New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-11

4itlt
James Elverson was for many years a
prominent figure in American journalism.
He was the founder Of Saturday Night
and Golden Days" and since 1889 had
been owner and publisher Of The Phila-
delphia Inquirer"
Mr.. EMERSON was native OF England
born in 1888. At the age OF nine he came
TO this country and obtained a common
school education. At fourteen. he was
ready for business and made start as a
messenger boy in the Magnetic Telegraph
Companys Office in Newark. y. J. At six
teen he was an operator and before he was
twenty he was manager of the consolidated
offices in Newark, Associated Press agent.
instructor of operators and assistant in the
construction Of new lines.
AT the outbreak OF the Civil War Mr.. FL
verson was one Of those operators who
were called TO Washington Within year
he was made manager OF the American
Telegraph Office. near the departments
where most Of the important business was
transacted. in this capacity he made many
important acquaintance. including Presi-
dent Lincoln and his Cabinet. Judicious
investments in government bonds and other
securities at this time made for him COM
Portable fortune.
After the war he moved to Philadelphia
and began his career as a publisher. With
a former associate he established. in 1866.
Saturday Night" a journal in the inter
est Of municipal reform. The next year he
converted it into story paper, and pushed
the circulation all over the country until
il reached 10000 copies. In 1879 he became
sole proprietor Of this publication.
Encouraged by this success. in 1880 he
started Golden Days" a weekly juvenile
publication The campaign with which
this publication was started was as daring
as il was successful. Long before the date
for distributing the first number he had
three million copies printed and sent to
distributing points all over the United
States. The establishment Of his system Of
distribution cost him months Of labor and
$1,000 The second number had 5000 sub
scribers.
In 1859 Mr.. Elverson bought a controlling
interest in The Philadelphia Inquirer
He Immediately recognized and re-
equipped the plant and put il in a new
building and added "A Sunday issue to the
paper. In 1890 he increased the size to
eight pages and reduced tho price TO one
cent. The Inquirer became thereupon
the first one cent eight-page morning daily
ever published.
Mr.. Elverson always retained active con-
troll OF the editorial and financial mana ge-
ment Of his publications
For several years he had been a member
Of the Paramount Park Commission and
was delegate-at-large 10 the Republican ma
tional conventions of 1900. 1901 and 1905.
Mr.. Elverson leaves a wife and two chill
dren. Colonel James Elverson ir.. secretary
and treasurer of THE Inquirer" and n
daughter. who in 1894 was married TO Jules
Patenotre. then the Ambassador Of France
AZ Washington. and now Ambassador at
Madrid Colonel Flverson married Eleanor
Ntavo. daughter Of Frank Mayo, the actor.
and herself an actress in light parts.
The death of Mr. Elverson removes the
last Of the proprietors Of Philadelphia
,oorning newspapers who built up their
,ronerties from small beginnings To their
present positions. OF this group George W.
Cbilds. founder and publisher Of The Pub
tic Ledger" was first to be removed by
doatb He was followed by William NJ Sin
oarlev founder and publisher Of The
accord. l." and by Calvin Wells and Charles
rr,orv Smith. respectively proprietor
na cAitor of The Press" Thomas T..
U-aramaker. who purchased the MORT
h,,rd North American" OF the McMichael
.s,ate and developed II, died n few years
ago