davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1896-04-12

distort public opinion by partial color
Ing.
That this guiding principle was the
correct one The Herald of today strong
ly emphasizes. The truest merit is not
measure of success, as the world counts
tin dollars and cents; were it not SO
the Police Gazette, with it's corrupting
influences, might be accepted as the
form and model of metropolitan jour-
nalism. The steadily increasing appre-
citation of the thoughtful public, while,
perhaps, not so profitable as the un-
thinking patronage of the multitude or
the blind adherence of the bigot and the
partisan, is nevertheless the most wor-
thy clientele for any paper, to aspire to
obtain, and this ideal of attainment.
however many it's shortcomings, The
Herald has steadily kept in view. For
twenty-three years it has heroically
battled with adverSities until now it has
reached a position in the journalistic
field that entities it to a place in the
front ranks of modern and progressive
newspapers
Today a battery of Mergenthaler
linotype machines has replaced the old
time method of hand-composition in
vogue during nearly the quarter of q
century of the papers existence. Thus
equipped with the most modern of the
requirements of metropolitan news
paper, brief survey of the past serves
only to Stimula tie to new eXertion, while
bidding fair promise of what yet lies
from view and experience by the cur
tain of time.
The herald., 1896-04-12

side, with intervening spaces, in the or
der in which they are to appear in print,
and thereafter to present the line to a
mold, so that the linotypes or slugs may
be cast against and into the entire line
of matrices at one operation.
The operations are effected by a me-
chanism which must be examined close
ly to be thoroughly understood. AS
sorted matrices are stored in channels
in an inclined stationary magazine or
holder, and tend to slide downward out
of the magazine by reason of their grav-
ity, but are held in check by escape
ments. one at the mouth of each chan
mel. From these escapements rods are
extended downwards to series of
finger-keys on the operating board.
There is a special key for each character
or letter and the keys are depressed by
the operator in the order in which the
corresponding characters are to appear
in the print. Each time key is struck
it permits a single matriX, bearing the
corresponding character to fal out of
the mouth of the magazine and down.
ward through channels to an inclined
travelling belt, by which the matrices
are carried downward one after another
and delivered into slotted assembling
block, in which they are set up or COM
posed side by side in line or row. A
stationary box contains a series of
spaces, and delivery device connected
with a finger bar permits their discharge
and falling into line at their proper
places. Thus, by operating the keys,
the required matrices and spaces are de-
livered one after another and assem-
bled in line in the block until it con-
tains all the characters necessary to
complete one line of print.
After the line of ma atrices is thus COM
posed it is transferred to the face of a
vertical mold wheel, through which a
slot or mold proper extends from the
The herald., 1896-04-12

fining company appears In the Herald's
first issue, with notice of the appoint
ment of a committee to initiate opera
tions as speedily as possible.
The sheriff of the county also adVer-
tised that he had in his possession at
Stephens corral certain horses, describ-
ing them, taken from Tiburcio Mas
quez'S band of robbers, and requesting
owners to claim and prove ownership,
pay charges and take the stock away.
During the first month of issue, on
October 23d, to be specific-an article
appeared entitled The Right Place to
Settle. The article was from the pen of
r. NJ. Widney, at that time district
judge. who used to utilize his spare mo-
ments in booming the city of Los An
geles. The Herald published with his
assistance too. about that time a map
of the future Southern California. When
the Los Angeles G. Salt Lake road is
completed, as it will be in the near flu
ture, that map will be perfect for the
purpose for which it was drawn, and
will serve to illustrate the keenness OF
mental vision that distinguished some
of the early residents of the city.
At the end of six months Mr. StorKe
was compelled by financial necessity.
arising largely from lack of experience
in business affairs. to sell out his inter-
est to certain citizens who incorporated
as the Los Angeles Citv and County
Publishing company. The capital stock
was set at $4,000, divided in 1900 shares
of the par value of $1O0 each. Articles
of Incorporation were filed on February
16, 1874, the directors being F. p. F.
Temple, ]. Bixby, r. M. Widney, P.
The herald., 1896-04-12

