History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 74

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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Mr. Getz doubtless reasoned in this manner in 1857; and, satisfying himself that the pros- pects were favorable, he started in this enter- prise a second time. In the first issue (15th of June, 1857) he expressed himself in an editorial thus,-

"Again we venture upon the experiment of a daily issue of the Reading Gazette. Ten years ago we tried it and it failed, or, more properly speaking, we ahand- oned it just in time to prevent its failure. It lived ex-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

actly nine days, and then quietly went out of existence. Some of our friends, disposed to joke about the affair, although it was a very serious thing to us, called it ' a nine days' wonder.' It was so only in this particular -that it was very soon entirely forgotten. But, in other respects, nobody made the paper a subject of wonder. The only wonder expressed was at our folly in undertaking so hazardous an enterprise. Few took any interest in our short-lived daily, and none thought it was needed. But ten years work many and great changes in men and things. Reading is larger and more busy than it was then, and we are older and wiser, if experience be counted wisdom. The want of a daily paper in our city is now felt, and the desire appears to be general that the want should be sup- plied. To show our willingness to meet it, here the paper is."

And he presented before the public a fine morning newspaper. It was a folio in size, twenty-two by thirty-two inches, with six columns on each page. Its contents com- prised nine columns of reading matter and fifteen columns of advertisements. The price was two cents a copy and ten cents a week. He continued the publication of it successfully, though under discouraging patronage, till the 3d of February, 1858, when he changed the time of its issue to the evening, and reduced the price to six cents a week. This change was made as an experiment. The morning issue not having been a profitable enterprise, he desired to ascertain whether or not public sen- timent would favor an evening issue at a re- duced rate. But the experiment was carried on for three weeks only, and, finding patronage too weak for the expense, he suspended its pub- lication on the 27th of the same month. The last issue was No. 177. A local weekly 1 com- plimented the spirit and enterprise with which it had been conducted, but, in addition, ex- pressed the opinion that its suspension was by no means creditable either to the intelligence or to the public spirit of a city with twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Its list of patrons em- braced four hundred and fifty regular sub- scribers, but only sixteen out of two hundred and forty business men of Reading took suffi- cient interest in its success to give it advertising patronage. And thus ended the second at- tempt. It would seem that the daily newspa-

per, like all great things in the progress of mankind, could not be created in the first effort, but that several efforts in its behalf also had to be made before it became an established insti- tution in our community.

We may well ask why this daily was not supported. It was certainly conducted with ability, for Mr. Getz was a practical printer and editor of acknowledged experience and com- petency. The secret of its failure may have been hidden beneath its political bias. It was an exponent of Democratic principles. About this time the political sentiment of the city was against the Democratic party, and it would seem to have been growing in favor of the Republi- can party. Just before, in 1856, the city gave Buchanan (Democratic candidate for President) nearly one thousand majority, and, in 1857, it gave A. Jordan Schwartz (Democratic candi- date for mayor) 368 majority ; but, in 1858, it gave Benneville Keim (candidate for mayor . on the American ticket) 444 majority, and, in. 1859, for same office, 944 majority over the Democratic candidate; and, in 1860, it gave Lincoln (Republican candidate for President), a plurality of 338, though the sentiment against the Democratic party was stronger, the majority having been 580 in a total vote of 3700. A file of the issues of the daily is not in existence. Hence we cannot express a positive opinion. The political sentiment was against the editor, and the price may have been too high, the peo- ple not having been taught as yet to appreciate such a factor in their midst by paying for it at the rate of one cent a day or six cents a week.

