The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-09-04
HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSPAPERS.
Prepared and Presented by John Russell Will
son. Esq., at the First Annual Convention Of
the Montana Press Association, Held at Butte
August 81, 1850
Ladies and Gentlemen

the Montana Press Association, Held At Butte
August 81, 1850
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In compiling "History of Montana Jour.
nalism," care has been taken to establish the
dates and the parties who first brought print
ing material, outfits Of presses and types into
the Territory. IL Is proper to mention these
small printing Offices, although no regular
In September, 1853, d. w. Tilton. now OF
Butte City, arrived at Virginia City then in
Idaho Territory, bringing with him small
printing outfit, consisting OF small iot
press and q limited number Of fonts of jot
type. The first job of printing turned Out
was in October, 1868, by Tiltou. The Job wa.
100 ball invitations for j. NJ. Cashier. The
price paid for the 100 invitations was $50 In
clean gold dust-or the moderate sum of %
In January. 1864, Ben r. Dittes, a partner
of ID. w. Tilton, issued n small ne VIZ sheet al
Virginia City. The Office was in the cellar
Of the building on the corner Of Wallace and
Jackson streets. Colonel Sanders edited the
sheet and furnished the news matter Col.
Sanders is entitled to the distinction of hav-
ing performed the tirst editorial work in
Montana. When the proof had been cor.
rected and the form made up for the press
John A. Creighton, then leading merchant
Of Virginia City, came into the Office
Creighton officiated as printers devil on the
occasion and furnished six hotties of cham
payne to snthuss with. DIttes, Sanders
Creighton aud a printer, whose name Is now
forgotten, drank champagne toasts to the fu
ture of journalism in Montana, and then the
press was started up and the first news sheet
was struck Off. IL was a diminntive sheet
but gave n synopsis of current news
At Bannack, in 1864, Hon, Francis M
Thompson, now of Greenfield, Mass, had q
small printing press and type which he used
for commercial purposes. Later j. Allen
Hosmer printed a little sheet called the Bea
perhedd Netos on the press. The exact date oil
issuing the Netos is not obtainable, but 1t was
some time in the summer If 1864.
1.-THE MONTANA POST"
The Montana Post was the fl rst newspaper
In the Territory issuing regular editions. On
the 9th of August, 1864, John Buchanan
publisher and proprietor issued the first
number of the Montana Post at Virginia City,
in Alder Gulch-nearly q years ago. 1t was
In size, and printed on hand press Of the
Washington pattern. Col. W. f. Sanders
wrote the editorial matter for the first issue,
including the salutatorv for Buchanan. The
way the Post received its name was this: Blu
chanan requested Colonel Sanders to name
the new paper. Colonel Sanders being a
great admirer and correspondent of William
Cullen Bryant's New York Erening Post,
named the venture the Montana Post, and as
such IL has passed into history. Buchanan
only issued two numbers Of the Post, when
d. w. Tilton purchased the paper, and on
the 10th Of September, 1864, he issued the
third number of the Montana Post, with a
stock Of six bundles Of paper on hand. Dur.
ing the following winter and spring the Post
was printed regularly, but owing to search
ty Of white paper at times the Post came cut
on wrapping paper, often Of all shades of
nhu nhan aI; fl,a Are frp.,
numbers of the Post after Tilton purchased
IL, and William Chumasero and Wilbur f.
Sanders contributed interesting articles to its
columns. -
About the first of October, 1864, Professor
Thomas j. Dimsdale was placed on the edi-
torial stool OF the Post and he ably filled the
position Of editor until his death, In the
spring Of 1866. Then Judge Mcguire took
charge of the editorial department for a
short time. Captain Henry N. Blake was
next installed as editor, which position he
filed from August I, 1866, to January /. 1867.
The Tri- Weekly Post was established during
that period, and Judge Blake was the heavy
and local editor. Judge Blake retired from
the Post to practice law, but he afterwards
edited the Montdnim from May l, 1874, to
August I, 1873, when he relinquished the po-
sition of editor to accept the appointment Of
Associate Justice of Montana Territory.
Capt. James II. Mills. the next editor of
the Post, reached Virginia City In November.
