The Redwood gazette., 1935-03-28
Former Editor Recalls When
Retiring Press Was
New in 1892
By julius A. Schmahl


new and up-to-date printing press
to take the place of another that
has performed years of service
carries with it many interesting
incidents to him or them who
have been or were identified with
the history of the institution
where the replacement is occur
ring.
1t is with extreme pleasure that
have learned of the installation
of the new press as mark OF
progress of "The Redwood Ga
zette," but with some regrets
over the information that the old
press has like good soldier, done
its part and is passing out.
Looking backwards for So
years seems almost like yester-
day. Fifty-five years in the fu-
ture seems like long time ahead
In 1880 I was herding nearly 40O
head of cattle for George W.
Braley on what is now the ter
ritory in and around Vesta vii
lage. There were few settlers in
that neighborhood at that time
and the range was large. It was
on October 18 of that year that
the great snowfall or blizzard set
in and for months the towns and
the residents were snowbound
My herd of cattle had been moved
eastward for several miles and ]
was relieved of the responsibility
of care.
Going back to the home of my
mother in Redwood Falls, she
made arrangements with James
Aiken, publisher of the Gazette
for the commencement of my ap-
premiership as a printer and ]
commenced service December 1 of
that year. My compensation was
$125 per year. Anton C. Weiss,
later publisher of the Duluth Her.
aid, was then the chief printer on
the Gazette and it was under him
that l acquired my first know
ledge of hand type setting. l was
then, and still am, what is known
as a "south-paw" and / can re-
call Mr.. Weiss great difficulty in
forcing me to set type with the
right hand-the only way that q
printer can manipulate type into
"stick." l remember we'll the
old Washington hand press which
Mr.. Weiss operated.
A half day was consumed in
getting out the regular edition OF
500 or 600 copies of the weekly
edition of the Gazette on that
hand press. 1t was about that
time that King Brothers were
conducting a store in Redwood
Falls and issued monthly paper
known as the Redwood Merchant
The type setting for this monthly
and the press work was all done
in the Gazette office. 1t required
an entire day to turn out the
edition of 1000 copies on the hand
press and many time during the
printing of the weekly edition OF
the Gazette and the monthly edi.
ton of the Redwood Merchant al
of us, after a sorry half day OF
whole day, wondered when the
Gazette would make its appear.
ance through the cylinder or pow.
er press medium.
Mr.. Weiss left the Gazette
shortly after l learned the first
rudiments of typesetting. He be-
came a circulation solicitor or
Minneapolis and St. Paul paper:
and afterwards went to Duluth
where he grew up with that city
After two years in the Gazette
office l was advised to step into
a broader field of knowledge anG
shortly afterwards l found EN-
ployment in the job printing of
flee at Fargo, then still part OF
the territory of Dakota. There
under the magnificent tutorshiE
of the Walker brothers, I acquir.
ed many of the best rudiments OF
the art preservative, and reading
the editorials in the Argus, writ
ten by Major Edwards, wei
known publisher, l developed ar
ambition to become real news.
paper man. Two years later found
me back in Redwood Falls, work
ing in the office of the Redwood
Reveille, but in another two years
l commenced reporters career
on the daily papers of st. Pau
and Minneapolis, which gave me
lot of education along the line
of gathering and serving of news
All this time the Gazette was still
being printed on the old Wash
ington hand press. In 1892
through various "shakeups" o1
the city desks on the daily papers