The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-15
Old Newspaper Habits.


1914, they destroyed the public records.
Among the debris few papers were
found and preserved, but in the Senate
and House libraries the official record
only goes back to 1915. The Senate
library, however, contains the files of
newspapers running back to 1900, and
in the absence of the official records
they become very valuable. These files
are an interesting study, especially to
citizen of Washington. The oldest
paper on file is the "National Intelli-
gencer and Washington Advertiser,
printed by Samuel Harrison Smith, New
Jersey avenue, near the Capitol The
first issue was on Friday, Ocio ODER 81,
1900, and it contains lengthy apology
for delay in getting the paper out. The
mission of the paper, so the editor states
in double loaded salutatory, sis to diff
fuse correct information through the
whole extent Of the Union
An examination of the files shows
that the stirring events of the great civil
war worked quite revolution in the
methods of journalism. 1t then became
necessary to Utilize every avenue for the
collection of news, and, naturally, the
telegraph took the lead of everything
else. The rivalry between leading New
York journals, prior to the civil war, led
to wonderful display of enterprise and
TN enormous expenditure Of money in
gathering news. In those days the
whole country looked to the New York
papers for news, and any means by
which information could be obtained,
even few hours earlier than through
the regular channels, were adopted, with
out regard to cost. In the early days of
journalism, however, and before such
men as Bennett entered the field, it was
quiet, easy gong sort of business.
Taking the files in the Senate Library
from 1900 down for more than a quar-
ter OF century, it appears that the
chief duty of journalism was to write
long editorials.
Great Importance was attached then
to editorial utterances, as the theory
prevailed that the papers nodded and di
iected public opinion. A leading fea
ture of the papers then was the publica
ton of long essays on various topics
from prominent" or "leading" citizens.
For instance, a "letter from prominent
citizen of Virginia to a friend in Con-
gress would be given two or three col
umns' space, though nowhere did it
touch upon the events of the day At
one time discussion upon the virtues
of vaccination ran through the columns
Of the Intell;gsncer and drew very long
letters from different parts of the
Union.
In those days, instead of the system
Of interviewing now in vogue, the editor
would write to public man asking his
views upon certain subject, or an ex-
PLANTATION of some act Of his, and then
the correspondence would be published.
In this way letters from Madison,
Henry Clay and many other leading
men in the early days of our country
appeared in the newspapers. Very
little space was devoted to current
events, and reports of Congressional pro
ceedinss, even down to 1925, for two or
three days, were frequently published on
the same day. For instance, Thursdays
issue would contain the Congressional
report for Monday, Tuesday and We'd
nesday, each day under its proper
date. Occasionally as much as half
column would be given to local news,
but as general thing the space was
consumed in long editorials and letters
from "noted citizens.
In one Of the oldest papers is pub
lished proclamation from George
Washington, as President Of the United
States, suspending " the first and third
articles Of the terms and conditions de-
clared by the President of the United
States on the 18th of October, 1871,
for regulating the material and manner
of building improvements in the city OF
Washington" These terms prescribed
that buildings should be constructed
only of brick or stone, and that no
house should be higher than forty feet
to the roof, nor any lower than thirty
five feet. Washington in his proclama
ton says that It had been found by
experience that these terms impeded the
settlement of the city by mechanics and
others whose circumstances do not adj.
nit Of erecting houses of tho description
authorized" Therefore no suspended
the act and permitted the erection of