Evening star., 1895-04-25
Mr.. Spoford Gives an Interesting
Historical Account of It.
NEWSPAPERS And EDITORS OF THE PAST
The Evening Star and Its Place in
the Record.
THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The Washington Library Association held
its seventh regular meeting at the Colum-
bian University last night, with a good at
tendance of members, about twenty, being
present. Mr.. F. A. Cranda1l was elected a
nember of the association. Mr.. o. L. Tas-
sig, secretary of the association, presided
at last nights meeting. DR.. Cyrus Adler
pr resented the report of the committee on a
union list of periodicals, which was re-
ceiy ed, and Mr.. H. Darlington Bolton dis
cussed the plan, relating some of his own
experiences in that work.
Mr.. A. r. Spofford, librarian of Congress,
read paper on periodicals Of the past in
the District, which was appreciatively re-
ceived by the audience.
Periodicals. of the Past.
Mr.. Spofford's paper was as follows:
In laying before you some facts regarding
the history of the press in the District of
Columbia, nothing more can be attempted
in the brief time allowed than a few
sketches, rather than a systematic history.
Washington has not infrequently been
called. from the large Number of journals
started here which had but a brief and
precarious existence, 1.-The graveyard Of
newspapers" Yet a careful comparison of
the number end the history of periodicals
established here with the records of news
towns Gas chronicled in the Annual News
paper Directory would show quite as large
ratio Of journalistic mortality elsewhere
as has ever prevailed here. No doubt many
abortive enterprises have been undertaken
in Washington, based upon it's nationality
as the seat Of government, and the political
center from which it has been assumed
must radiate a powerful influence through
out the land. Visions Of a populous and
rapidly growing capital have dazzled the
eyes Of some; visions of government pat
ronage and lucrative advertising have been
potent with others; visions of immense cir
culation among the great army of office
holders here and elsewhere have entered
into the calculations Of some enterprising
persons; visions of party advantages and
partisan support have had their influence
upon public opinion and of reforming the
world by the power of great ideas have
illumined the pathway of others in ventur-
ing into this urdeniably attractive field.
Most Of them-in sober truth, more than
nine out Of ten Of them-have failed: have
learned to their cost how far promise out
runs performance in creating a circulation
for new and untried candidate for public
favor. Their experience, however, is not
exceptional
The ambitious editor like the ambitious
author, who fancies that his own heaven
born genius is something quite new and
original among men, launches his adven-
turouS bark upon the untried waters, and
after being buffeted for a longer or q
shorter time by the winds and the waves,
suffers the inevitable shipwreck. Show us
the city which Is not strewn with wrecks
Of whole argosies of dead and forgotten
journals, and we will admit that the his
tory Of Washington journalism is excep-
tional.
According to a chronological table of
periodicals published in 1877 by The Even
ing Star Ito which, as well as to the Post
and other Journalist am indebted for many
facts). there had been established in the
District of Columbia from 1892 to 1877 "a
period of eighty-five years. 239 different
newspapers and other periodicals. Out of
this list, seventeen only survived at the
date of its publication, and those were of
seventeen which were alive in 1877 have
since given up the ghost. Only two daily
papers then printed are now in existence
The Evening Star and the Washington
Post
According to the returns of the census,
the whole number of newspapers and pc
riodcals published in the District of Co.
lumbia was, in 1910, six: in 1910. fourteen;
seventeen; in 1880. twenty-six, and in 1890,
sixty-four. Rowelps Newspaper Directory
makes the number of periodicals published
in Washington Georgetown, of course, in
We're dailies. thirty weeklies and twenty
eight published monthly or less frequently.
The First Paper.
The earliest newspaper established with
in the limits of the former District of Co.
lumbia appears to have been the Column
bian Mirror Alexandria Gazette started
at the then fourishing town of Alexandria
November q, 1892. 1t is notable and
perhaps unprecedented fact in American
journalism that the Alexandria Gazette has
continued to be published by members of
the same family through three generations,
having been established under another
name by the grandfather of the pres
Snowden. A fragmentary but pre-
cious file of this pioneer journal is pre-
served in the Congressional Library, and
has been literally drawn upon during the
last few years, as it furnishes the only
original or contemporaneous account of the
ceremonial of the laying Of the corner stone
CT the Capitol of the United States, Sep
tember Is, 1913. This account occupied
journals of the northern and middle states,
and was reprinted at length in our local
press at the centenary of 1888
The Columbian Mirror & Alexandria
Gazette published later under the second
title only WAS a three-column semi-weekly,
at three dollars year only.
The prospectus Of this pioneer of all the
in this District is an interest
ing document. The following is a speci-
men of it's contents:
1.-The editors are at this time uncertain
whether the number Of subscribers amounts
to two hundred, but, immerged as they al
ready are in all the expense incident to
such an undertaking, they enter upon the
execution of the work with all that pleas
ing expectation which a predetermined as
sidrity can alone inspire.
1.-The editors solicit, In the warmest man.
ner, the aid of such whose leisure and
talents qualify them for the Office They
will ever be ready to receive with thank
fulness communications tending to the pub
lie good or amusement. Original essays
will always be received with gratitude
and such as have a tolerable share of merit
and are not ircor sistent with Individual
they will gladly commit to the
p1 ess."
(Signed) JOHN SMITH
ELLIS PRICE
The columns devoted to foreign intelli-
gence are full Of Information about France
and her wars, which occupy even more
space than the proceedings of Congress
at Philadelphia. The ship news shows two
vessels sailing for London, one for Cadiz,
one for Lisbon, one for Cork, and several
for Philadelphia, New York, Salem, Nam
tucket, Norfolk and Rhode Island
One learns from the reports Of the Alex
andria custom house that in the first three
quarters of the year 1902 the imports at
that port were 100000 and the exports
$343 600, showing, thanks to the tobacco
crop, comfortable balance on the right
side.
Philip Wanton advertises loaf sugar In
barrels, cotton in bags, "a variety of schol-
astic books and stationery" and new and