READING TIMES .- Immediately after the suspension of the Herald a stronger feeling for a daily newspaper manifested itself in the city. So a third attempt was made. A sentiment in its behalf had apparently been created at Mr. Getz's expense. This was by a stranger to the city. In many things, it is said, a prophet is not without honor, save in his own land. And. it would seem that this was applicable here, with respect to the daily newspaper. J. Robley Dunglison, an accomplished young man from Philadelphia, settled in Reading about that time, and, finding an opening in the field of journalism, decided to take up the daily news-

1 Berks and schuylkill Journal.

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paper for his vocation. On the 19th of July, 1858, he issned the first number of his paper, which he entitled the Reading Daily Times. It was a folio, printed in the English language, in size sixteen by twenty-four inches, with five columns on each page, and issued in the morn- ing. In his salutatory, he said,-

"Upon the cessation of the issue of the Daily Ga- zette, we were solicited by numerous friends to com- mence a new daily newspaper, whose columns should not only be perfectly neutral in politics, but be cor- rect and complete records of all matters of social in- terest in which the people of Reading and vicinity might beinterested. Encouraged by their solicitation, a thorough canvass of the city was made, and finding support guaranteed sufficient to warrant the com- inencement of the enterprise, we determined to risk the experiment."

Its contents consisted of nine columns of reading matter, and eleven columns of adver- tisements. Its price was one cent a copy, and six cents a week. The printing-office in which it was published, was situated on the north- west corner of Fourth and Penn Streets.

Mr. Dunglison continued its publication till December 9, 1859. It was then sold to Henry Lantz and conducted by liim successfully till he enlisted in the Civil War, in September, 1861, when he transferred it to A. S. Whitman and C. F. Haas. He is given the credit of estab- lishing firmly the first successful daily paper at Reading. The firm of Whitman & Haas increased the price to eighteen cents a week, and issued it during the progress of the war with great ability and success, displaying firm patriotism in advocating its vigorous prosecu- tion and in encouraging all measures for the preservation of the Union. Its columns con- tained full reports of the movements of the army, of the battles fonght, etc., besides local and general news and interesting literary mat- ter. The publishers displayed much enterprise in its publication. It was the only daily paper then issued at Reading. Daily papers fron Philadelphia and New York-especially the Press from the former place, and the Tribune from the latter-were patronized by our com- munity for extended correspondence pertaining to the war in the several sections of the South- ern States, and for vigorous editorials in sus-

taining the national government. In that thrilling period of our history the Times occu- pied a position here similar to the position of the other papers named in their respective cities.

In March, 1865, F. B. Shalters, Jr., became one of the firm, and in September following Mr. Haas retired, on account of official duties as clerk of the city. Mr. Haas had learned the art of printing under Mr. Whitman, and continued with him for a number of years, ad- vancing from a compositor to foreman, and thence to co-proprietor of a newspaper. He was a man of ability and energy. In October, 1865, the price was reduced to twelve cents a week.

In October, 1868, Mr. Whitman withdrew from the firm. Mr. Shalters then became sole proprietor and editor, and conducted it till April 3, 1869, when he sold it to A. C. Buck- walter and Charles B. Rhoads. A stronger feeling for newspapers was being created in the community. At that time there were two com- petitors contending for a share of influence and patronage. These were the Dispatch and the Eagle, published daily in the evening. The parties named published the Times successfully till June 19th following. Messrs. J. Knabb & Co., the proprietors of the Berks and Schuyl- kill Journal, then purchased it, and conducted it in connection with their weekly newspaper. In the previous eleven years, it had passed under the management of five different parties. But a new era began in its history under the direction of an established firm, its prospects soon brightening and its circulation extending. Within a year afterward (April 4, 1870) the firm purchased the Evening Dispatch, and united it with the Times, entitling the news- paper Reading Times and Dispatch. From that time onward it has been successfully pub- lished by tlie same firm. The latter part of the title was dropped in December, 1881. In politics it has been a consistent advocate of Republican principles. In general and local news it has always exhibited energy on the one hand in collecting the daily occurrences both here and in distant places, and care on the other in reporting them correctly; and the

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department of general literature for the family has been conducted with discrimination. In general reading matter, all the newspapers of Reading display a praiseworthy energy towards creating increasing interest in daily publica- tions. Compared with publications ten years ago, they show considerable progress. In the line of general advancement they are at the head of the column, advocating measures for the convenience and improvement of the com- munity.

