USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 56
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With the deeline of the American, as before described, the Manu- faeturers and Farmers Journal took its place in influenee and public confidenee. The Journal has been ably edited from the beginning and a number of gifted writers had charge of its columns; among these were William E. Richmond, Thomas Rivers, Benjamin F. Hallett, Lewis Gaylord Clarke, George Paine, John B. Snow, Thomas S. Webb,
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Henry B. Anthony, James B. Angell, James S. Ham, George W. Dan- ielson and Alfred M. Williams.
In 1824 the Independent Inquirer, a weekly paper established August 27, 1823, by Barnum Field, was transferred to the publishers of the Manufacturers & Farmers Journal, and its name changed to the Rhode Island Country Journal and continued to be issued until 1897. On the 21st of July, 1829, the proprietors believed they were warranted in starting a daily issue, and the first number of the Provi- dence Daily Journal was issued, which is still at the height of a pros- perous existence, and the oldest daily newspaper in Rhode Island. During all of its long career the Journal has occupied the leading position in Providence journalism. In order to more completely cover the Rhode Island newspaper field, and particularly that of Providence, the publishers of the Journal began, on January 26, 1863, the issue of an evening edition, to which they gave the title, The Evening Bulletin. The exciting events of the Civil War and the necessity of giving the public the latest news, made the Bulletin a welcome addition to the local press, and it still continues with the largest circulation of any Rhode Island daily paper. From the birth of the Republican party, during many years, the Journal's publica- tions have been earnest and able advocates of its principles, and their influence in the political field in this State was almost unlimited. The time came, however, when its own sense of independence and its loyalty to its own belief impelled it to change its policy as a strictly party organ. Since that time the papers have been independent to a marked degree, and have not hesitated to give their influence in support of those who were believed to be the best men for public station, regardless of their political affiliations. In facilities for news-gathering, partic- ularly in regard to foreign and State dispatches, and in all modern mechanical appliances of improved presses, type-setting machines, etc., the Journal has been kept abreast of newspaper improvement in the great cities of the country. The office was removed in 1844 to the Washington buildings, where it remained to July, 1871, when it changed to the Barton block on Weybosset street. In May, 1889, the Fletcher building, corner of Westminster, Eddy and Fulton streets, having been purchased by the company and fitted up for its purposes, was occupied. It is one of the largest and most fully equipped print- ing and publishing establishments in New England. The Providence Sunday Journal was first issued July 19, 1885.
Besides the short-lived papers already noticed, only two others were established in chronological order before a second attempt was made to found a Democratic newspaper in Providence ; these were The Bea- con, started December, 1823, by William Spear, and continued weekly to the early part of 1826; and The Investigator and General Intelli- gencer, established in October, 1824, with James B. Yerrington, pub-
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lisher, and William Goodell, editor; it was a weekly and in 1828 re- moved to Boston.
In August, 1828, John S. Greene began the publication of the Repub- lican Herald, a Demoeratie sheet. A year later he was sueeeeded by William Simons, jr., who continued until January, 1842. This paper soon received the support that had been previously given to the Provi- dence Patriot, and it eapably filled its chosen field. But finaneial returns were meagre, comparatively speaking, and after a long strug- gle the Herald, in 1850, was made a weekly edition of the Daily Post. The latter was established in March, 1850, by Sayles & Miller, and was published by them and by Anthony Miller successively until August 1, 1866, when Albert S. Gallup took it. The paper suspended May 11, 1867, but was practically succeeded by the Morning Herald. Among those who edited the Post were William Simons, Welcome B. Sayles, "Clem" Webster, and Thomas Steere, and they made its columns sparkle with pungent humor and ineisive eomment. The Providenec Morning Herald, which was printed with the material previously used on the Post, appeared May 20, 1867, with Noah D. Payne and Albert A. Scott, publishers. Mr. Payne was in sole control from September, 1868, until May 21, 1873, when the paper was discontinued, and many years passed before another attempt was made to establish a Demo- eratic paper in the city.