The editor was again instructed TO
pay close attention to the local inter-
ests and make a showing of fact such
as might induce outsiders to appreci-
ate the resources of the south and by
settling here keep on developing the
industries of the region. Mr.. Editor
grew restive and threatened il the di
rectors interfered with his manage
ment to quit some evening, stuff his
pockets full of copy and thus tie the pa
per up. The danger was imminent. and
was discussed at length by the board OF
directors at a meeting called by Judge
Widney for that especial purpose. 1t
was agreed that the policy de-
cided upon was the only true
one to follow, but the threat of
the rambunctious editor had not been
without effect. What was to be done?
Finally Judge Widney stated that if
the editor cleared out as he had threat
ed to do he himself would edit the pa
per until a proper person could he Sc
cured. The board thereupon peremp-
torily gave orders to the rebellious SUI
bordinate that the paper be edited in
accordance with previous instructions.
That evening about o'clock the fore
man hurried to Judge Widney's office
with the information that the editor
had, sure enough, gathered up all the
copy and refused to give out any to the
compositors unless the board of direc-
tors would rescind it's order and permit
him to run the paper in the manner he
desired.
Such a state of affairs had not been
unexpected, and Judge Widney was
quickly on the scene. The comps"
were standing around waiting for
The herald., 1896-04-12
Bassett, who retained editorial manage
ment, conducted the paper.

Bassett, who retained editorial manage
ment, conducted the paper.
Not for long, however. did Mr.. He'll
man rejoice in the distinction of being
the owner of newspaper, for he leased
it in 1875 to Messrs. Ayers & Lynch,
who We're then editing and publishing
the Evening Express. Under the new
conditions Mr.. Lynch assumed charge
of the Herald and Mr.. Ayers retained
the editorial chair of the Express.
In 1888 Mr.. Lynch became the sole pro-
prietor of the paper, having sold the Ex-
pres to Messrs Osborn and Cleveland.
At the expiration OF Mr.. Ayers term as
state printer in 1887, he returned to Los
Angeles and purchased half interest in
The Herald. From thence on it was
carried on. as a Democratic organ and
published in the Jones block. on Spring
street, opposite. the Bullard block. In
the spring of 1888 the editorial and busi-
ness departments We're removed to the
Hellman block, on Second street
At that time a perfecting press was
purchased from the San Francisco Bull
letin, but the machine proved a failure
and was abandoned, and in 1893 a new
Hoe perfecting press was installed, the
investment proving in every way sue
cess. In October 1894. a syndicate of
gentlemen obtained the majority of the
stock, and Judge Stephens became vice.
president Of the company. Messrs. Ayers
& Lynch severed their connection with
the editorial management, but retained
a financial interest until the following
month. when John Bradbury purchased
n controlling interest in The Herald and
made many improvements in the prop
erty. r'0
In the spring of 1895 John Bradbury
retired and William S. Creighton and
1'elfair Creighton obtained controll-
interest. the former becoming editor
in-chief of the paper and the latter
The herald., 1896-04-12
neOus with other changes of almost

equal Importance.
The old quarters on New High street
were contracted and ill-adapted for the
purposes required, and arrangements
were made by which The Herald gained
a home in every way sufficiently coD~
modious until an uptown block is built.
and which will serve as the permanent
abode of the leading, paper in Southern
California. - s4-ls.
+ The structure ar On on Fourth; +. near ear
presenting 10 the public a pre-
tentious exterior interiorly is cbnven-
lent and we'll adapted for the purposes
for which it was erected.
On the ground floor is the composing
room, containing the newly added bat
terry of Mergenthaler linotype machines
and the preSSrooms, with abundant
storage space. On the upper floor are
the reportoria.1 rooms. city and tele-
graph editors and artists rooms and
the sanctum of the editor-fn- chief. In
the rear is the composing room, here
tofore in use, with multifarious para
phernalia required in setting up a city
newspaper. Closely adjacent is the ste
reotyping department, with it's ponder
Gus machinery. and other necessary off
fees.
The business office in the Bradbury
building is the handsomest of it's kind in
Southern California, and has few equals
in the state.
Wainscoted with hard oak, the pill
lars are covered with enameled mat
rices of The Herald, thus giving q
unique effect and serving to give the
visitor an idea. of how the paper is
printed. Private Offices for the presi-
dent and business manager are hand-
somely appointed, while the cashier.
bookkeeper and manager of the circu-
lating department are comfortably
found with the necessary conveniences
for their corps of assistants.
The herald., 1896-04-12

