Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-02

training under JNOndS tSt'Hie. ana had
experience as publisher az the Times
and Compiler Tie formed a copartner-
ship with his old comisde Of tn Com
pilor Mr.. W. II. Davis. who wa also
practical printer. They resolved IN the
beginning 10 publish what they felt 20
be needcd-a paper in which current r-ws
should have first place and net be slbOr
dnated 20 politics or personal affairs.
There were then in existence here the
Richmond WhiE. Heath. Elliott y CO..
editors and prOprietors; the Richmond
Republican Robert II. Gallaher n j.. \.
Gallaher. publishers, Oliver i. Baldwin
and Robert II. Gallaher, editors; the
Richmond Times. William G. Carrinston.
editor and proprietor; The Richmond
Enquirer. by William f. and Thomas
Richie. Jr.; the Richmond Examiner,
by b. VI. Dewitt and John NJ Daniel.
Al Of these were ddiiies. except the
Examiner. which was semi-wefkly.
THE DISPATCH STARTED.
The name Of the paper agreed upon was
the Daily Dispatch. Hugh r. Peasants.
Esq. was employed as editor. and IN
office and composing room was secured
on Governor street in a building which
occupied the site of the one now occu-
pied 10y an electric construction company.
The first paper. issued on the morning
of October 49, 1850 was a sheet about
a third the size OF The Dispatch as IL
now IL. and the edition was 500 copies.
which, as COwardin q Davis had not
then obtained a press. was worked off
printed at the job-oiiica Of Johnston,
Baptist & Colin.
The VdDer was favCrably received from
the starr. and being sold Tor ] cent
copy at once attained . good circulation.
4 tff.4
political papls. and the Whic merchants
regarded il as a duty ia advertise in
the Whig. The Democrats werr no less
LOYAL 70 the Enquirer. and other adVfr-
Using was controlled 10y the thre, other
papers. S0"hat. the business being cut up.
the Dispatch did not at once command
a great advertising patronage. Its sue
cess in that important direction was
Gradual: 50 gradual. indeed that
after few months M Davis
become convinced that 1t could
never he established as Il paying
enterprise. He ihereupOn sold out his
interest 10 Mr.. Cowafdin. who, with his
sdneuine disposition. saw a great future
for the paper where Others could dis
ccrn bat = doubtful venture. Mr. DAVIS
lived to see the Dispatch valuable pro-
perty. and met his death at the Capitol
disaster. April =. 1870
For wears and years ihe Dispatch was
published with the name OF james \.
cowar,!in as proprietor and liuga T..
Pl.asants rs EDITOR. and Wnen H. SHE
cess became assured the Office was ir'
moved 20 'he southeastern corner OF Nam
and Thirteenth streets. ~ building
which preceded the present ono. which
was nntil recently occupied BY the pid
Dominion Steamship Company There the
pispafch was comfortably housed ana
equipped Ia the rear was thr Dispatch
job-onlco-J. II. NammersleH 60. pro-
piietOrs.
Mir. oliver T. Baldwin aucceelci Mr.
Peasants as editor but AT one ported
about 1861 they " re- both wriinr Tor
the paper. and Mr.. Cowardia. as he iou"i
ZINE from other engagements also 'ju-
tribgtcd.
Mr. Hammers.ey mantsei the ccun'lne.
room. and during the val acquired IA haH
interest .n she paper.
EFFECT OF THE WAR
rhe Richmond papers wer" pHb. 'hed
during the war under REGULAR oiihc"'-
Ties. Snch were the demands Of ne army
a was r great strIgSl - 81 toe men
necessary to set tso type ana WORK on
"a. parsr. Thee Nas mcrc trouble
siiN In getting TIE paper whereon 90
print There were but few papfr-n'is
in our Iines. and rhcsc had - size pit~
ference 10 the ord r. cf tie tNni"ie-
rate Government and the pnpr ffey
turned cut for the newspapers Wa ~f'te
only IN name Ink. TOO was scare; fii'1
az was run through tn" b'"c1n!" was
very costly, such as was n,ads hs:i WIS
no, good TarSe and macy oih"r
trouD,ss confronted Nj. Cowaiain ana