Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-03

MA The STAR. When the
1Hh paper was first issued
~ " Washington had but
10000 inhabitants. II
was a struggling town,
thinly built over large area II one at that
time had truthfully foretoId what the capital
would be and what The EVENING STAR would
be in 1892 he would have been ridiculed q
foolish dreamer. 1t is doubtful whether even
those most hopeful of TEE STARS future dared
picture to themselves IA success that came any
where near what has actually been accom-
plished- In the first place such n publication
a. TIE STAR of today would have been regarded
as an impossibility by the publisher Of 1852, for
Its requirements far surpass any mechanical
facilities known at that time. and the agencies
daily employed now in the collection
Of news from every part of the world
If proposed then, would have frightened
with visions of bankruptcy the owners Of NE
most prosperous journals. not to speak of the
anxious founder Of the little sheet that bore
the name of The EVENING STAR whose entire
capital would not suffice TO pay the expense Of
one days issue of the journal today. Then. in
the second place. no one looked forward to such
splendid growth has come to the capital in
these forty years, and as The STAR and the
city have grown together, there was another
important element lacking to aid the prophe.
Of ls52 in foretelling the future of the paper.
1t was not long after The STAR founded
before II acquired a circulation which made it
recognized az the popular newspaper of Wash
ington, and in course Of time it gained the
distinction of having the fullest local circula-
ton OF any newspaper in the country. if not in
the world This characteristic of the circula-
ton has always remained with it, the only
change being that as years pass The STAR has
even more fully covered its field, the circuia-
ton not only steadily growing as the popula-
zRd lint arar 1nrc
rapidly than the population Thus in material
growth ms we'll as IN its relations with all public
movements that have contributed to the ad-
vancement Of the capital. and in its sympathy
with the city and its citizens, The STAR has
always been r;osely identified with Washington.
II Is, in fact. part Of the city.
DIFFERENT HOMES OF THE STAR
When first issued The STAR was printed at
the corner of Sth and d streets, but early in
1853 removed 10 9th street and Fennsyl-
wanna avenue. Here it abided. however but a
few months. on May /. 1853, it was remoy ed
To the second story of a humble building on
d street between 18th and 18th streets. on the
site now occupied by the Franklin or No. 9
engine house. The ground f,oor was used as a
carriage and blacksmith shop. In such un-
pretentous quarters IL printed until Sep
TENDER 80. 1s54- IL then moved to the south
west corner of lIth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, TO the building which was Its home for
tNcEtN->fFtl Ftlrr- Inns OLD DullulHS, which
had history long antedating its occupancy by
TIE STAR and one of the landmarks OF the
city. disappeared a year ago with the other
buildings the square to make way for the
new city poet Office. Ii was old-fashioned
three-story building. with gable roof. The
STARS counting room and press room occupied
a portion Of the ground floor. The editorial
rooms were on the second floor and the com
posing room on the upper floor. The
STAR Wa printed here SO many years
that even IL the boyhood of men
who gTandfathers the corner was
. known A. The STAR corner. The limited ac-
eommodations Of the building insufficient fo-
the increased demands of THE STAR, compe!led
the last move IL location of the paper which
was made when In 1881 The STAR purchased
the present site AZ the northwest corner OF
Pennsy lyanis avenue and Ilth street. and con-
verted the marble front building. which had
been erected as as store and the adjoining build
ing on lith street into a newspaper Office
Since then the growth of the paper has been
provided for By the extension OF purchases and
It, Ugiiiibgs. until now luz SIAR buildings
spread over much more than twice the space
they covered in 1851. and which was then be-
heved 10 be sufficient.
THE FIRST ISSUE
The STAR was started by Joseph H. Tate. a
practical printer. who poyularly known a.
Capt. Tate from his having commanded the
Wellington Light Infantry. the crack military
COMPANY OF the DISTRICT III those DAYS. The
hrst number issued SATURDAY. afternoon
December 4. ls52. consisting Of four small
pnses contain i.y altogether less space than two
OF the pGgcs Il today's STAR. Tie paper was.
however. neatly printed The salatatory, which
appeared IN this fret number. enforced its ap-
peal for the material aid of subscribers and
advertisers in this manner: Let u not be said
hereafter. NJ 10 has been too often remarked
heretofore. that there Is not enough public
spirit at the national metropolis. among popu-
latIOa of upward % 10. coo. to maintain n neu-
ira! daily pal CT.
The advertisers in the FIRST number of The
sTAK were Joseph Shillirgton. bookseller;
Bacon h Co. grocers; Hail 4 Bro, dry goods:
4. Gautier. confec tiOner. corner of Pennsylva-
MA avenue and IL th street now the site of THE
STAR oficcl: A. hammond. fancy goods; A
Tate. dry good. " ". Gait 4 Bro jewellers:
Sign % the Golden Eagle. Pennsylvania avenue
between 9Th and 10th streets: Ie-by 4 Miller.
dry goods. corner 81 7th street and Pennsylva-
mia avenue. Mis- Dermott's new building: G.
W. Boteler. hou-efarnishing store; George W.
Cochran. tobacconi-t. Middleton 4 Beale wm
Ormo. George Z Thomas. Carter 4 Co.. gro
cers: Maxwell. Sears 4 Collie. dry goods: Wall
a St. phens. ready made clothing; James Winner
stationery and fancy store. 9Th street; Selby
Parker, fancy and perfume store, under Ma
tons! Hotel; Noah Walker Co.. clothiers; F.
A Tucker. merchant tailor; Henry kuhlI. res
taursieur; Todd h Co, hatters; John Mills,
IA bionable bootmaker; lgnatius +. Mudd,
tailor. NJ T. Parker, FAINTER and giazier; Sam
usi Hamilton CO.. dealers in wooden ware.
There also advertisement Of the fifth
snnual ball Of the Walker sharpshooters al
Skank's iron building The h,t Of managers
we're Maj Gen. Jones, Brig Gen weightman.
Lieut. Col. ]. III. Riley, Col W. Hickey, Maj.
H. Keyworth. Maj y. Z. Bacon, Maj. C. S. Wal
ZACH Mai. Noraeeai. Capt W. X. Bradford
Capt; Joseph b. Tate, Capt c. Buckingham.
Capt sehsa-zzman, Capt. Bright. Capt. Wilson,
Lieat Burkhead. Lieut. W. J. McCollom, Lieut.
Ball. Lieut. James Wood, Lieut. Kelly, Lieut..
J. I. Tucker. Lieut. J. Bird. Lent Sutton,
Lieut. Peterson Lieut. Lehman Lieut. Clarke
Lieut. Otterbach, Lieut. Mohun.
In the first few months Of existence The STAn.
- stated above, moved its Office twice. When