From the date of the founding of the Providence Journal during many years no permanent addition was made to the newspapers of the eity ; but the list of ephemeral publieations during that period was a long one. Of these short-lived journals only brief reeord is possible or necessary for these pages. The Literary Subaltern was established January 1, 1829, by William Marshall, with Sylvester Southworth, editor. Under several different proprietors it continued three or four years. A few numbers of the Daily Ameriean were issued in 1831; and on September 18, of that year, Bennett Wheeler started The Chroniele of the Times, which also failed after the issue of a few num- bers. It was in 1830 that the Providenee Free Press was brought from Pawtucket to remain one year in aid of the anti-Masonie eampaign. An attempt was made to establish another daily paper by Sylvester S. Southworth and Stephen G. Holroyd, who issued the first number of the Daily Gazette on February 2, 1833; The Journal of the next day contained the following :
"The City Gazette, the first number of a new daily afternoon jour- nal, of the size of the Boston Atlas, published by Messrs. Southworth & Holroyd, made its debut yesterday. In polities it promises to sup- port the National Republican eause. It is to be edited by Mr. S. S. Southworth, of the Literary Subaltern, which will be resumed, and published, as heretofore, onee a week.
"The Daily Advertiser and Semi-Weekly Ameriean, eondueted by
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Mr. Daniel Mowry, 3d, were discontinued yesterday, according to previous notiee, by the publishers. The Weekly Mieroeosm will be continued as usual, and sent to all subseribers of the Daily American.'
This is a elear statement of the changes made at that time. The Gazette was continued nine months, when it was made a weekly and the name changed to The City Gazette; it was soon afterward discon- tinued.
The Voice of the People, started in 1834, was sileneed after a few numbers; it was published by a Mr. Doyle. The Evening Star was established in April, 1834, by Charles Haswell, editor and proprietor ; a few weeks later Nathan Hall and Cornelius S. Jones took the paper and subsequently changed its name to the Daily News; it was discon- tinued in August, 1836.
In June, 1834, a daily journal was started with the title, The Com- mereial Advertiser, by Knowles & Burroughs; it was published even- ings until September of that year. From the contents of the daily, a weekly was made up and issued under the name of The New England Family Visitor and Literary Journal. The Penny Post was founded in January, 1835, by Samuel S. Wilson, editor and publisher ; in July of the same year the name was changed to The Weekly Visitor, and its visits eeased in the following November.
One of the several newspapers that have been absorbed by the Journal was the Morning Courier, edited and published by William G. Larned from June, 1836, to January, 1840; it was a weekly paper. A campaign paper ealled The Gaspee Torchlight was issued from the Journal offiee during the Harrison campaign of 1840; its opponent at the same time was pertinently ealled The Extinguisher, which eman- ated from the Herald office.
The New Age, established February 19, 1841, as a weekly was pub- lished sueeessively by the Rhode Island Suffrage Association, Millard & Brown, and Miller, Low & Miller, until March 1, 1842. From the same offiee was issued The Daily Express for a short time after March 18, 1842. Joseph M. Church established The Evening Chronicle on Marelı 30, 1842, but it suspended within the first year. The Narra- gansett Chief was a weekly issue from the same offiee, a reprint from the columns of the Chroniele.
A daily paper that had an existenee of about ten years was estab- lished in 1844 by L. Amsbury, with the name, The Daily Transcript and Chroniele ; it was an afternoon paper, and in July, 1847, the name was changed to The Daily Evening Transeript. From that date it was published by Green & Shaw, A. Crawford Greene, editor, until Decem- ber 19, 1855, when it was suspended.
Between 1843 and 1850 several ephemeral sheets were started and doomed to early extinction. The Independent was issued weekly a short time in 1844 by W. S. Sherman. The Tribune of the People
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had a brief existence in 1846, and The Daily Sentinel was established in that year by S. M. Millard, but lived only a short time. The Daily Star was published in 1849-50, and the Morning Mirror was issued for a short period in 1849 by Rowe & Co.
One nearly permanent journal was founded during this period in the Providence General Advertiser and Weekly Gazette, which was established in 1847; as indicated by its title, it was devoted chiefly to advertising and was circulated gratuitously until January 31, 1886. The publishers at different periods were J. D. Jones, A. Crawford Greene, and A. Crawford Greene & Son.
The decade from 1850 to 1860 was prolific of newspapers, all of which were disappointing to their founders. The Providence Daily Tribune, however, narrowly escaped permanency, as it lived about six years. It was founded June 13, 1853, by A. Crawford Greene, editor and publisher ; he was followed in succession by L. Amsbury and Colby & Amsbury. The paper was discontinued in 1859. From the Tribune office was issued the United States Freeman, which was edited by Dunbar Harris and others ; it was an advocate of the abolition of slav- ery and short-lived.
