The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-05
WORK OF THE PRESS.
All-Seeing Newspaper Writer
Teaches the World.
CHILDREN ASK FOR THE NEWS
Creeds Are Broader and Men Are Kinder
as Result of Endeavors OF
Daily Papers,

Daily Papers,
The following paper was to have been
read by DIR. D. f. Presbrey, of Public Opiu-
ION, Washington City, before the Press AS
ISOLATION. at Its annual meeting at Fair
haven, Wash. By reason of the recent gas
explosion at the Diller house, in this city,
he was seriously burned, and is confined TO
his room at that hotel, and will be for
some days. He committed his paper to
the hands of another to read in his abb
sence. and has kindly permitted us to pub
iish it. As the editor of Public Opinion he
has given great thought to the education
of youth in our colleges and schools, and
the paper will be read with interest by ali
who are interested in the subject OF educa-
ton:
In the discussion of the topic, "The Place and
Power of the Press in Educational Work il is
necessary 10 turn back the pages of history that
we may better understand the influence the
literature of the past has had in character build
ing in every period during the past ages.
Andrew Fletcher said: Give me the making
OF the peoples songs aud care not who makes
the laws" Equally true is the aphorism,
supply the nation with pure literature and few
laws will be needed" Far back in the dim
dark ages men early learned to express their
thoughts in signs and pictures. The methods
employed although crudely represented, were
the journalistic efforts Of that period. They
formed the only method of preserving and trans
hitting to future generations the current
thoughts and maxims of those who lived IN the
early centuries. Unlike the metal type used in
the Journalism oftoday. their thoughts were ex-
pressed in two vafieties of characters; one rep
resented obiects,iby initiating their form by
symbols or Ima4es, the other by characters
embodying the thoughts of the writer. These
appear to have bpm the only methods of pre-
serving historic events during many centuries.
We know nothingias to how this system origin
ated. 1t seems rohave been in existence during
the Adamite Eage. Every nation and
tribe, in thati remote perioi recorded
and preserved maxims, proverbs, and
laws either in symbols, carvings, pictures or
hieroglyphics. These were impressed on Baby.
lonian bricks, craven on stone, carved on monu-
ments. incrioed on parchment or papyrus, or
painted on canvas These rude records of the
thoughts and writings of the primitive ages now
left 10 us by the wasting influence of the centu.
ries, are of untold value to the archaologist
and antiquarian. They form the connecting
links which unite the present era of progress
and activity with the long, duh ages OF the
past 1t 10 needless on this occasion to trace
the slow but gradual improvement in the
art of writing and printing through the
long years OF the early and middle
centuries. We are dealing with the question OF
its importance today and its place in the present
system of education in our own country. As
preface to this, it is proper for 10 consider its
early beginnings, and take note of the rapid
progress of journalism during the last 200 years
The avant courier made its appearance two
centuries ago. The paper was very properly
named Pnbhck Occurrences. It lived one day,
and was Immediately suppressed by the govern
ment A speeimeueopy is carefully preserved
as great curiosity in the colonial state paper
Office, in London. The News Letter. the second
journal, was issued in Boston in 1704 It gave
no local news but kept its readers informed as
to the affairs of the mother country. The in
habiants of that city glory in the fact that they
are entitled TO the sobriquet of the ATHENS OF
America or the Hub of the Universe. because
It was there the first American newspaper
was printed. The Boston Gazette followed in
I7l9. and the american Mercury was issued in
Philsdelphia the same year. Benjamin Frank
lin started the COaraat in 172l but its editor was
too independent and the paper died in 1727.
The old mill, where the paper for the Courant
WAS made by hand, was on Chester creek in
Pennsylvania, and for 1io years, in spite of the
improvements and changes made elsewhere,
paper was manufactured in the old mill in the
same way. The Gazette made its appearance in
pressed no opinions, had few editorials and con-
tanned little news. They, however as faith
July illustrated the character of the people and
the business methods of that epoch as our great
metropolitan journals do the cultured people of
to day, and their activities in this rushing,
pushing nineteenth century. These journal
lists planted the seed of infuen ees, which have
roo ed and rjpened with magic rapidity into the
heroic efforts OF an age which has conquered
steam, harnessed electricity and seems deter
mined TO suojugate and take dominion over
every hidden force in nature. During the
period beginning with the first issue of Publick
Occurrences in 1890 up to 1910 there were only
$50 journals established OF all classes, and eight
of these were daily issues The first Sunday
paper was started in 1925, aud penny press
about the same time. In 1910 the total mum ber
of journals had increased 10 l. 40l In 1855 there
were loo of all kinds published in the CITY of
New York. They used l7l,e01 reams OF paper
annually. costing s5l5,s0S. Their total annual
circulation was not equal to that of one OF our
metropolitan journals of today. According to
the records accessible, the total number of
papers and periodicals published in 1871 was
$3.50. Adding those published in the territories.
British Columbia and Canada the grand total
was 6.43s. of which 6S7 were dailies aud 4,642
weeklies. Nearly 400 of these were printed in
foreign languages, 3il being in German These
publications circulated annually l. 9o 2,l 2Ig
copies. After 1871 American journalism m sde
very rapid progress. Between tnat date and 1890.
period OF nineteen years, il,704 journals of
various kinds came into the journalistic field.
making grand total at this time OF H. 760 the
weeklies alone having increased nearly 10. 900
since 1871. Twenty-seven have a daily or
weekly circula,ation of over $4,000 copies each,
and fity-six issue over 100000. The total yearly
circulation of all these publications is g. 4sI $40
0o0 copies The printing presses of today run
with d regularity equsl to that OF the chrouoIn-
eter. Their speed and capacity challenge admir-
alton yet with all their perfect qualities it "a.
ollires twenty-six presses and 100 expert
pressmen over 500 working hours 10 print
a single edition of one OF our leading
msgazlnes This is only one of the
many, and the total monthly issue Of
this class of publications alone is Il094o 900
copies Assuming that we have 65 Ojo 600
OF inhabitants and that the usual estimate of
five to each family is correct, there are 1900 coo
OF families, each OF which might receive an
nualy eight copies OF the magazines published
in the United States. The tofal annual eircula-
ton of all classes of journals and other periodi
GALS is SUFFICIENT TO pace 267 copies In the hands
of every head of a family for the entire year
The magazines published would give forty three
yearly subscriptions 10 every ave people in
cluding infants, paupers and criminals or three
REGULAR subscriptions 20 every family, ami leave
2,500, go 10 those already subscribers TO three
magazines. The issue OF the weekly papers
alone is large enough 10 give three COPIES every
week TO every family in the land Could every
uress used in journalism be brought toge Their in
q great national exposition. they would occHpy
a ground space equal TO fifty Centennials, ana il
would REQUIRE three-scors Corliss engines to set
in motion and ran this great mass of printing
machinery Think OF what an army OF tele-
sraph operators. writers, engravers, type-setters
paues-raAkers and p.essInen are constantly re-
erlred 70 satisfy the maws OF the hungry presses
OF the nation. Listen - the vibration of the
pnlsstine wires that bring the lates, news from