Yakima County, Washington - Chapter 3: The Press of Central Washington, 1904

Chapter 3: The Press of Central Washington

Among the forces which figure in the upbuilding of a community none, perhaps, is more potential than a lively, up-to-date newspaper. The newspaper man, however, like others who labor for the general good of humanity, is usually but poorly compensated for his toil and effort, and unless he can find a large part of his reward in the consciousness of having been a blessing to his neighborhood, he must forever remain in a large measure unremunerated for his long hours of labor. Very many times the pioneer newspaper man is editor, compositor, reporter and pressman combined into one. His paper must appear each week, must appear on time, if the overburdened editor has to work twentyfour hours out of the day. He is expected to keep the advantages of his town and county' constantly before the public eye. He must not fail to give praise where praise is due, and if he fearlessly administers rebuke, when rebuke is merited, he is liable to be confronted by an injured innocent armed with a horsewhip or a revolver.

to be fully appreciated. Even the most sagacious and public-spirited men of most communities fail to rightly estimate the value of a local newspaper as an agent in advancing the business interests of the town or city in which it is published and in augmenting its importance. In every town are to be found a very considerable proportion of business men who willingly give time and effort to the organization and maintenance of boards of trade and to other movements for the attraction of outside enterprise and capital. These men may subscribe liberally for the establishment of promising enterprises, though they contribute little or nothing to a means of greater importance and efficiency in the upbuilding" of the town, the support of their local paper. Seldom does one find a newspaper that does not flatteringly portray the actual character of the town or community in which it is established. Into many a home does it each week come as a constant reminder of the town and its resources and many a sample copy finds its way into the far distant homes of persons contemplating a change of resi- dence, doing what it can to attract immigration and outside capital. Persons desiring to learn of conditions in a new country almost invariably write to the newspaper editor, feeling certain to receive a reply, for the newspaper man is invariably publicspirited, though the advantages to be reaped by him from the development of the community are slight compared to those accruing to other business men. We will not attempt the almost impossible task of exhaustively tracing the history of the numerous journals which have gone out of existence. The newspaper business is a precarious one everywhere and the mortality among aspiring local journals is always very great, and in this respect central Washington has been no exception. Of course some of the papers now deceased were started for special purposes and were not designed to outlive the cause which produced them, while others set out hopefully, expecting a long life, but sooner or later succumbed to the pressure of accumulating liabilities, to meet which the earnings of the business proved inadequate. The oldest newspaper in this group of counties still in existence is published in the oldest county, Klickitat. It is known as and is published in Goklendale every Wednesday, W. F. Byars, editor and manager. The Sentinel has the distinction of being the oldest newspaper in eastern Washington outside the Walla Walla country and perhaps the Colville section, being now in its twenty-seventh volume. The pioneer paper of this county was the Sun, published for about six months in 1877 and 1878 by a man who is said to have become demented. The plant passed into the hands of Joseph Verden, who sold it to C. K. and K. A. Seitz. They founded the Klickitat Sentinel, the first number appearing in May, 1878, since which time the Sentinel has appeared uninterruptedly. In January, 1881, Captain W. A. Wash, who had come to Goldendale in 1879 ar"J had founded a private academy there, commenced the publication of a rival newspaper, the Goldendale Gazette. These papers alone occupied the local field during the early eighties.

In 1885, however, both papers passed into the hands of a stock company which united them under one management. The new journal took its name from each of the old publications, being called the Goldendale Sentinel, and under that name it is still issued. This stock company was made up of business men of the town and county and was incorporated with a capital stock of $3,500, divided into thirty-five shares. Two directors were elected annually by the shareholders, and one of their number was to be selected as manager to take full charge of the company's affairs. The first annual meeting of the stockholders was held the first Monday in August, 1885, at which R. O. Dunbar and J. T. Eshelman were elected directors. Mr.

Dunbar was then chosen as the new company's first manager and editor, although he had been acting in that capacity since the merger went into effect, May 21, 1885.

