The Butte daily miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1885-18??, 1886-01-01
4 1stsespsetien of The 1isla u Nsws.
papeeaem n Montana ysysitesy.
An Interesting Sketch Of the Terri.
torial Journals-Dead and Alive.
A Paper Read by John Russell Wilson ~
the Last Meeting of the Montana
Press Association.

AOSs's AsssoSSA
Dillon Tribune, who had at the previous
meeting been chosen for that purpose, read
an interesting paper on Montana Journal
ISM So much honest labor was put into
this paper by the author, and there is in it
so much OF permanent value, that it is in
corporated in this work for permanent
preservation.
In preparing this historical paper the writer
avoids PREDATORY remarks, and proceeds to de-
scribe
THE FIRST PRINTING OFFICE IN MONTANA. |
In compiling History Of Montana Journal |
isnl,' care has been taken to establish the dates
and the parties who first brought printing mn-
terial, outfits of presses and types into the Terri
tory 1t II proper to mention these small print |
ing Offices, although no regular editions Of
papers were issued by the parties owning the
outfits
In September, 1868, D. W. Tilton, now Of Butte
ritory), bringing with him small printing out
fit, consisting of small job press and limited
number Of fonts Of job type. The first job Of
printing turned out was In October, 1868, by
Tilton. The job 100 ball Invitations for J. NJ.
Cashier. The price paid for the 100 Invitations
was eos in clean gold dust-or the m0derate sum
Of 25 cents piece ..5
PAPER AT VIRGINIA CITY
In January, 1864, Ben r. Dittes, u partner of D..
w. Triton, issued small news sheet at Virginia
City, The ONCE 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 Colonel
Sanders is entitled to the distinction of
having performed the first editorial work In Mon
tana. When the proof had been corrected and
E,D Tst~~
then leading merchant of Virgininia City, came
into the Office. Creighton oniciated as printers
devil on the occasion and furnished six bottles
of champagne to enthuse with Dittes, Sanders,
Creighton and a printer, whose name ~ now for
gotten, drank champagne tOasts to the future of
Journalism in Montana, and then the press was
started up and the first news sheet was struck off,
1t was a diminutive sheet but gave a synopsis of
current news.
At Bannack, in 1864. Hon. Francis NJ Thomp-
son, now of Greenfield, Mass, had a small print
ing press and type which he used for commercial
purposes. Later, J. Allen Hosmer printed little
sheet called the Beaverhead News on the press.
The exact date of issuing the News is not obtain
able, but it was some time in the summer of 1854.
THE MONTANA POST.
The Montana Post was the first newspaper in
the Territory Issuing regular editions. On the
and proprietor, Issued the first number of the
Montana Post Mt Virginia City, in Alder Gulch-
nearly twenty-one years ago. It was a six col
umn-to-the-page sheet, twenty lone by thfrty-0ne
inches In size, and printed on hand press of the
Washington pattern. Colonel W. r. Sanders
wrote the editorial matter for the first issue, In
Guiding the ealutatory for Buchanan. The way
the Post received Its name was thia Buchanan
requested Colonel Sanders to name the new paper.
Colonel Sanders being great admirer and cor
respondent of William Cullen Bryant's New York
Evening Post, named the venture the Mountain
Post, and such II 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, 1854, he Issued the third
number Of the Montana Post, with stock Of six
bundles of paper ON hand. During the following
winter and spring the Post WINS printed regularly
but owing to . scarcity Of white paper At times
the Post came out on wrapping paper, often ofall
shades of color. John Buchanan edited the first
two numbers ofthe Post after Tilton purchased
It, and william ChumaseF0 and Wilbur r. San.
ders contributed interesting articles to it,
columns.
About the lit Of October, 1854, Prof Thomas ].
Dinsdale was placed ON the editorial stool Of the
Post, and he ably filled the position Of editor
until his death in the spring Of lse6 Then Judge
Mcguire took charge Of the editorial department
for . short time. Captain Henry n. Blake was
next installed q editor. which position he nllsd
from August, 1854, 70 January !, lss5. The tn
Weekly Post was established during that period.
and Judge Blake was the hsayy and local editor.
Judge D1ake ystifed non the Pot % peactjce
law, hut afterwards editsd ths Nontanian NON