The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-04-02

the capacity and means necessary to undertake
THE enterprise he set about it,. The leading
m,en of the Territory--Mr Sibley and others
guaranteed their coaatenance and liberal aid !;
and during the early part of the fall the ar
rangcments were SO far consummated, that Mr.
Randall proceeded to Cincnnati-his then
home-tO purchase press and materials. Win
ter setting in unusually early, he was not able
to return before the close of navigation. Mean
time he awaited the issue of the bill to organ
ize the Territory, then pending before Congress.
1t did not pass until the last day of the session.
By this time, Randall had concluded to set up
his office in Cincinnati, and there print the first
number of his paper A partnership had been
formed between him and the present senior edi-
tor of the .MinnesOtian, who had caught the
Minnesota fever by reading the speeches of
Senator Douglas and others, during the pen
dency of our organic bill. The first number of
the Minnesota Register was accordingly is
sued-printed in Cincinnati it is true, but d.
ted at st. Paul, April ~, ls49'-onc day before
the first number of the Pioneer Messrs. Sib-
ley and Rice had passed through Cincinnati, on
their way home from Washington, and liberal
contributions from their pens were found in the
first number of the Register. These, added to
Mr.. Randall's extensive knowledge of the coun-
try, made one of the most interesting local
sheets for Minnesota that has ever been issued.
The mere fact of its not having been printed
here makes no particular difference. 1t was
Minnesota newspaper st. Paul newspaper.
'all over and the first one ever published.
Randall, being man of unsettled purpose
and rowing disposition, caught the California
fever just at this juncture, and sold out the
Register to Maj M'Lean, now Indian Agent at
Fort Smelling, who had determined to migrate
hther, and resume the business of printing, to
which he had been bred, but had not followed
for thirty years. Randalrs arrangement with
the writer hereof was continued by M'Lean,
under the style of .MLean & Owens. The
press and materials were shipped to ST. Paul,
and the junior editor made his way hither in
the month of May. M'Lean remained behind,
owing mainly to the breaking out of the chol-
era, and did not arrive till late in August
This circumstance was a serious blow to the
success of the Register. The Pioneer had shot
far ahead the Chronicle had been established
by James Hughes about the first of June; and
the little Register appeared to be mo where
Nothing daunted, however, we procured of
Mr.. Rice one of those small Offices, on the south
side of st. Anthony street, and set up our press
the first of July Here, with the aid of Mr..
Shelley, now of the Democrat as our only reg
ular jour- we printed five or six numbers of
the Register 1t became evident, however,
that both it and the Chronicle could not live
separately ; SO about the time M'Lean came on
in August, the two were united under the title
of the Chronicle and Register selling
out and retiring, and his foreman, Quay taking
an interest with MLcan and Owens. Quay
continued two or three weeks and becoming
dissatisfied, quit the concern and the country.
The Chronicle and Register was continued
by MLean & Owens, with growing prospects of
success, until July following. 1t was the &C
knowledged Wing sheet of the Territory, and
possessed the confidence of the friends of the
administration almost unanimously. At this
time MLean, having some months previously
been appointed Indian Agent, became nnwl
ling to continue the business longer-a bust
ness, in fact. to which he was not at all suited
at his time of life. The establishment was sold
to David Olmstcd, a Democrat and by some
looked upon as leading member of his party.
Owens went out with M'Lean; and during the
few months which Olmsted owned the estab-
lishment, the paper had different editors at diff
ferent periods. Part Of the time. We believe, it
edited itself
In November, d. \. Robertson arrived with
his press, and early the following month issued
the first number of the Minnesota Democrat.
About this time, c. J. Henness, formerly Of
Philadelphia, Ostensibiy became the owner of
the Chronicle and DISQUALIFICATION, of the
Democrat, and his friends and supporters, real
IN. The two presses moved into the same
building, and formed an alliance, offensive and
defensive. to control both the political parties
of the Territory, and secure all the public pat
ronage from the Legislature. They Slipped
up ut the game and lost ALL The printing
was divided between the Pioneer and ne,c
Whig office, to be established the following
spring. Out of this latter establishment grew
the 'Minnesotian.' The Chronicle and Register
went down-the presses and materials passing
into the hands of Robertson.
The first number of the 'Minnesotian' was
issued September IL, 1851. Its publication
was commenced by a committee. P. Owens
having charge of the editorial, and J. C. Terry
the mechanical department.. The 9th of Jauu-
airy following, the establishment passed into
the hands of Owens Moore, where it still
continues.
The Pioneer continued in the hands of its
original proprietor till the day of his death,
last August. His name still remains at its
head. although it is generally understood the
establishment has ceased to belong to his es-
tate.
The Democrat now in its third year, also
has meyer CHANGED hands