The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-28
oREGoNS FIRST NEWSPAPER.
1t Was Called the Oregon Spectator, and
a Curious Sheet 1t Was.

ROBERT GRAVES


! SAN Francisco, Oct 22.-"Thursdav,
February 5, 1916. Vol. l. No. l." Such
is the legend on the front page of a four
column, four page paper, The Oregon Spec
tatOr, which was the first issue of the first
newspaper ever printed in Oregon. This
fact alone would not be considered in any
/ sense remarkable, as all branches of in
dustry must have a beginning, and of
course newspapers had no home in will
derness peopled by uncivilized tribes of
dirty fish eating Indians, such as original
ly comprised the population of what is now
Oregon.
But the articles making up this pioneer
and frontier Spectator" are interesting as
furnishing an index to the social and other
conditions existing in the then territory
The first page contains the "Organic Laws
of Oregon" as recommended by the legis-
lative committee of the territory.
The first section provides that ''no per-
son demeaning himself in peaceable man
ner shall ever be molested on account of
his mode of worship or religious senti-
ments." Then follow other sections pro-
viding for the government of the people.
Section four declares that neither slavery
nor involuntary aervitude other than for
mitted in the territory. Section five per-
mits the carrying of arms for purposes of
self defense.
Another section defines the conditions of
land claims, and limits each holding to one
square mile This organic compact was
duly established on the 9TH of July, 1915.
In December following permission to
hold 600 acres Of prairie land and 40 acres
of timber land, even though the tracts did
not join, was granted by the legislature.
An act was also passed absolutely pro-
hibiting the manufacture or sale of ardent
spirits in the territory under heavy penal
ties. (This act Is not now in force.) An
editorial prescription is given in this wise:
If your coat is comfortable wear it a few
months longer, even if the gloss is off. If
you have no wife, get one; if you have,
God bless her, stay home with her instead
of spending your evenings in expensive
fooleries. If y-Ur circumstances
are now embarrassed, they may soon be-
come easy, no matter who is editor or
what may be the price of flour"
The editorial page is filled with de-
claration of principles which are to govern
the paper. An advertisement sets forth
that John Travers and William Glasern
are prepared to make hats for Oregonians
at a small profit, and adds, Wool, beaver,
otter, raccOon, wildcat, muskrat and mink
skins will be taken in exchange for hats"
This postoffice intelligence sets forth in a
striking manner the almost utter isolation
of Oregon at that time:
TO PERSONS WISHING TO SEND LETTERS EAST.
The postmaster general has contracted with
Mr.. H. Burns TO carry the mail from Oregon City
10 Weston, in Missouri, for enc trip only Letters
mailed at any OF the Offices post paid will be for
warded 70 any part OF the United States. As the
mail sent east by MIR Burns viii reach Weston
early in the season. it would lie advisable for
those wishing to correspond vita their friends in
the east to avail themselves OF this opportunity
Postage only fifty cents On single sheets
1t is hard TO realize that 50 few years
have passed by since ''enly fifty cents" was
considered cheap postage on a single sheet
letter in the bounds CT the United States
government.
4 poStoftic law was passed by the infant
legislature in which occur some interest
ing bits of history. One clause provides |
that any free male, descendant Of white !
man, was eligible to carry the mails, and |
any mail contractor hiring any other per /
son than a free male descendant OF /
white man" to carry letters shall be sub |
iect TO q fine for each oifense. b. q. W. |