The shareholders of the company at the time of organization were drawn from the ranks of both parties, with the understanding that the Sentinel was to be published as an independent paper. To publish a neutral paper is, however, almost an impossibility, as it is extremely difficult to find a person to take charge who is entirely non-partisan. For a while the Sentinel maintained its attitude of strict neutrality, but in a few years it became Republican in its sympathies and has ever since been unswerving in its fidelity to that party.

The Sentinel is still under the control of the stock company, but most of the stock has now passed into the hands of the present editor and business manager. Mr. Byars, a man of long and successful experience in the newspaper business, has been associated with the Sentinel at intervals for eleven years, and for the last five years the management of the business has been exclusively in his hands.

The columns of the Sentinel are filled each week with city, county and state news, interestingly written; its editorial columns have always borne a high reputation. It has always devoted itself unsparingly to the advertisement of the county's resources and the advancement of its best interests, with the result that the Sentinel has been no small factor in the region's growth. Its popularity is attested by a circulation of over 1,000 paid up subscriptions. It is a six-page seven-column paper.

It is a task that would hardly give adequate results for the time expended, to compile a complete list of the editors and managers who have served the Sentinel. The changes in those departments have been extremely frequent. But to show that the Sentinel has been ably managed and edited it is only necessary to mention some of the men who were from time to time associated with it. Among the names we find the following, who have achieved eminent success and are known throughout the state of Washington: R. O. Dunbar, associate justice of the supreme court of the state ; W. R. Dunbar, formerly register at the Vancouver land office; C. S. Reinhart, clerk of the state supreme court; FI. C. Phillips, present register of the United States land office at Vancouver; State Senator George H. Baker, Honorable Joseph Nesbitt (deceased), and others.

fire in 1888 and with the building almost the entire plant, entailing a great loss to the company. Recently the company erected an exceptionally fine, commodious building on Court street, which is occupied exclusively by the Sentinel Publishing Company. The equipment for both newspaper publishing and job printing is also very complete.

was established in 1893 by W. J. Story, its present editor and proprietor, and step by step has grown in force and influence until it has become one of the leading journals of Klickitat county and has attained to a prominent place among the strong newspapers of the state. Politically, it is Republican. In size the Agriculturist varies from six to eight pages, six columns wide. It is printed upon an unusually good grade of paper and typographically is creditable to its mechanical department. Its equipment is among the best to be found in the country offices of the state. The circulation at present exceeds 1,000. Editor Story and his paper have ever stood for progress and for more than a decade have been in the forefront in advertising the rich and varied advantages of Goldendale and the great county of which it is the county seat. Due credit is cheerfully given by Klickitat's citizens for the good work done. The office of the Agriculturist is located on Main street in the city of Goldendale.

Bickleton News

Less than two years have elapsed since S. G. Dorris, an Oregonian, installed a plant at Bickleton and began the publication of the News, but even in that short period eastern Klickitat has experienced a wonderful development and the News has kept pace with this rapid progress. The first issue of the News appeared August 2, 1902, and consisted of only two small pages ; today four pages of five columns each, all printed at home, are published weekly. The equipment of the News office consists of a 14 by 20-inch Peerless jobber, a Fairbanks- Morse gasoline engine with electric attachment ; paper cutter, and several hundred dollars' worth of new modern type. The paper occupies its own building, erected by Mr. Dorris for that special purpose. It is a stanch supporter of Republican doctrines and a vigorous advocate of the interests of its town and the surrounding country.

Centerville Journal

The Centerville Journal is a ten-page, four-column weekly published by the Journal Publishing Company, Klickitat county. It is independent politically. The Journal has been edited and managed by Kelley Loe since it made its appearance, August 8, 1902. Mr. Loe has had some former experience in editorial work, having published a newspaper in the state of Missouri. The Journal is a meritorious publication, neatly printed, and always filled with interesting matter, and it is constantly enlarging the circle of its influence in the community.

The Enterprise

published as a weekly at White Salmon, Klickitat county, by Thomas Harlan, editor and proprietor, is the county's youngest newspaper, having come into existence May 8, 1903. It is a six-column folio, meritorious in mechanical execution and in its editorial and news columns. The plant is small but new and complete and the paper is Republican in politics.