front to the rear face. The entire row
of characters in the matrix line is pre-
sented directly opposite the face of the
mold or slot, so that when the mold is
filled with metal to produce a slug or
linotype the metal will flow into the
matrices, which produce their respect
i've type characters in relief on the edge
of the casting.
Behind the mold-wheel there is ar
ranged a pot, in which type metal is
maintained in a molten condition by
flame from sas-hurner. The pot has
a. delivery mouth or channel adapted to
fit against and close the rear face of the
mold. Within the pot there is mounted
a mechanically operated pump plung-
er. After the line of matrices is pre-
sented and locked against and across
the face of the mold, the mouth of the
pot is closed against the rear side of the
mold and the plunger then operates to
force the molten metal from the mouth
of the pot into the mold, in which it So
lidifies, completing the slug or lino-
type. After the linotype is thus pro-
duced. the mold-wheel makes a par
tial revolution, turning, the mold-slot
from the horizontal position in which it
stood during the casting operation to
vertical position. While the mold
stands in this position a horizontal
blade advances from the rear and push
es the linotype forward out of the mold
and between trimming knives into the
galley in front of the machine. A vi
brating arm advances the linotypes one
after another along into the galley, in
which they are thus assembled side by
side in column form ready for immedi-
ate use.
After the assembled matrices have
answered their purpose in front of the
mold, it is necessary to distribute and
return them to the magazine, from
Ia. a,t,s Il IA
charged I'm different order for use in
succeeding lines.
After the casting operation the line
of matrices, having answered its pur-
pose, is lifted vertically and then shift
ed laterally till the teeth engage the cor
responding teeth in plate which then
rises, lifting the entire line of matrices
to the distributing mechanism at the top
of the magazine. The spaces remain
behind when the matrices are lifted to
the distributor and are transferred lat
orally to the box or holder to be used
again.
The matrices pursue a circulatory
course through the machine, starting
from the mouth of the magazine and
passing downward to the line in which
they are assembled; thence to the mold
to produce the letters on the linotype,
and finally back to the magazine at the
top. 1t is this circulation process, and
the fact that the operation of composing
one line, casting from another and dis
tributing third are carried on in cur
rently, and without interference, that
enables the machine to operate at such
amazing speed. Operated by a single
person, the machine produces and as
sembles linotypes ready for the press
and stereotyping table at the rate of
from 5000 to 1000 ems per hour, this vari-
alton in speed depending upon the eX-
pertness of the operator.
The herald., 1896-04-12

street, nearly opposite the new Bullard
and Temple blocks. 1t was a one-story
building of modest pretensions and was
owned by f. p. +. Temple, who was at
that time tower of financial strength
in the city, and in that respect shared
supremacy with |. w. Hellman, who
was the cashier of the Farmers and
Merchants bank. There. existed keen
business rivalry between these two, but
Temple was generous and unSophisti-
Gated, while his opponent was shrewd,
careful and adhered with scrupulous
exactness to business.
1t was c. A. Storke, esq, now of Santa
Barbara, that had the courage to pub
lish The Herald, and with Taylor cy-
Under press and a three horse power
Baxter engine, gained the honor of is
suing the first paper in Southern Cali
fornia that was printed by steam
power. Both engine and press We're
pigmies compared to those now in use
in the press room of the paper, but they
served admirably the purpose for which
they We're intended at the time. Indeed,
people fiocked from far and near to see
the plant that was then far ahead of
anything that had up to that date been
seen in the city.
AS competitors III the journalistic
field were the Star, owned and edited by
Major Ben Truman, and the Express.
owned by Tiffany & Painter, two
printers, and edited by j. J. Ayres, who
was even then man of marked ability
but cramped by his narrow field OF
labor.
The Herald was ir politics liberal and
Independent Democratic. 1t dealt more
with current issues than past memories
and showed little reverence for the tra-
ditions of party. 1t was consistently
anti monopoly and anti-ring at all
times and the friend of labor in all its
forms. The city was strongly Demo-
cratic in politics, SO much so, indeed,
that the Republicans seldom took even
the trouble to make nominations for
either city or county. The Spanish ele-
The herald., 1896-04-12
"LOOKING BACKWARD
The infant Paper Born Into the World to
People Animated by High Hopes