The Providence Plaindealer was published during the year 1855 by Howard Meeks. In 1857 N. Bangs Williams began sounding Bangs' Trumpet, which continued a year or two. The same editor, associated with Henry L. Tillinghast, published, during a part of 1859, The Evening Telegraph.
The Providence Evening Press was established March 14, 1859, by Cooke & Danielson (Albert B. Cooke and George W. Danielson) ; it was edited several years by Sidney Dean. In 1880 Z. L. White be- came the editor and later proprietor. This paper had a fluctuating existence of over a quarter of a century, during a part of which it enjoyed fair prosperity. Changes in its publishers and editors were numerous, and finally, through unsuccessful management, it was dis- continued September 30, 1884. The Rhode Island Press was the weekly edition of the Evening Press and Morning Star, and was established in 1861 and continued to 1886, having been continued by Z. L. White & Co. after the suspension of the daily. The Providence Morning Star was established December 9, 1869, with the same pub- lishers and editors as the Evening Press, and continued to May 4, 1887.
In 1876 a paper was established in Providence which was destined to serve as the foundation for a successful and permanent daily inde- pendent Democratic journal. This was the Sunday Telegram, which was established in 1876 by C. C. Corbett & Brother. There were sev- eral early changes in proprietorship, the founders being succeeded by Corbett & Spear, and this firm by Corbett & Black. The paper was continued with fair success until 1880, the office being located at the corner of Peck and Friendship streets. In the year just named a
4. 3.
LOWER WEYBOSSET STREET AND POST-OFFICE NEWS AGENCY, PROVIDENCE. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1857, IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
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daily edition was issued, and in 1881 the property passed wholly to David O. Black. In 1886 F. A. Crandall acquired an interest in the business and for a time occupied the chief editorial chair. In October, 1889, the establishment was purchased by the Providence Telegram Publishing Company, and in 1891 the office was removed to Turk's Head. From this time forward The Telegram rapidly advanced in public favor and acquired a large measure of influence in the field of Democratic politics throughout the State. Able writers were placed in charge of the various departments, a competent corps of reporters engaged, and all modern facilities for news-gathering were employed. The rapid increase in the circulation of the paper soon demanded not only the best and most effective mechanical appliances for producing a newspaper, but also more commodious quarters. To meet this de- mand the establishment was removed, in December, 1899, to 136-144 Westminster street, where commodious quarters were specially fitted up for its permanent home. The Telegram building is admirably adapted for its purposes and is fully equipped with everything neces- sary for the rapid production of a first-class modern newspaper. Upon the organization of the Telegram Publishing Company, Joseph Bani- gan was chosen its president and served in that capacity until his death, when he was succeeded by Walter S. Ballou, the present incum- bent. David F. Lingane was made managing editor at the organiza- tion of the company, and since 1894 has filled the position of manager and editor-in-chief, with Burton Firman, managing editor. A weekly edition of the Telegram was begun on January 30, 1899.
The Odd Fellows' Register was established in 1877 by the firm of Reynolds & Mackinnon. In May of the next year it was removed to East Greenwich, and continued to August, 1883, when it was sold to William H. Smith, of Portland, Me., where it was continued many years.
The German newspaper, the Providence Anzeiger, was established as a weekly in 1876 and still represents the interests of that large element of citizenship. It has been edited successively by Gustav Saacke and Felix Hamberger, forming the Anzeiger Publishing Co.
Another paper that survived the exigencies of the business a number of years was the Rhode Island Democrat, which was started June 14, 1879, by Albion N. Merchant. The establishment passed to John H. Scholfield and Peter Trumpler on July 10, 1884. On December 25, 1884, Mr. Scholfield became sole owner, forming the Democrat Pub- lishing Company. From September, 1891, the Rhode Islander Pub- lishing Company issued the paper, with Benjamin F. Evans, manager, and Josiah B. Bowditch, editor. In March, 1892, the paper was re- moved to Newport where it was issued a few months as a weekly edi- tion of the Herald. At the end of that time it was returned to Provi- dence and continued about two years by the same company.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
The Times Publishing Company was formed in 1877, and during a short period in that year published the Providence Evening Times. On March 16, 1878, the first number of The Cosmopolitan, a weekly, was issued by Angell, Hammett & Co .; it continued to January, 1879. In September, 1879, F. E. Corbett took charge of a new paper, the Sunday Transcript, which was owned by Alonzo Spear, of Boston, who was succeeded by The Transcript Company; the paper stopped in 1886. The Providence Herald was established November 1, 1879, by Brown & Corbett, and a year later passed wholly to E. A. Corbett. In 1885 he was succeeded by Corbett & Sawin (A. D. Sawin) ; this paper has been continued to the present time, excepting for a few weeks, after which interim E. A. Corbett became sole proprietor and changed the name to Corbett's Herald.
