The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-04
OLD PAPER GOES
INTO new HANDS
Had Been Property of the Snow
dens for 127 years-Files Contain
History of Alexandria-Corpo-
ration Acquires the Paper.
Editor S Statement.
ALEXANDRIA, VA Special

ALEXANDRIA, VA Special
The Alexandria Gazette founded i'm
1884, and. therefore, one of the old
est newspapers in the United States.
Will, on May 1st, pass beyond the con-
troll of the Snowden family, some
member OF which has been the editor
and proprietor for 127 years Tues
day deed was placed on record in
the office of the clerk of the Corpora
ton Court transferring the property
10 the Alexandria Gazette Corpora
ton, and in the afternoon issue Of the
paper an announcement, signed by
Hubert SnoWden, editor and owner
since 1901, preceded the editorials.
After announcing the sale of the prop
erty Mr.. SnOWden says, i'm part:
The reluctant step of parting with
this old and valuable property was
taken after mature consideration by
the editor and owner who. after a
continuous connection with the paper
for nearly half a century, is now com
PEELED to lead a less strenuous life than
that OF editing and managing daily
newspaper. / will always retain, how
ever, an interest in the paper. In retir-
lnS as l do with heartfelt regret, from
the Gazette and the field of active
journalism, 1 ask for my successors the
generous patronage and support here
tOfore extended this-the oldest of
Alexandria institutions"
The corporation which will assume
control of the paper was recently
granted charter of Incorporation by
the State Corporation Commission of
Virginia. The officers and incorpora-
tors are Robert S. Barrett, president
and general manager; T. 9. Smith,
vice-president. and Howard V. Smith,
secretary and treasurer. Mr.. Barrett,
who will be the managing editor is
practical newspaper man, and was
formerly the editor and owner of the
Mexico Herald, an afternoon paper
published in Mexico City. Howard
w. Smith is a lawyer and member of
the City Council from the Second
Ward, and 7. G. Smith is the cashier
of the Alexandria National Bank. 1t
is understood that the new owners will
not make any changes in the appear
ance of the paper.
The Alexandria Gazette, as shown
by records of publication in the Office
OF the clerk of the Corporation Court.
was founded in 1884. In 1900 it was
purchased by Samuel Snowden, who
had been a part owner prior to that
time. He was succeeded upon his
death by his son, Edgar Snowden, who
assumed the mana cement of the pa
per. When Edgar Snowden died his
son, Edgar SnOwden, Jr., succeeded
him as head of the paper. lie was
followed by his brother. Harold Snow
den who died in 1901, and since then
Hubert Snowden, younger brother
has been at the head Of the paper.
stopped During War.
Few newspapers in the United
States have had such a long and
honorable career as the Gazette. Its
publication was only stopped during
the progress of the Civil War, and
| then but temporarily. The Gazette
office was taken charge of by Federal
troops in 1861. They seized the pa
per and for a while published paper
of their own. In 1852 the Office was
burned by the Federal troops. The
Gazette, therefore, was only published
at intervals during the progress of
the war. These, however, were the
only occasions when its publication
was stopped.
Its old files and records as far back