Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-11
LOCAL NEWSP APERS
FIRST PUBLICATIONS DISCUSSED
BY COLUMBIA SOCIETY.

An account of the early newspapers pub
lished in this District proved to be of much
interest to members Of the Columbia His
torical Society at the meeting held last
evening in the banquet hall of the Shore
ham. The author of the paper. Mr.. Allen
B. Slauson. who is the head Of the periodi-
cal department in the Library Of Congress.
stated that his paper was confined in point
Of time to the first period. ending in 1910,
and, in territory, to the District of Column
bia as it now exists. comprising only the
portion north of the Potomac.
He found that the first paper published In
the District. in what is now the city of
| Washington. was the Times and Potowmack
Packet It began in February 1889, the
exact date being uncertain. Nothing like
complete file Of this paper is known to be
in existence The printers were Charles
Fierer and Thomas w. Fosdick.
How long this paper lived, Mr. Slauson
stated, is not known, but it is certain that
it occupied its field without rival only a
little over year. In March, $780, appeared
the first issue Of the Georgetown Weekly
Ledger Day & Hancock were probably
the printers, as their names appear upon
the first number known to be in existence.
Later on Alexander Doyle was the printer
the latest issue known is October 8, 1898.
James Doyle, probably son of Alexander.
being the publisher. The Ledger probably
ceased before the end of 1888.
In December, 1893 Hanson z, Priestly.
another firm of Georgetown printers, start
ed the Columbian Chronicle and continued
the publication nearly two and half years
1t was probably in the spring of 1876 that
the publication ceased and the type, presses
and good will became the property of Green.
English & Co., who, on the 23d of May,
began the publication of the Centinel of
Liberty and Georgetown Advertiser. a semi
weekly newspaper. I've same publishers
also issued a weekly paper called the Cen
tinel and Country Gazette.
The first newspaper to bear the imprint
of Washington city was known as the I'M
partial Observer and Washington Adyer-
tiser. T. Wilson began it's publication at
Az and streets southwest Friday, May %,
1T95. 1t was published about a year only.
The next paper the Washington Gazette.
was started Wednesday, June 15 1875. and
was published by Benjamin More: At first
it was issued twice a week. but in little
over year a change was made to weekly.
In the fall of 1897 the publication of the
paper was discontinued for lack of support.
Unlike the other papers mentioned. an
almost complete file of the Washington
Gazette is in the Library of Congress.
Mr.. Slauson spoke of the publication of
the Washington Federalist, which was
started in the fall of 1900, being printed in
Georgetown. and maintained existence for
eight or nine years. The Cabinet of the
United States was printed on press set UP
in Georgetown some time in the month of
September. 1900. The editor was James
Lyon, son of Matthew Lyon. Mr.. Lyon
came from Richmond, where he had been
publishing a paper. and also the National
Magazine. The publication of the latter he
continued in this city. which. Mr.. Slauson
stated was the first magazine printed here.
Little is known of the Cabinet. but it was
probably short lived.
The National Intelligencer was started Oc-
tober 3. 1900. and 1t became a daily in 1913.
This paper continued in existence until jan
uary 10. 1870. The author spoke of the
Spirit of 1776, 1909 1874. and the Monitor
and the Independent American, etc. Upon
the conclusion Of the reading of the paper
a discussion followed.