The Narragansett Historical Register was a valuable publication, issued monthly from 1882 to 1885, at Hamilton, R. I., when it was removed to Providence and continued to April, 1891. It was devoted to antiquities, genealogy, and historical subjects, chiefly of the south- ern part of the State. James N. Arnold was editor. Bound volumes of this magazine are preserved in the library of the Rhode Island His- torical Society, and in some of the other libraries of the State.
Book Notes is the title of a fortnightly publication which has been issued by Sidney S. Rider since April, 1883. It is devoted to literary information and criticism, and historical sketches.
A Sunday edition of The Star (before mentioned) was added in 1881, with the title The Sunday Star, and continued to about 1886. During a brief period in 1884 The Mail was issued daily from the Democrat office. Another short-lived daily was The Evening News, started October 1, 1884, by Z. L. White ; it was discontinued March 7, 1885. In April, 1886, C. C. Corbett started The Sunday World ; he was succeeded by F. E. Corbett and the paper suspended in 1888. The Sunday Republican was established in 1887 by E. A. Corbett, which is still continued by him, with the name changed to the Rhode Island Republican and the publication day to Saturday. In 1883 Claude De Haven established a weekly called The Indicator, but it was suspended in 1888. The Providence Ledger was established as a weekly Republican paper in January, 1888, by J. D. Hall & Co., with J. D. Hall, jr., business manager. The paper was discontinued in 1892, at the time of the establishment of the Daily News.
Among newspapers devoted to the various labor interests of Provi- dence and its vicinity was The People, established December 5, 1885, by Robert Grieve, editor, and the Rhode Island Co-operative Printing and Publishing Company, proprietors. In May, 1887, Mr. Grieve was suc- ceeded by John F. Smith, and he by Robert Greaves, a former member of the board of directors of the paper. At this time the business was leased to Holmes W. Merton, who has as associate, Henry Vrooman;
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they continued the publication as a socialistic organ until 1888, when it was discontinued.
The Paper was the title of another labor journal which was pub- lished for a time in 1888. The Evening Call was started July 4, 1889, as the outcome of a strike and lockout, and was under the management of the Typographical Union, with F. E. Jones, editor, and J. A. Addy, manager ; it was suspended at the end of five months.
B. S. Lake & Co. started The Rental Guide and Rhode Island Busi- ness Journal in 1888, and still publish it, with the title changed to the Real Estate Register and Rental Guide, which explains its purpose. The Freemason's Repository, devoted to the interests of that Order, was founded in 1871 by T. S. Hammond, with Rev. W. H. Rugg, editor. It is now published by E. L. Freeman & Son. The Tiden was a Swed- ish-American paper, which existed from 1889-1891, published by Dr. F. J. Haller. The Manufacturing Jeweler is a successful trade period- ical, which was started as a monthly in October, 1883, by Albert Ullman and John A. McCloy ; the present proprietor, W. B. Frost, took it about a year later, changed it to a semi-monthly October 1, 1889, and to a weekly October 1, 1890; Mr. Frost became editor November 1, 1884, and proprietor March 23, 1893.
The Board of Trade Journal made its first appearance in November, 1889, with Little & Bosworth, proprietors. It was the official organ of the Providence Board of Trade and supplied information of interest to the commercial, manufacturing, and financial circles of the city. The paper was continued until March, 1893. Two months later J. D. Hall & Co. began the publication of the Providence Journal of Com- merce, of which Mr. Hall was editor; subsequently the Journal of Commerce Company was formed, with Mr. Hall at first as editor and later as business manager. Mr. Robert Grieve succeeded Mr. Hall as editor. In February, 1899, the paper was sold to the Providence Board of Trade, the title was changed to the Board of Trade Journal, and George H. Webb, secretary of the board, became the editor. The publication is now called the Journal of Commerce and Board of Trade Journal. With the exception of a short interval, Charles Bosworth has been connected with this publication from the beginning, and much of the credit for its artistic appearance and general mechanical excellence is due to his efforts.
