The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-02-16
A REMARKABLE RECORD.
Howa Great Journal was Created
History Of the San Francisco Chronicle
Interesting Episodes I'm Its Career.
WHAT ENERGY AND ENTERPRISE CAN AC
COMPLISH.

The following appreciative sketch is
from the Spirit of the Times: The his
tory of a progressive journal is interest
ing to the general public as furnishing a
record of the growth of the community
in which it was established. Therise of
the San Francisco Chronicle to influcne
and prosperity, show what can be ac-
compGshed by energy and pluck.
When, on the 9th of January, 1865, the
first issue, little fourteen by twenty
five inch sheet appeared, even its
friends could not have prophesied for it
a more brilliant sphere. 1t was then
devoted to dramatic matters, criticised
theatres and concerts, and treated the
news of the day in lively manner,
though never assuming to speak OF i'm
portant subjects in ponderous manner.
The public soon began to discover much
good sense in its brightness and ANNA
ton. Type, room and press were all at
first procured on credit. The labor
needed to issue the first number nearly
ended the career of the single editor,
publisher and compositor. At the
end of the first week the payment of
bills and the general kind recognition
which the paper received, gave indica-
tons of better times. The paper soon
became popular farorite to such an ex-
tent that it was more in demand at the
restaurants and other public places
than the regular dailies. Hundreds of
persons came to the Office of the little
gratuitous sheet each day at the hour
of publication to ask for my Chroni-
cle." Strangers often came when about
to return home, for the purpose of "sub-
scribing," in order that the little paper
might be sent to them. It gradually
became apparent that the Chronicle was
destined to attain an extraordinary pop
ularity, and to develop into a permanent
and prosperous institution, notwith-
standing the fact that 1t had started
with no capital and with no rev.
enue except that derived from its
special advertising patronage, and
with its sole dependence for daily
existence upon the energy and hopeful
perseverance of one man. At the end of
a month the worst of the struggle was
over It was then enlarged by the addi
ton of four columns, and was no longer
precarious venture. At the end of six
months an editorial appeared in its col
umns which expressed its hopes, as fol-
lows: Though not dissatisfied with
what we have already accomplished, ace
hare BIZ no means attained the height Of our
ASPIRATIONS" These aspirations were only
limited at; to have expressed them fully
would have only provoked mirth in
those who could
SEE NO GERM OF THE PRESENT GREAT
NESS
of the Daily Chronicle in the little
dramatic sheet. On the first of De-
cember, 1865, thoughtless contemporary
rebuked it disparagingly for ven
turing out of its path as strictly
dramatic paper. 1t replied editorially
that it did not intend to remain a gratu-
itous advertising sheet, but should as
pire to brighter positions, and appealed
to the year 1877 to bear out its ambi-
tious claims. Soon after being estab-
lished on a firm footing, the Dramatic
Chronicle broadened the scope of its ed
itorial department, and began to discuss
all matters of public interest, both ma
tional and municipal, with vigor, free
dom and independence that caused it to
be read with avidity by all classes of
the community. The fresh and racy
style in which its views were expressed,
offered pleasing contrast to the solemn
editorials of the leading journals of the
day, and its readers perceived that
sound argument and solid opinions
need not lose any of their weight from
being expressed in an agreeable and an
mated style, enlivened by wit and hui
1x7c
casm. In March, 1867, the paper was
again enlarged by the addition of three
more columns, step which was war
ranted by the growth of its business
and its greatly increased popularity.
Several bold and consummate
STROKES OF ENTERPRISE,
after it had fairly entered into COM
petition with the other daily pa
pers for the freshest and most reliable
news, still further attracted public at
tention, and aided in making it popu-
lar pet and favorite. This was nota-
bly, the case in the complete report,
which it furnished at great expense of
the Chandler Harris prize-fight in the
latter part of 1867. 1t dispatched its
couriers to Alameda County, where the
ring was secretly pitched. Its reporters
repaired to the Oakland telegraph sta
ton, and succeeded, in pursuance of
their instructions, in taking exclusive
possession Of the wires. The fight ex-
cited the utmost interest in the city, and
immense crowds gathered around the
little "free sheets" bulletin board to
get the only tidings that came. An ex-
ira edition of the paper was printed,
{. 900 copies being sold in an hour.