The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

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cause 1 played a sman part IN
that epoch. l suppose. Il have no
mind for dates and chronological
order; kept no diary. There was
no time for eXactitude. The value
of the penny in our monetary circu-
lation was unknown. A few thousand
either way in our population and In
the circulation of our newspapers did
not matter. So the truth may be eX-
pected in this article, but there Will
be some latitude for the en-
thusiasm, and the optimism of the
old days, and the men who made a
record in the constructive era OF our
newspapers, and of the great city in
which T h e Journ a is published
Beginning in st. Anthony.
The first newspapers of Minneapolis
We're started on the st. Anthony side,
being then a part of Ramsey county.
Minneapolis was still a military reser-
walton. The st. Anthony Express was
Its name. Isaac Atwater was the edi-
tor, Wilmer Tyler was the publisher.
1t was a weekly, of course, and the
first number was issued May 81, 1851.
The paper was continued until 1851
and escaped with a loss of only
$4,000" It's next editor was D. S.
Is. Johnston, now of st. Paul. It was
whig at first, and afterwards a rec
ognized democratic paper. This is the
history of the first paper published at
the Falls of st. Anthony.
Following the Express came the
Northwestern Democrat, started by
George w. Prescott in 1853. demo-
cratic in politics. In July, 1854. after
Minneapolis was thrown open to set
Element, the paper was sold to w. A
Hotchkiss, who commenced it's pub
lication on the west side of the river
Aug. IL, 1854. It was also demo-
cratic in politics, being backed by
Henry NJ. Rice, r. P. Russell and w.
c.. Holcomb. They transferred their
interest to Joel B. Bassett; who was
not pleased with it's conduct, and,
taking possession of, it, sold it to
w: II. Russell of .Shakopee, who re-
moved himself and all he had to Min
neapolis, calling his paper the
Gazette. He also evidently failed to
pay Mr.. Bassett for his Northwestern
Democrat, for we find Bassett year
later selling it to c. II. Petit and
John G. Williams, who had COM
menced the publication of The Min
neapolis Journal. (This Journal had
no connection by purchase, descent,
by merger or otherwise with the pres
ent, Minneapolis Journal.) -.
The next publication on the east
side of the river was the Minnesota
Republican. Edwin Clark, who is still
q vigorous citizen of Minneapolis, con-
tributes the following facts relative to
the founding and history Of the first
republican paper:
The First Daily in Minneapolis.
In the summer of 1854 there were
only two newspapers in the territory
of Minnesota outside Of ST. Paul. the
st. Anthony Express, owned and edited
by Isaac Atwater, and the Northwest
ern Democrat, also published in st.
Anthony by George w. Prescott. Both
of these papers were conservative.
The antislavery discussion was dis
turbing the public mind everywhere.
There was q warm section of aboli-
tionsts at the falls without news
paper voice. 1t was then that the more
,outspoken men began the agitation for
a newspaper that should express more
fully their views on Temperance and
civil liberty -...-. ....... . q. Il.
A stock company was formed with
$1,000 subscribed. 1t was voted that
those who did not pay when called on
should give their notes for the amount
of their stock, bearing 8 per cent
interest per month. Rev. c. G. .Ames
was made editor, and the paper was
called the Minnesota Republican.
First Republican Paper.
The first issue was delivered to the
world Oct. 5, 1854. It is believed that
this was the first republican paper in
tained an editorial favoring the move
nent to form a new party, which re-
suited III the organization of the re-
publican party in Minnesota at a
mass convention held at st. Anthony
March 20 and 80, 1855. This was
several months prior to the organiza-
ton of the national republican party,
which took place the following year.
Mr. Ames continued the publication of
the Republican until Sept. 1, 1857,
when he sold it to W. A. Croffut and
Edwin Clark. These gentlemen con-
tinued the Republican until Sept: %,
1857, when they issued the first num-
Der of the Falls Evening News, the
first daily newspaper published at ST.
Anthony Fails. The panic of 1857,
and disastrous fire among the mer-
chants OH the East Side, compelled the
substitution of a triweekly until Dec.
4, 1860, when it again appeared as a
daily.
In 1859 the name Of the Minnesota
Republican was changed to Minnesota
State News, which was subsequently,
sold to Colonel W. S. King and merged
into the State Atlas, published on the
West Side,
The Early Competitions.
No sketch of Minneapolis journal
Ism is complete without reference to
It's competitors, it's rivals and the con-
tests for existence and supremacy. 1t
is folly to harp on the bitterness; I
will not do SO. But there was rivalry
and enterprise, a plenty of it. st.
Paul had had the advantage of an
earlier settlement and was a place
Of five or six thousand inha bitants be-
fore Minneapolis had a postoffice. It
was the head Of navigation. It was
the starting point of stage lines to
the north and west. 1t was the cap
ttal. 1t had the start in banking, in
newspapers and in hotels. 1t was the
center of political and business af-
fairs for empire soon to be made
UP of great states. It's business men
accumulated property rapidly, and it
apparently had little to fear from Min
neapolis, which had nothing but a
few lumber mills and ST. Anthony
Falls as a basis for it's future The
state university was also located here,
inhabited during the shinplaster years
leadership began early. Sometimes it
times the struggle for a railroad
Sometimes the distribution of patron
age; sometimes the scramble for Of
flee; always sharp drumming up of
business in various lines and a lively
hustle for population. 1t was recog-
nized that st. Paul had an important
place on the map, and had a loyal
enthusiastic and determined coterie Of
citizens who believed great things of
the future, and planted their good
money on the proposition.
The Minneapolis newspapers We're