The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-08
Beginning as a Small Penny Morning
journal
STEADY And SURE GROWTH.
Its Present Metropolitan Dimensions.
The Changes and Tribulations Through
Which IL Has Passcd-What II Has
Accomplished in the Past and
Proposes to DO in the
Future-Upward and
Onward.


On the 22d day of October, 1886. The TINES
made it first appearance in Richmond. 1t was
small penny morning sheet 14xl9
inches, published from No. 9lS east
Main street, up stairs, with a bust
ness Office and editorial rooms on the
second floor, and a small composing room on
the floor just above. 1t was started as an ex-
pertinent to test whether Richmond would
support penny daily. and whether there was
room enough in the city for three morning
papers-the Dispatch. which had occupied the
journalistic field alone for forty years
the Wing, which, although an ancient
landmark. had passed through number
less vicissitudes. and had but recently been
revived asa Democratic high tariff journal aud
TIE TNms. But this was by means the chief
experiment which The TIMrs wished 10 test
The main object in its establishment was to
fill what its promoters believed 10 be want
in RichmOnd-viz., a straightOut independent
Democratic paper. fearless IN It's utterances
on all subjects. and OutspOken nits champion
ship Of Democratic principles and State soyer-
eighty in their original integrity and purity
How faithfully the paper has adhered to tins
intention, its readers and the public generally
can now very well determine.
OBSTACLES II ITS PATH.
Startingin this humble capacity, TIE TrTs,
as was 70 have been expected. had from the
first T. encounter the most formidable Obsta-
ces N It's upward path. II had, rs we have
seen. TO contend for rivalry wtl the Dis
patch. which had enjoyed a monopoly of the
field of journalism for SO long that hundreds
Of people IN Richmond had grown up familiar
with no other paper; and with the Wing,
which, despite its many faces and lis unsay-
ory record during the days Of Mahoneism and
Readlusterism, still commanded influence
among certain class Of older persons. solely
on account of It's name. which, under the mas
terlyg guidance of Peasants and Ridgeway. had,
in the olden davs Of the Old Dominion, been
made power in the land For it is O fact
worthy of note in parenthesis, and which
should be handed down 10 posterity, that
when the old Wing was at its zenith Rich
mond was really the focus of political thought
in the United States. The Enquirer was then
the acknowledged organ OF the Democratic
party, as the Whigwas OF ihe Wing parry. The
New York Herald and papers Of that charac-
ter were merely side shows in the great arena
of American politics, which radiated from Nir-
ginia with Richmond as the coutre Then 10
was that the Enquirer was looked upon as the
Democratic oracle and the Wing rs the mouth
piece Of the great political rival of the De-
mOcracy The greatest statesmen of the land
in those days hesitated 10 take any decisive
stand until they first learned what Virginia
thought rs expressed in these acknowledged
organs of the two great parties of the country.
This depression may be readily pardOned be-
cause il is intended 10 emphasize the obstacles
which The IIMEs had 10 contend against ip its
infantile struggles for existence only about
four years ago. Under these circumstances,