EVENING DISPATCH was a daily newspaper, begun on February 10, 1866, by J. D. Lacier, C. D. Eliot, H. Schultz and J. L. Mast, who traded under the name of Lacier & Co. It was published every week-day afternoon, at fifteen cents a week, and seven dollars a year. Its size was twenty-two by thirty-six inches, with seveu columns on each page. It was a thor- oughly Republican paper, and conducted with energy and ability till April 4, 1870, when Messrs. J. Knabb & Co. purchased and merged it with the Daily Times, in conjunction with which paper, as the Reading Times and Dis- patch, it appeared on the following day.

READING DAILY REPORTER was started by Alfred S. Jones as an independent newspaper on April 26, 1864, and carried on successfully by him for four months. It was a folio, price six cents a week. The subscription list, at the beginning, included twelve hundred patrons. John Ralston, Esq., then became a partner, and the newspaper was published, in an en- larged form, at ten cents a week, as a Demo- cratic organ for several months longer, and suspended.

READING DAILY EAGLE .- This daily Eng- lish newspaper was begun by William S. Ritter and Jesse G. Hawley, proprietors of the Adler, on January 28, 1868. Its size was twenty-two by thirty inches, and its price three cents a copy, ten cents a week and $4.50 a year. The motto placed at the head of the paper was :

" For the good that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance."

The firm of Ritter & Co. was dissolved on November 13, 1874, and the Daily Eagle be- came the property of Mr. Hawley. During that year the firm bought and introduced into

their establishment a Hoe four-cylinder rotary press, costing nineteen thousand dollars.

The daily issue was published six days of the week, in the afternoon, till February 25, 1877. Shortly before, an increasing demand had arisen for a Sunday local paper, and Mr. Hawley satis- fied this demand by issuing a Sunday edition of the Eagle in the morning. It was at once appreciated. The price was, and still is, three cents a copy. It is the only Sunday English paper in the county.

This newspaper has been issued regularly since on every day of the year with increasing patronage and success, and an extending circu- lation throughont this city and county, and into adjoining counties. It is independent in politics, Its columns show much. energy and success in collecting news, both local and general. The editor of these papers, including the Weekly Eagle, is John D. Missimer.

JESSE G. HAWLEY, son of Jesse Hawley and Esther (née Meredith) his wife, was born at Pughtown, in Chester County, Pa., on August 8, 1839, and educated at the Marshalton Acad- emy (a private institution in Chester County), Millersville Normal School, and at Pough- keepsie, N. Y. Whilst at the latter place he studied law at the National Law School. He then settled at Reading in September, 1859, finished his legal studies under Maj. Samuel L. Young, at Reading, and was admitted to the Berks County bar on September 20, 1860. He continued in active practice till 1870. Dur- ing that time, in 1864, he purchased a half- interest in the Readinger Adler, and became in- terested with William S. Ritter in the business of printing and publication. He and his part- ner instituted the Daily Eagle in 1868, and purchased the Reading Gazette and Democrat in 1869. These three publications, together with a large book-store aud printing establishı- ment, were conducted very successfully by them till 1874, when Mr. Hawley became the sole proprietor of all, excepting the Adler, his inter- est in which he then transferred to Mr. Ritter, and the firm of Ritter & Co. was dissolved. In 1877 he began the publication of a Sunday edition of the Eagle ; and in 1878 he substituted the name of Weekly Eagle in the place of the

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Gazette and Democrat. He has conducted his newspapers, printing establishment and book- store with great and increasing success.

Since 1880 he has annually traveled very extensively throughout the United States and Europe, journeying across the continent in the former, and visiting all the important countries and metropolitan places in the latter. During a second visit to Europe, in 1885, he was accom- panied by his wife and daughters.

Mr. Hawley was married to Kate E., daugh- ter of Louis Ritter, of Reading. He has two daughters, Edith and Helen. He is highly esteemed throughout the community for his business enterprise and progressive spirit. Gen- eral education and internal improvements have his constant and earnest encouragement.