Tn casting backward glance to Oc-
tober 2, 1873, when the first issue of The
Herald was given to the cosmopolitan
population of the young city, the pres
ent marks of civilization, culture
and refinement fade from view and a
city in the embryotic stage of it's ex-
istence again takes definite shape in the
memory.
The population ranged from 6000 to
5000 inhabitants, largely made up of ar
rivals from the eastern states engrafted
upon the Spanish Mexican population
that founded the City of the Angels.
The intersection of Main and Com
mercial streets was then the very center
OF the business portion of the city, al
belt a turn had been made down Spring
street so that there were few business
houses opposite the Temple block on
Spring street. The Pico house and the
Bella Union were the two leading lio-
tels, the former Kept by a man named
knowlton, who had earned honorable
distinction with the confederacy dur
ing the war, and the latter by Staples
d ustick. The United States. Il low two
storied structure. was a popular albeit
a second rate hotel
The only line of railroad actually hay
ing access to the city was the Los An
geles and San Pedro railroad now the
Wilmington branch of the Southern Pa
cine, but work had just been inaugur-
dteu upol the nortnern ana eastern eX-
tensions of the Southern Pacific There
was gap, however, on the north ex-
tending from Delano to Los Angeles,
and the grading had not vet reached
eastward beyond the city limits. of so
much railroad as then existed Colonel
Hewitt was the most courteous of sup
crintendents.
The home where the infantile Herald
was launched upon the world has since
been remodeled out of recognizable
shape. but had its location on Spring
The herald., 1896-04-12

ment of the population controlled elec-
tions, and when Ignacio Sepulveda ran
against Andrew Glassell for county
judge in October, 1873 the former re-
ceived 1888 votes in the city to 2S9 polled
for his opponent.
The Herald was four-page paper of
the size of the present pages. The fol-
lowing directory of local officers of the
city and county appeared in the first
issue:
r. NJ. Widney. district judge.
IgnaciO Sepulveda, county judge.
]. G. Howard, court commissioner.
r. d. Wilson. state senator.
Thomas d. Mott. assemblyman.
Asa Ellis. assemblyman.
William r. Rowland, sheriff.
AL D. Johnson, under sheriff.
]. M. Baldwin, deputy sheriff.
A. w. Potts, county clerk
c. w. Gould, deputy clerk.
S. Fl. Mott, deputy clerk.
c. e. Thorn, district attorney.
Il. NJ. Ross, assistant district attor-
ney.
T. E. Rowan. county treasurer
William McFadden, superintendent
of schools.
George Carson, public administrator.
+. Lecouvreur, county surveyor.
ID. Botiller, county assessor.
Joseph KurtZ, coroner
Fl. Forsman, supervisor.
A. l.. Bush, supervisor.
+. Palomares, supervisor.
S. b. Cassell. supervisor.
j. r. Toberman, mayor
]. r. Wolfe, marshal.
George r. Butler, treasurer.
A. w. Hutton, city attorney.
M. Kremer, clerk.
The herald., 1896-04-12

The marvellous advances made in the
art of printing have reached a climax in
the Linotype. pronounced by the lead
ing engineering authorities to be the
most remarkable machine of this CEN
tury." 1t is the outcome of twelve
years of continuous experiment and in
vention and the expenditure of more
than 81 900, 900. The result is seen in the
present standard Of the Linotype. ma
chine marvellous in speed in the quality
of its product and in the perfection and
action of it's parts.
OF these machines The Herald Pub
fishing company owns and now operates
seven Others will be added as the ne
cessity for their use arises. They are
named Carlisle, Gov. .Budd. Laura, Char
lotte, Single Tax, Sound Money and JEFF
ferson-good names, every one of them.
Operated by single person, the ma
chine produces and assemblies linotypeS
ready for the press or stereotyping
table at the rate of from 5000 to 1000 ems
per hour. In the true sense of the word
the Linotype is not type-setting ma
chine. On the contrary, it is machine
which, being operated by finger-keys
like a typewriter creates or produces
type matter ready for use on the press
or stereotyping table.
Without adhering too closely to tech
nicalities a brief description of the
mechanism of the machines. by means
of which this paper was set up, will
doubtless be of interest to many read
ers.
The Linotype is manipulated with
keyboard the operation of which pro-
duces and assemblies side by side metal
bars or slugs. each of the length and
width of line of type, and having on
the upper edge the type characters to
print an entire line. These bars, hav-
ing the appearance of sold lines of type.
and answering the same purpose, are
called 'linotypes." When assembled
side by side they jointly constitute a
form" presenting on it's surface the
same appearance as q form" composed
of ordinary type, and adapted to be used
in the same manner. After being used
the linotypes are returned to the melt
ing pot to be recast into other lines.
The production of the linotypes is
effected in the following manner:
The machine contains, as it's leading
members, a large number of small brass
matrices, consisting each of a flat plate
having in it's vertical edge female let
ter or matriX, and in the upper end a
series of teeth. There are a number of
matrices for each letter or character
represented on the keyboard.
The machine is organized to select
matrices bearing the required charac-
ters and set them up in line side by
The herald., 1896-04-12

