The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

useful service we must conclude that the
selection was a wise one.
The newspaper business In Seattle has
been full of ups and downs, OF triumphs
and failures. 1t is a business in which
many are called into life and few are
chosen for long existence. The builders OF
the Post-InteIligencer laid the foundation
for their enterprise firmly and well and
throughout It's long career there has never
been a single year IN which 1t has not paid
more than running expenses. This Will
seem all the more strange when IL Is stat
ed that more than a quarter Of a million
dollars has been sunk by individuals and
corporations in vain endeavor to build
up rival publications. not one OF which Is
IN existence today. The Seattle news
paper field IS fun Of the remains OF de-
parted journals. which were summoned
into life 70 al some long-felt want, and
then. owing 10 the puhlic's indifference.
lack OF funds or ability. or for some other
good and sufficient reason. have folded
their more or less white wings and van
ished from mortal gaze.
The first newspaper published In Seattle
was the Washington Gazette by James r.
Watson. II was issued from n printing
onice in Olympia, with a Seattle date line.
and circulated here every week from Au-
gust Is, 1853, to December 10. 1855 on which
day Watson brought a small plant 10 this
city ana puptlsnel the uFst NUMBER Oh TIE
Seattle Gazette The printing press used
was venerable with age, being built OF
wood and differing but little from the
press used a century before by BENJAMIN
Franklin. A good pressman could not
make more than l5a impressions per hour
with this old machine which was termed
a "Ramage.' IL is claimed that the press
was brought from Mexico 10 California on
tho back OF a mule and used "a print the
Alta California. the first paper issued 81
san Francisco. It subsequently did SER
vice at oregon City and later at olympia.
being finally brought 20 Seattle. where 10
was in constant use printing the various
papers which were properly the prcde-
cessors OF the Iutelligeucer. The last
named paper was printed on this primitive
press until 1874. when 81 was succeeded by
a washington hand press. II IS worthy
OF note that the first papers published IN
California. Oregon and Washington were
al printed on this old RamaRe press
This interesting relic was presented by
Mr. L. 4 J. Hunt is last individual own
ct. 20 the Young Naturalists Society Of
Seattle and IN their collection % curlos
and local antiquities il IS now held beyond
price.
The Gazette was \ neat looking weekly
paper o. four pages four columns wide.
It's Office was 80 the second story % q
buflding .hat belonged - r. L. Yesier.
and stood where the hardware store Of
Schwabacher Bros. & CO. IS now located.
Yesier took HIS rent in good Will. Watson
was a newspaper man Of the old school. n
practical printer and a writer % ability.
Severfng his connection with the paper on
August 70 1ss5. Mr.. Watson returned 70
Olympia. where he continued in TIRE news
pauer business up 70 the time 81 he death
While publishing the Gazette here he
found time 20 locate upon a valuable tract
nf lard AZ Sno0ualmie falls. which his
heirs recently sold 20 =. H. Gilman and
bis associates for large sum 81 money.
when Watson gave up tae Gazette f,s
p4bl.-aza5n wert into the hands e tae
late Isaac " Han and a man named Nc
Narnara and lfs name was changed 70 the
Puget Sound Semi Weekly.
IN April. Ises the weekly was enlarged
20 seven columns ard on the 20 % fhe
month the paige; sound Daily was started
The 1aaer was fve--1.ursr sheRt % four
pages w3,a narrow columns ard a total
size % tsxzE inches. 3 survived s3r tErea
nonsh=. and tafn. becoming weekly
vrtrn Han A. Whlte ~ nanEEsers con-
tIguei sn-n June u. 1857, wien & suspend
81 publication
shortly after iris. n August. 1857. sam
uei l. MaxeeE arrived IN seatyls lie
vas Erss-cisss prsgTer ard also e wr er
~ -or s.1e~s1ie fo-ee fa tgs nean sfus
1fe~sFs 33aHsrl en5 Clarence Btx ~ Hs5
her RE the owners - tne prs .uE plant
ana Mr AaxWsl arranged Elca taeD 20
purchase is ard pes for Is as ne earned
tas money. Or August ), lss5. &c issued