DIE READING POST .- The first daily English newspaper was established at Reading in 1858. Ten years afterward a daily German newspaper was established here by William Rosenthal. This was on June 1, 1868. A departure of this character from the ordinary course of Ger- man newspaper publications required more than ordinary enterprise and courage, and also a care- ful survey of the community, in order to know that such a publication would be acceptable and be sufficiently patronized. But Mr. Rosen- thal was equal to the task; and, mastering the situation, he started out boldly and at once won success by deserving it. And he has continued it till now. It is the only daily German newspaper in the State, outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is a folio, printed on a sheet twenty-four by thirty-five inches ; price (including Sunday supplement) twelve cents a week, and six dollars a year. Its circulation is mostly in Reading. It has secured a strong hold upon the community through his intelligent and careful direction, avoiding offen- sive partisanship and the discussion of religious subjects. Mr. Rosenthal has accomplished a work worthy of special mention, when we con- sider the strong and persistent influences at work against the preservation of the German language and its daily use here by the increasing encour- agement given to English education.

DAILY SPIRIT OF BERKS .- Mr. Daniel S. Francis, after having issued successfully the

Weekly Spirit of Berks for over five years, was encouraged to issue a daily edition. On August 6, 1881, he accordingly began the publication of the Daily Spirit of Berks, and it met with im- mediate success. In November following, he sold both papers to John B. Dampman, Esq., who shortly afterward formed a co-partnership with A. C. Buckwalter. This firm then re- organized the two editions and changed their names to the Morning Herald and Weekly Herald.

They have conducted both since with increas- ing success. The daily edition contains vigorous and independent editorials. It is conducted with ability. In politics it is neutral. Much attention is given to the discussion of questions on the subject of labor, and much enterprise is displayed in the news department, both local and general.

THE READING DAILY NEWS was begun by William S. Ritter, the proprietor of the Adler, on May 1, 1880. It is a folio sheet, twenty- four by thirty-six inches, with seven columns on each page, and issued daily, excepting Sun- days, in the afternoon. In politics it is thoroughly Democratic. Its editorial depart- ment is conducted by Jacob Weidel, Esq. It is a progressive newspaper, showing energy in the collection of news and vigor in the discussion of general topics. It is now in its sixth year, in which time, notwithstanding the existence of three other daily papers at Reading,-two in the morning and one in the afternoon,-it has ac- quired a considerable popularity and an extended circulation throughout the city and county.

Other daily papers were conducted at Read- ing, but their publication was not continued for any considerable time. The earliest was the Daily Leader, and afterward there appeared the Evening Star, Evening Record, Daily People and Daily Graphic.

LOUIS A. WOLLENWEBER was at no time connected with the newspapers of Reading or Berks County. But he has been a printer, newspaper publisher and correspondent through a period of fifty years in this country, and identified himself so thoroughly with our con- munity that he is worthy of a place in this chapter.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

He was born December 5, 1807, at Ixheim, a suburb of the town of Zwiebrücken, Germany, and there learned the trade of printing. After the French Revolution he manifested an active public interest in politics, and made speeches against the crown. This conduct obliged him to flee from his country. He emigrated to the United States, landing at Philadelphia, July 18, 1832. He spent the following year at Reading and then returned to Philadelphia, where he found employment at printing. In August, 1836, he instituted there the first daily German newspaper in the United States. It was entitled Frei-einige; and in 1838 he began the publication of another daily German newspaper, entitled Philadelphia Democrat, and continned its issue regularly till 1852, when he sold it to Hoffman & Morwitz, and retired from the active duties and responsibilities. of · newspaper life. After residing again at Read- ing during the years 1854 and 1855 he acted as agent for a number of German steamship lines at Philadelphia. Whilst filling this position his only son Lonis was killed in the Civil War, in the service of the national government. This was a hard blow to him, but he bore the sacri- fice willingly, because it was for a great and free country which he, as a stranger, had learned to love. Shortly afterward he moved permanently to Berks County. He lived at Womelsdorf till 1876, and then settled at Reading. He is the local agent here for the German Consul, and is also correspondent for a number of prominent German newspapers in this country and in Germany. During his residence at Womelsdorf he became interested in our early local history, and after gathering considerable facts, particu- larly relating to the German immigrants, he published, in 1880, a small, but interesting book in the German language, entitled Die beiden ersten Deutschen Ansiedler in Pennsylvanien, and about the same time another, entitled Dic Berg Maria (narrating the affecting story of a German woman who lived alone on the moun- tain in Pike township, this county). He is a stranger in a strange land, but he is thoroughly appreciated for his genial and sociable disposi- tion and upright deportment. He has found a desirable home here in the midst of beautiful

hills, and, as he expressed himself, he wants to be buried in his beloved old Berks County.

