The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-19
THE TIMES EXCELLENT RECORD
Its Steady Growth in the Last
Eighteen Months.
Its Circulation More than Doubled-Enor-
nous Increase in Advertising Patron
are-Some of tho Important Features
in which Roanoke's Leading Ncwspa-
per Has Outstripped All Others.

On tho morning of September 10,
1890, TIE TIMES appeared for the first
time as an eight-page, forty-eight
column newspaper. On that day it laid
aside its old dress and form and put on
one of new material and more improved
pattern, just as labor, capital and en-
terprise in the last few years have de-
veloped Southwest Virginia and Roam.
oke's pushing population pulled down
the village structures of Big Lick and
put up hero thriving and progressive
city. Since that day it has been &C
knowledged by all to be Roanoke's
leading and representative paper and
has constantly gained on all its contem'
poraries in every department not only
N Roanoke, but throughout Southwest
Virginia.
While the transition from the old
form to the new made an Improvement
somarked. yet the management OF LIE
TIMES has not been satisfied with that
one great step, but has constantly added
Improvement 10 improvement and con-
tinually strengthened the paper in
eyery department. With facilities and
equipments not only equal to those of
any paper in the State, but unsurpassed
by those of any publication in any city
OF $4,000 people, the management of
THE TIMES has produced newspaper
during the last twelve months that
would do credit to much larger city
than Roanoke.
The history of a newspaper is always
interesting, but the history OF TIE
TIMES, the first daily paper in the Won
derful city of Roanoke, is unusually SO.
TIE TIMES. although the oldest PAPER
in this city and the first daily to be
established, is not yet quito five years
of age. Its publication was begun by
NJ. Ii. Clayton in the fall of 1886. The
town was then small, containing only
about 5000 inhabitants. The paper
was a six-column folio, just half
the size of tho present daily quarto. The
paper was issued then from plain
frame building on Commerce street, be-
tween Railroad and Salem avenues, the
site of which is now adorned by hand
some three story brick building Here
the paper was published for q year,
gaining in patronage and prosperity.
Notwithstanding the predictions of
those who declared from its inception
that daily paper could not live in
Roanoke at that time.
After years existence THE TIMES
,,.,, ,,,oyoJ ,bo bui1di1p nm ,bo o-Do
site side of Commerce street, where its
publication was continued until it was
sold by Mr.. Clayton on the 23d of De-
cember, 1855. AT this time the paper
and plant were purchased by Messrs
Freeman and Copeland, owners of the
Danvillc 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 new paper bore the name of
the TimesTelegram, but TIE TIMES
boing the older and better established
paper, the compound name was soon
abandoned. The paper was then moved
to the brick building, ITO jefferson
street, where it continued to be pub.
lished until its removal to the hand.
some new building which it now occu-
pies. Messrs. c. Il. Grandy and j. II
Hall purchased tho paper on the 9th of
March, 1890, from Prof. Thorn and
Mr.. Hammond, who, in tho meantime.
had purchased the interests of Messrs
Freeman and Copeland.
On the 9th OF August, 1890, tho entire
IL
transferred to THE ROANOKE TIMES Pub
fishing Company. Steps were imme
diately begun TO secure improvements
The old material and slow press were
disposed OF and the company purchased
new outfit complete. In the press
room was placed the largest and tastes,
newspaper press between Washington
and Chattanooga. This is Hoe double
cylinder press, weighing 81 200 pounds.
1t was made by the we'll known printing
press manufacturers, r. Hoe & Co, OF
New York, and has speed of 900 i'm
pressions an hour. A Dexter folder is
run in connection with tho press and
turns out the folded eight-page paper.
The paper was moved to the hand.
some three-story brick building on the
corner Of Campbell and Henry streets.
With the superior mechanical facilities
and all the conveniences necessary, in.
GLIDING well furnished and we'll lighted
rooms, THE TINES was soon prepared to
produce frst-class paper in every re.
spect. The new company secured tho
Associated Press, the United Press and
Press News franchises, giving Tnr
TIMES the exclusive ownership, In Roa
noke of the Jews furnished by these
great news distributors.
Tho new company was composed of
of lnan nlynfo