The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

ough1y mastered the typogra phic art.
His apprenticeship completed, he re-
turned to Vermont and devoted five
years to study-two years of which
were passed at the Academy in Brad
ford under Gov. Farnham. Leaving
the University of Vermont in 1857, he
removed to Minnesota, and entered
upon the profession of Journalism.
Three hourishing newspapers in that
young and vigorous state, owe their
origin and success to Mr.. Blakely, and
attest not only the value of natural
adaptation, but of practical experience
in that exacting profession.
SIN 1869, Mr.. Blakely was elected
Chief Clerk of the Minnesota House of
Representatives, to which office he was
reelected the ensuing year. He was
then appointed by Gov. Ramsey. Sec
rotary of State, and the Legislature
Immediately created him Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction. At the ex-
piration of his term, he was returned
to the office by popular election, and
held it during the administrations of
Governors Ramsey, Swift and Miller.
During his service in this capacity, Mr..
Blakely secured important legislation
for the benefit of the schools of the
state, and contributed largely to the
organization of the fiourishing COM
mon school system of Minnesota, and
as ex-officio Secretary of the Normal
School Board, promoted the establish
ment on an enduring basis of the eX-
ce1lent system of Normal Schools for
which Minnesota promises to become
distinguished.
''In the autumn of 1865, having with
his brother. Major c. H. Blakely-also
practical printer, purchased the Chi
cago Evening Post, Mr.. Blakely re-
signed his Office and took the editorial
charge of that radical and furnishing
daily, in which position, except during
brief intervals of absence, he has since
remained"
After the above extract was written,
the Chicago fire occurred, which utterly
consumed Mr.. Blakely's newspaper
plant. Shortly after he returned to
Minnesota, bought the st. Paul Pho
neer, consolidated it with the Daily
Press of that city, and under the name
of the st. Paul Pioneer-Press, it has
since been a f1ourishing concern. Sub
sequently Mr.. Blakely bought the Min
neapolis Daily Tribune, and until the
end of his journalistic life, which &C.
Cured about seven years ago, he re-
manned the editor and proprietor of
that prosperous daily.
Meanwhile Mr.. Blakely became in
terested in the Blakely Printing Com
pany of Chicago, to which he has since
devoted his business attention. His
establishment is now one of the largest
in the countryside work it turns out
amounting to nearly half a million
dollars yearly. Its employees number
several hundred, and the large build
ing in which the establishment is
housed. is a hive of industry day and
night. The speciality of this great
concern is the printing of newspapers,
and the turning out of illustrated art
works of high order of Topographic
cal beauty and merit. 1t has recently
printed Bancroft's magnificent illus
trated Book of the Fair" in twenty
five parts, the two bound volumes of
the popular edition of which are sold
for $40. A finer limited edition of the
work is now being printed at the cost
of 81 900 per volume. Another book
is about to be printed by this firm for
the same publisher entitled the Book
of Wealth''-the de luxe edition of
which will be sold at =, 800 per copy