CHAPTER XVIII.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE internal improvements of the county relate to the several prominent affairs which have been instituted and carried on for the general development, convenience and enrichi- ment of the whole community.

They comprise the following subjects : Schuyl- kill River, Bridges, Roads and Turnpikes, Stages, Canals, Railways, Public County Build- ings, Post-Offices, Telegraph and Telephone.

Each of these subjects are treated in the order mentioned.

SCHUYLKILL RIVER.

In a natural aspect, the Schuylkill River has occupied an important position in the well-being of the county. We can only appreciate this position by realizing the great advantages which it has afforded us in leading away successfully the enormous quantities of water throughout the year, from the mountains and valleys to the sea. And its meandering channel is worthy ot consideration, inasmuch as the flowing waters are thereby detained in their onward course to moisten the air and vegetation, and to proceed with only such speed as not to injure the adjoin- ing country.

FISHING AND NAVIGATION .- In a practical aspect, it has been valuable in various ways- two especially, fishing and navigation. In respect to fishing, it was a source of profit and subsistence to the early settlers who occupied the adjoining properties. They discovered this fact immediately after settling here; and to facilitate the catching of large quantities of fish with little labor and expense, they erected wears, racks and dams in the river, into which the fish were driven by the fishermen, who either waded afoot or rode on horseback through the water. And in respect to navigation, it was likewise a source of advantage to them in en-

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abling them to carry conveniently, by boats, flats and canoes, and with little expense, great quantities of grain and goods of all kinds, to the market at Philadelphia.

Penn had hardly landed here before he found that navigation in the river was obstructed by fishing wears and dams; and believing them to be objectionable, he encouraged legislation against them. Various acts were passed, but the wears and dams were not abandoned. This process of fishing continued. But eventually the inconvenience and suffering occasioned by them became so burdensome that loud and carnest complaints arose, when they were dis- continued ; but not till the assistance of the law had been invoked. The farmers of our own county having been concerned in the difficulties which they occasioned, I submit such details as I could find relating to them.

OBSTRUCTIONS TO NAVIGATION .- Deposi- tions in respect to these dams, and the obstruc- tions to navigation, were taken before George Boone, Esq., on the 12th of March, 1728. The following witnesses, who resided in Amity township, were heard :

" Marcus Huling said that as he was going down the Schuylkill with a canoe loaded with wheat, it struck on a fish-dam and took a great deal of water into the wheat, by means whereof his wheat was much damnified and was in great danger of being all lost. At another time he struek fast on a fish-dam and would have lost his whole load of wheat if he had not leaped into the river and with hard labor prevented the canoe from swinging around, and thereby he suffered very much in his body by reason of the water and cold. And at still another time he struck fast on one of the rack-dams, and with great hazard and hard labor eseaped with his life and load.

" Jonas Jones said that in the month of February, the weather being extremely cold, he struck fast on a fish-dam, and, to save his load of wheat, was obliged to leap into the river to the middle of his body, and with all his labor and skill he could not get off in less than half an hour. Afterward he proceeded on his journey with the clothes frozen stiff ou his back, by means whereof he underwent a great deal of misery."

"Jacob Waren said that he struek fast on a dam with a canoe loaded with wheat and he and his part- ner were forced into the river ; and then one of them was obliged with all his might to hold the canoe whilst the other dug away the stones of the dam and thus with much difficulty got off.

. "Isuac Smally said that whilst going down the

river he struck fast on a rack-dam with one hundred and forty bushels of wheat in a canoe,1 and in order to save the load from being all lost, he (much against his mind) was obliged to leap into the river. The water, being up to his chin in depth, frequently dashed into his mouth, where between whiles he breathed .. He and his partner were only able to hold the canoe with great labor, whilst a young man, there present, ran above a mile to eall help to get them off.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 74

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418