1866, and in December following he was en-
ployed by Tflton & Dittes as editor OF that
Journal In April, 1858, Dittes purchased
Tilton's interest and removed the Post to
Helena. At that time the circulation of the
Post was 900 copies, at 81 per year. The
Post soon after became the property Of
stock company, with George NJ. Pinney,
manager; Col. Alex. ii Beattie In immediate
charge Of the business. and James H. Mills
as editor. In May. 1869, the Post was at
tached for debt. and the Post went to that
bourne from which no newspaper will ever
return.
''THE NEW NORTHWEST"
Shortly after the death of the Montana Post
James III. Mills established the NeaD North
West, at Deer Lodge City. In July, 1863, the
first number, a weekly, 24x36 inches In size,
was issued. The Nep North West was pop.
ular sheet In its infancy, and 1t has main
tanned its popularity down to the present
time. In 1S70-7l daily editions were issued
during the summer months. In 1874 the
paper was increased in size to Sx42 inches,
and has SO continued since. During four
years Of the Ne,o North Vests existence
Messrs. Harry c. Kessler and John Mills
were associated in its publication. The re-
mainder of the time IL has been published by
James III. Mills, who has been Its editor from
the day it was founded. As editor OF the
Montana Post and Neto North West, Mr. Mills
has earned the first position among Montana
Journalists.
For while Harry j. Norton was local edi-
tor of the Neio North West. Ii In fitting here
10 pay tribute to one Of the brightest wri-
ters ever employed on the press Of Montana.
Harry J. Norton has been dead for several
years. The dead journalist liz entitled TO
place on the pages of the His
tory Of Journalism in Montana, He was
practical printer and brilliant writer. He
learned his trade in Buffalo, New York, and
country, paper IN that State for 2
a pair Of cases on the Montana Post. After
localizing on the Neu NORTH Vest In 1869
Norton took position on the Montanidn, at
Virginia City. He was the life of the Mon
tdnidn while employed on Its columns. In
1872 he visited the National Park. He wrote
Of Wonderland. He afterwards had his let
ters printed In book form, and for admirable
descriptive work the letters have never been
surpassed by any one writing description
Of Geyserland. His book was literary sue
cess, but not a success financially. Leaving
M ontana, he went to Nevada, where he was
for time connected with the Netos at Silver
City. From Nevada he went to the Black
Hills and published pamphlet on the min
eral resources of that region. Drifting on to
New York City, he and others opened q
Bureau for the sale Of mines" year or
two later he wandered back to Leadville,
Colorado. He was city editor of one of the
Leadville dailies, and died of pneumonia.
Harry j Norton had many excellent quail
ties. He was thorough newspaper man, a
brilliant writer keen and rapid in Obtaining
and preparing news. While bis relish was
FOR the stronger incidents or the humors of
wild frontier life, he had the tenderness OF a
child and the gentle sympathies of woman
In appreciating and portraying themes OF
pathos, sentiment and beauty. Cornwall,
be cared nothing for the morrow. His life
was the prismatic drop, sparkling on the
crest of the wave-and so, while ft might not
mingle with the depths that sweep in power
and steadfast force, IL was brilliant in the
sunlight that illumed its hour and an atom
pf gladness on the ocean of life. 81
1.-THE MoMTANIAN.p
The way the first Democratic newspaper In,
Montana came to be started In briefly related.
In, the spring Of 1865 Pete Ronan--twho Is
now herding the Flathead Indiansi-was en-
gagged in placer mining in Alder Gulch, and
going up to Virginia City, Roman was intro
iuced to Major John P. Bruce, veteran
newspaper man from St. Joe, Missouri. The
In printing the Fdiiey Fan, at Salt Lake City.
At the suggestion Of Hon. Samuel Word,
J ohn Caplics and Ed. Cardwell, Mr.. Roman
.ook the position of local editor and fore
man in the Monfnaidn Office. When the old
arrived from Salt Lake it was q
mass Of "pie." Messrs. Roman, Morrison
and Stanley, all first-class printers, straight
sued out the "pie, }" and with Major John p
Bruce rs political editor and manager. the
party flung to the breeze, in 1865, 20 years
ago, the first Democratic newspaper in the
Territory of Montana.
THE MONTANA RADIATOR"
The Montana Radiator, Helena b first news
paper, was started by I. J.. Favorite, Decem-
~ Ia 1861 The nr,.ss and material for the