The Independent Citizen was the name of a weekly paper, started in Providence on January 5, 1889, with Rev. John H. Larry, editor, and the Independent Citizen Publishing Company, publishers. The gen- eral purpose of the paper was reform in a broad sense and independent expression on political topics. Mr. Larry continued to edit the paper until September, 1895, when he was succeeded by W. H. S. Pittenger. He was soon followed by E. N. Casey. The paper was continued to
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January, 1898, having been published during the latter part of its existence by a stock company.
The Medical literature of Providenec has included three or more periodieals which have ably represented the interests of the profession. Rhode Island Medical Science was the name of a monthly publication, which was established in January, 1893, and continued two years. It was at once succeeded by the Atlantie Medical Weekly, which con- tinucd to 1898. The Providence Medieal Journal, a quarterly, was established in January, 1900, and continues in existence.
An addition to the permanent daily press of Providence was made by the founding of the Providence Daily News on September 21, 1891, headed with the printed claim that it was to be "a elcan family paper". Heaton, Langtry & Co. were the publishers and the office was located at the corner of Dyer and Pine streets. On October 6, 1891, The Providence News Company became the owner of the busi- ness, the names of R. W. Bryant, publisher, and C. W. Bacon, editor, appearing under the editorial heading; S. A. Hopkins was business manager. . On September 22, 1897, J. W. Watson became the publisher and manager, and Charles H. Howland, editor; the latter was suc- eeeded by Charles P. Towle, who was followed by the present editor, Thomas H. McElroy. Others who were associated with the business management of the paper are Torrey E. Wardner, R. W. Jennings, Charles Carroll, and George Loekhart Darte, the present incumbent of the position. In January, 1898, the title of the corporation was changed to the Providenee News Publishing Company, of which D. Russell Brown is treasurer, and R. W. Jennings secretary. The News has gained a fair measure of popular favor.
The L'Eco del Rhode Island has been published, in the interest of the Italian people of Providence, by Federico Curzio & Co. since 1897. A Providenee cdition of Skandinavia, a Swedish paper, the headquar- ters of which are in Worcester, was edited by C. J. Ljungstrom ; it was established in 1885. Svca is the name of a Swedish weekly paper, with headquarters in Worcester ; the Providence branch was established January 1, 1900. It is in charge of J. S. Osterberg. The Providence Watchman was started in November, 1900, and is issued from the Star printing offiee. Rev. W. S. Holland is editor; the paper is devoted to religious affairs and the interests of colored people.
The list of religious, educational and strietly literary publieations that have been founded in Providence is, like that of seeular and news journals described, a long one. A very large majority of these had only brief periods of existenee and many are deserving of notiee only for reference ; a few only beeame permanent institutions and influen- tial in their adopted fields. The Religious Intelligencer or Christian Monitor was probably the first paper devoted to religious affairs in Providenee ; it was issued weekly from the office of the American, in
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quarto form, by James D. Knowles, and failed for want of support at the end of six months. The first number was dated May 13, 1820.
In May, 1821, Barber Badger revived it with the title abridged to Religious Intelligencer, which, after a few numbers, was changed to The Rhode Island Religious Intelligencer. In May, 1823, the form was changed to folio and enlarged, the title was made the Religious Intelligencer and Evening Gazette, and it so continued for about one year.
The Rhode Island Baptist was established in October, 1823, as a monthly, by Allen Brown, and was printed by John Miller; it sur- vived one year. The Christian Telescope was started August 7, 1824, and was edited by Rev. David Pickering, of the First Universalist church; Barzillai Cranston was the publisher, and later John S. Greene. In August, 1826, the paper was enlarged to eight pages and given the customary comprehensive title of The Christian Telescope and Universalist Miscellany. In December, 1826, F. C. Swain was associated in the publication with Mr. Greene, and from that date to September, 1827, it was printed by Cranston & Marshall; from the latter date Mr. Greene was the printer. In November, 1828, the paper was changed to folio form and the title still further extended to The Christian Telescope and Friday Morning General Intelligencer ; it was discontinued in the following year. Jacob Frieze was associated with Mr. Pickering in the editorial work for a time. In opposition to the journal The Anti-Universalist, begun in 1827, with Origen Bach- elor, editor and publisher, was removed to Boston in December, 1828, and there suspended.
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