The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-29


1890, TIE TINES appeared for the first
time as an eight-pagc, forty eight
column newspaper. On that day it laid
aside it's old dress and form and put on
ono of now material and moro improved
pattern, just as labor, capital and en-
terprisc in tho last few years have de-
volopcd Southwest Virginia and Roam
okc's pushing population pulled down
the village structures of Big Lick and put
up here thriving and progressive city.
Since that day it Gas been acknowledged
by all to be Roanokc's leading and rep
rcsentativc paper, and has constantly
gained on all its contemporaries in
every department, not only in Roanoke,
but throughout Southwest Virginia.
While tho transition from the old
form to tho new made an improvement
SO marked, yet tho management Of TIE
ZINES has not been satisfied with that
one great step, but has constantly added
Improvement to Improvement and con-
tinually strengthened tho paper in
every department. With facilities and
equipments not only equal to those of
any paper in tho State, but unsurpassed
by those of any publication in any city
OF $4,000 people, the management OF
The TINES has produced newspaper
during tho last twelve months that
would do credit to much larger CITY
than Roanoke.
Tho history of newspaper is always
interesting, but the history of THE
Times, the first daily paper in the won
derful city Of Roanoke, is unusually so.
THE TIMES, although the oldest paper
IN this city and the first daily to be
established, is not yet quite five years
OF age. It's publication was begun by
M. III. Clayton in the fall of 1886. The
town was then small, containing only
about 5000 inhabitants. Tho paper
was siXcolumn folio, just one half the
size of the present daily quarto. The
paper was issued then from plain
franc building on Commerce street, be-
tween Railroad and Salem avenues, tho
site OF which is now adorned by hand
some threc-story brick building. Here
SaC P"PSA Nho PupiioucQ JciT,
gaining in patronage and prosperity,
notwithstanding the predictions Of those
who declared from its inception that Il
daily paper could not live in Roanoke
at that time.
Aftor years existence THE TIMES
was moved to the building on the oppo-
site side of Commerce street, whore its
publication was continued until it was
sold by Mr.. Clayton on the ODD of De-
cember, 1888. At this timo the paper
and plant were purchased by Messrs
Freeman and Copeland, owners OF the
Danville Register, and Prof. VIM.
Taylor Thorn and Mr.. A. b. Hammond.
1t was consolidated with the Telegram,
an afternoon paper, which was owned
by Prof. Thorn and Mr.. Hammond. For
time the now paper bore the name Of
the Times-Telegram; but THE TIMES
being the older and better established
paper, the compound name was soon
abandoned. The paper was then moved
to tho brick building, ITO Jefferson
street, where it continued to be pub
lished until it's removal to tho hand
some now building which it now occu-
pies. Messrs. C. 7. Grandy and ]. II.
Hall purchased tho paper on the 9th
of March, 1890, from Prof. Thorn and
Mr.. Hammond, who, in the meantime,
had purchased the interests of Messrs.
Freeman and Copeland
On the 9th Of August 1890, the entire
plant and business of TIE TINES was
transferred to THE ROANOKE TIMES
Publishing Company. Steps were i'm
mediatoly begun to secure improve
ments. Tho old material and slow
press were disposed o and tho com
pany purchased new outfit complete.
The type for the news matter was fur
nishcd by Barnhardt Bros. & Spindler,
the great typefounders of the West,
who have headquarters IN Chicago The
advertising type came from John Ryan
q Company, Of Baltimore. In the
press room was placed the largest and
fastest newspaper press between Wash
lngton and Chattanooga. This is Hoe
double cylinder press, weighing 20, 600
pounds. 1t was made by the well-
known printing press manufacturers,
K. Hoe IL Company, of New York, and
has speed of 1000 Impressions an
hour. A Dexter folder is run in con-
nection with the press and turns out tho
folded eight-page paper.
The paper was moved to the hand