation of coal. Was operated one way by gravity, the other by mules.
The construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway was commenced in 1828.
The first locomotive in the United States which pulled a train was built at the instance of Peter Cooper, and hauled a train from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills, thirteen miles, with the directors and some of their friends aboard. It ran at the rate of eighteen miles per hour.
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