copy" and the amateur editor, minus
his dinner. set to work to grind that
which would serve as mental pabulum
for the patrons of the paper next day.
Being well posted on the country and
its resources, an excellent showing was
made, and so popular was the demand
for that local issue that large supply
of extras had to be struck off to accom-
modate the demand for mailing east
in answer to letters Of inquiry. Inter-
est was aroused and the subscription
list Went bounding upward. In the
weekly the whole of the new matter
was run, and over one thousand extra
copies were sold. and then much of it
was Incorporated in q pamphlet en-
titled:
Los Angeles County, California.
Ten Thousand Questions Answered.
Its Agricultural, Manufacturing and
Mineral Resources.
It's Geographical and C ommercial
Positions.
It's Harbcr and Railroad Systems. with
Map of Our Back Country, Reprint
ed from Weekly Herald of April 4,
1874.
Several thousand copies of these
were struck off and sold at 10 cents each
and in short time not one was left on
hand.
Three weeks after the self opinionat-
ed editor was deposed-or, rather, de-
posed HIMSELF. NJ. Bassett took hold
of the editorial management, Judge
Widney returning to the serenity of his
law and real estate business.
The herald., 1896-04-12

The story of the evolution Of a news
paper is, in epitomized form, the story
of the progress made by the community
to which it has been accessory.
While rejecting the various vicissi-
tudes attending the moral, intellectual
and financial advancement of such COM
munity, the daily newspaper has to en-
counter many difficulties peculiar to
itself and to surmount oppositions
which may threaten it's power for good.
as we'll as it's financial standing and
prosperity.
Time. while solving old difficulties,
constantly adds new ones and renders
more complex that marvel of mechani-
cal and literary skill known as the daily
newspaper, which is so casually scanned
by the average citizen each morning
over the breakfast table.
From it's inception until the present
time The Herald has not been exempt
from the drawbacks and difficulties in
cident to the life of every great journal
of the country. Since the initial issue
on October ., 1873, when Los Angeles had
a, population OF 5000 souls, it has expert
enced in its career many obstacles and
disappointmerts; its intentions have
been misconstrued and its objects mis-
represented, but despite all this those
who have had from time to time con-
troll of it's destinieS have endeavored to
make it perform the true function of a
newspaper--to give the news truly
and without attempting to wrest and
The herald., 1896-04-12
cFFIcE OF THE BUSINESS MANAGER

California in general and Los Angeles
county in particular be made known to
the outside world. This line of policy
having been determined upon, the editor
was instructed to that effect, but that
Individual had notions of his own as to
how the paper ought TO be run. With
the most cheerful persistency he insist
ed upon bringing into very active SER
The herald., 1896-04-12
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS
Banker Heliman Obtains Control and Leases
the Paper to Ayers s Lynch

Some OF the stockholders in the en-
terprise were compelled, for financial
reasons, to abandon the enterprise, and
I. w. Hellman, the banker. secured by
purchase a controlling interest in The
Herald, and with the assistance of Mr..
The herald., 1896-04-12

upon the resignation of William Lacy
was elected president of the Herald
Publishing Company.
Under the new order of things many
improvements have been made tending
to enhance the value of the property
OF these the most notable Is the installa-
ton of a battery of seven linotype ma
chimes by the Mergenthaler company
of New York. M
The herald., 1896-04-12

majority and one or two others have
left the vicinity of their early endeav-
orS.
Petroleum was just beginning to Gre
ate excitement by the discovery of a
deposit near Lyons station, now New
hall, and an announcement of an assess
The herald., 1896-04-12
William Moore, surveyor.

William MOOTG, SURVEYOR.
Dr. Wise, health officer.
II. d. Barrows, president: George
Smith, William I'll. Workman, William
Pridham, NJ. Kremer, trustees.
1t will be noted that among the above
names are not few gentlemen still
taking active part in the citys we'll
fare, while others have COINED the great