The Washington critic., 1886-04-13
WASHINGTON, APRIL 13, 1886.
THE FIRST ANNIvERsARY OF THE
wAsHINGTON CRITIC.

One year ago to-day the property of
the Evening Critic Publishing Com.
pany" came into the hands of Its pres
cnt owners and under entirely new
management, by purchase of General
Thomas j Brady. who held at that
time largely controlling interest in
the paper. The name of the paper
was shortly afterward changed to The
WAsnTNGToN CUTIc.
The purchase was made as n legitl-
mate business venture and in the con
fldcnt belief-a belief that even SO short
time has verified-that the National
Capital offered ample inducements for
the establishment of a newspaper which
should not only be entirely independ.
ent of party so far as politics are con
cerhed, but equally Independent in all
other respects and devoted in great
measure to the promotion Of the local
interests of the District. In other
words, the new proprietors were strong
in the conviction that such paper as
THE CRITIC has since proved itself to
be, diverging more or less from the
beaten path of its contemporaries, but
always in the right direction, would be
certain to commend itself to the re.
spect, the appreciation and the patron.
age of great and intelligent com
munity.
In this regard we are gratified- to
state that we have been in no wise de.
ceived, although by combination of
adverse circumstances such as no news
papQT within the range of our
knowledge was ever before subjected
to in the same length Of time, and such
as might well have discouraged men of
less resolute purpose, we have been
prevented from fully accomplishing
the various changes and Improvements
that were originally, and are still, con.
templated.
Removing about the middle of May
last from Ninth street to ID street, we
had scarcely become well settled in our
new quarters, at large additional out
lay, than the entire property, with the
solitary exception Of its good will and
press franchise, was destroyed by fire.
This was in July, and during the next
two or three months, with the heavy
odds of an unusually dull season and
extraordinary expenses against us, the
outlook was anything but cheering
one; still The CRITIC more than held
its own.
Following fast upon these misfor-
tunes came litigation, in the shape of
an attempted injunction, which, If not
inspired by mercenary or malicious
motives, was certainly based upon un-
tenable grounds and imaginary griev-
ances. The suit so far succeeded as to
tie up in court, until within few weeks
past, what little money was due us from
the insurance companies on our burned
machinery, which by good rights should
have been paid many months ago
But neither fire, nor flood, nor the
terrors of the law, nor the Vaccinations
of the evil-disposed, nor all other au-
noyances and embarrassments have
been able to seriously impede the
growth of the paper in all the elements
of permanent strength; and we can cele-
brate our first anniversary with q feel
ing of supreme selfsa satisfaction, that
upon the one hand, the numerous OBJ
stacles thatseemed dinsurmountable have
been successfully overcome; while upon
the other, there are multiplying assur-
ances that THE WASHINGTON CRITIC is
on the high road to fame and fortune.
1t has gained conspicuous standing in
the ranks of the press of the country,
and is more widely quoted than any
other paper published in Washington.
Our circulation is steadily increasing
from month to month. 1t Is of char
acter to be proud of. 1t has not yet
reached that high eminence which will
permit us to say chat it exceeds that of
all other newspapers in the District
combined, but it is climbing up the
scale to the figures Of our Oldest and
ablest contemporaries at a much more
rapid rate than they are clambering
away from us, and we stand already
upon the same plane with some of
them. To our advertising friends we
can say in all sincerity and honesty the
circulation of THE CRITIC is well
worthy of their assiduous cultivation.
1t is of the quality that buys goods and
pays for them 1t is bona-fld and
widely extended. Its intelligence is
vouched for by the fact that it reads
The CRITIC.
So, without instituting any invidi.
Gus comparisons with our esteemed
neighbors, we enter upon new year
well satisfied to have emerged from tho
trials Of the past twelve months in SC
sound and robust condition. The
field before us is broad one and fai
from being occupied, We propose ia
occupy 1t to its entire width and ut
most capacity, sparing neither time,
trouble, talent nor money to make THE
WASHINGTON CRITIC newspaper in
all respects worthy of the National Cap
ital, as II will be upon every question
of local concern zealously faithful tc
what II believes the true interests OF
its citizens.
II there Is no other course left, anC
the action of the House yesterday
would seem TO so indicate, the Govern
ment should proceed to q condemna