The morning call., 1893-05-28
THE FIRST EPOCH.

The names of the men who launched The
CALL on the uncertain ocean of journal
ism are now almost forgotten Years nave
rolled over them, like waves over mark
ings on the seashore sands, and they have been
nearly all obIerated. II VIII be interesting,
however, 10 know who they were, and are. In
fact, this brief mention Is a necessary ar; OF
the history of journal with such a remarkable
career as that OF The CALL.
There were five persons altogether, all prac-
tical printers, and all well equipped, in the
business OF newspapers making, whether it per-
tained 10 the editorial room, the composition
room, or the counting-hOuse.
James j. Ayers is Stl in the land of the
living, and in company with Joseph D.
Lynch is publishing the Los Angeles
Herald; David W. Higgins resides in Victoria.
B. c., where for many years he published the
British Colonist, after selling out his interest IN
The CALL in 1858; Charl F. Jobson died
several years ago; Lewellyn Zublin has also
passed aw Y. he became dissatisfied with the
prospect during the second year of the exist
ence of J BE CALL, sold oul and went 10 Homo
lulu, where he became foreman OF the Conn.,
mercial Advertiser. Years after he returned
from the islands and left for his native State,
Iowa, TO end his days. William H. Carpenter
also sold out during the first year OF the paper's
existence, thinking it was on the ragged edge,
ago, was a cOmpOstor on tile New York Her
aid. His interest In the enterprise, which 1t must
be confessed continued doubtful for some time
after beginning, was purchased by George E.
Barnes in February, 1857. The mex change in The
original partnership was the sale by Mr.. Zublin
of his fifth interest to Peter B. Forester; the
third occurred when Mr.. Higgins und the
lnfluenc- of The Fraser River excitement. which
prevailed from April tin September, 1858, sold
fO Lott for
new FL Dorado in the Northwest. The part
nerShip after this last transaction included but
four nembeTs-MessrS. Ayers, Barnes, Forester
and Jobson. Ayers and Jobson were the only
two who remained OF the original founders
Barnes and Forester owned their shares in the
concern by purchase. To these four men is.
due the success The paper met with from 1853
till 1869, which may be called the first epoch
In THE CALLS history. The last month of
1856. when The paper started, and the year
1857 need not be tagen into account, as that
period was one of change, uncertain and Ienta-
tive. Hopes were very few that THE CALL
would ever become great paper. Doubts and
prophecies OF failure were on everybody's
tongue. The odds were very great against the
four young men, but they were taken bravely.
Their patience, perseverance aud pluck won
the day.
The reason for the existence of THE CALL
w as III CeSSlty hdig JuuTudlS-nOT0 III later
years than fOrmerly-have for their raison
d'etre various causes. They have been called
into being to help political aims. to promote
commercial speculation. TO nurse an individ-
uaPs ambition In all sorts of schemes; but
The CALL had no such motive III its nascency.
1t was purely an enterprise started for the
purpose of making a subsistence. Like the
licayune of New Orleans La. and the old
Union of sacramento in This State, the idea
was conceived by men reared 10 the press busi-
ness, and by them for many years sue
cessfuliy realized. If one reflects that the time
when THE CALL first saw light was the most
depressed in the business history OF the
city of San Francisco, the force OF the
word necessity" gwen as a reason for its
origin, VIII be readily und rstood. In 1856 the
golden era OF California was In deep decline
and the silver erd of Nevada had not begun
the social system of the city was still weak
from the wholesome but drastic operations of
the second Vigilance Committee. Public conf
dence had not been fully restored; men were
yet in doubt of their fellows. All kinds of busi-
ness languished, and grass was growing, not
fguratirely. but actually, in some of our thor.
oughfares. The newspapers of the PEI iod were
all-with the exception Of the Evening Bulletin
and Alta California-gasping for breath, and
the latt-r journal was only kept alive by the
auclloneerS' advertisements. Sale by auction,
not the most wholesome method of commercial
business, was about the only one In vogue.
Frank Soules California Chronicle was In
its last thrOes; the once popular and successful
Herald OF John Nugent also Flank Bonnard's
Sun, had he death7rattle. Newspaper ventures
were made by the most inexp -rienced persons
they were born and died IN a day. 1t might be
said, with good deal OF truth No less than
fourteen papers, including The CALL started
during The year 1856 IN San Francisco. THE
CALL has proved TO be the Survival of the
fttest." There was no certainty anywhere in
the journalistic profession with the exception
OF the Bulletin aud Alta before mentioned. The
whole business OF the city. mercantile and
other, concentrated on these streets. and as they
were the special pets OF the recently disbanded
Vigilance Committee those who did not patron
lZe Them were considered in bad form, so Il
speak, and were looked on with kind of sus
plcion. The Town Talk. a lively cheap daiiy
managed by an association of pr ctical print
ers, had raised its price from 1919 cents TO 2f
cents per week. AS 1t was also in tht
confidence Of he Vigilance Committee, It:
proprietors were In hopes the public would
stand the raise; but as events subsequent,
proved they were disappointed. THE CALI
supplanted the Town Talk. 1t was at thi
juncture of affairs that the intelligent men who
originated 1HE CALL pul their heads togethe
and each asked the other why they, 100, shoult
not venture into the journalistic field. espe
ciaIly as the Town Talk had abandoned tha
portion of IL which they proposed 10 occupy
No employment could be had In responsible
printing Offices, as they were already crowded
The next best thing 10 do, 1t was suggested
was 10 club their small means, amounting il
all 10 about $3.50, and commence business OIL
their own account.
After some natural hesitation the suggestion
was acted upon.
A meager lot OF printing material was pur
chased and a small room with glass roof, for
merly used as Photographic gallery, over III
"Blue Wing saloou," on the east side OF Mont
gemery street, leased for an Office. Here TIL
CALL first saw light on the 1st of December
1856. IL was very modest Offering TO III
pubic. being only Twelve by twenty inches il
dimensions. served at a cost OF 1919 cents
week. The carriers received GA cents. an
the first week OF the publication some 25O
paying subscribers were listed. Not a heav
catch, some may say, for a cheap paper, but