Klickitat Leader

The year 1890 seems to have been propitious for the beginning of newspaper enterprises in Klickitat county. July 19th of that year there appeared the first issue of the Klickitat Leader, published in Centerville. It was under the management of Frank Lee and announced itself as "principally owned and controlled by farmers, edited by a farmer and run in the interests of farmers; down on all rings, monopolies and tricksters." It was issued by a joint stock company, capitalized at $4,- 000, known as the Farmers' Publishing Company. For a few years the Leader struggled to exist, but finally expired June 6, 1893.

Goldendale Courier

Beginning March 7, 1890, a weekly newspaper, known as the Goldendale Courier, was published at Goldendale for several vears. The first manager of the paper was J. M. Cummings, who made the following announcement to the public : "After examining the field thoroughly we feel convinced that the people of Klickitat county stand in need of a people's advocate, a paper that will at all times advocate the interests of the people, and this the Courier will ever be ready to do." The Courier started, as did most of the publications of the county, as an independent sheet, but afterward became identified with the People's party. About 1896. the Courier ceased publication.

The Yakima Republic

is one of the oldest papers in central Washington. It was established in 1879 in Yakima City, but when the new town of North Yakima was started it was moved to that place, where it has since been published. The publication was known as the Record until it came into the hands of Captain Charles M. Holton, who changed the name to the Yakima Republican. Again, in 1889, it experienced a change of name, becoming the Yakima Republic. The paper has always supported the principles advocated by the Republican party. In Oc- tober, 1903, a daily edition was added which has been very successful and has given North Yakima its first permanent daily. It is a six-column folio, and, being a member of the Associated Press, receives reports from that standard service. The Republic office is supplied with up-to-date equipments, including a Mergenthaler typesetting machine, Babcock news press, folder, etc.

Both the Daily and Weekly Republic are published by the Republic Publishing Company. W. W. Robertson, who owns practically all the stock in the company, is the editor of the two papers. Mr. Robertson has been conducting the Republic since 1898. He is recognized as a newspaper man of ability and has gained for the Republic an honored place among the state's journals.

The Yakima Herald

The Herald, after fifteen years of successful existence, having been established in February, 1889, still remains one of North Yakima's strongest journals. As is usually the case with newspaper ventures, it came "to fill a long felt want," but contrary to the usual experience of such enterprises, it sprang at once into popularity and has been liberally patronized ever since its initial issue appeared, February 2, 1889. The original publishers of the paper were E. M. Reed and James R. Coe, the latter of whom had started the Democrat in the fall of 1888. In 1892 Mr. Coe sold his interest in the paper to his partner, and Mr. Reed continued the publication, with the exception of a few months in 1893, when it was leased to Watson & Coe, until September, 1897, when Charles F. Bailey and George N. Tuesley acquired control of the journal. A year later Robert McComb purchased an interest and Mr. Tuesley assumed the active management of the enterprise. February 1, 1904, L. E. Boardman bought a half interest in the Herald and with George X. Tuesley is now publishing the paper, the former being its editor and the latter its business manager. Such in brief is the history of the business career of the Herald, though, as is stated in its issue of January 6, 1904 : "An interesting story could be written of its trials and triumphs." .

"The hard times from 1894 to 1898," says the article referred to, "could tell a tragic tale of the struggle for existence, not only of the paper, but of numerous of its loyal patrons in business circles here, all of whom fortunately stemmed the tide of adversity and came out of the blasting effects of financial depression in living shape, but visibly racked by the contact.

"From its first issue the Herald has had the confidence and support of the people, not only of this city, but of the entire county; and from its files can be gleaned all the important history of the section. The material advancements and disappointments; the joys and sorrows of the people; marriages, births and deaths, all, if told in chronological order, would tell the complete story of the growth of this modern little city from a dull, dwarfed sagebrush village, tell of the development of thousands of acres of apparently worthless, idle and unprofitable arid lands to the most productive and valuable in the inland empire, tell of the increase in population of from less than a thousand in 1888 to 7,000 or 8,000 in 1904, and a correspondingly large increase throughout the county, and of the growth in values multiplied by the number of years since the time that enterprise and development joined hands in the valley."

The facilities of the Herald are among the best in central Washington. It has a fine cylinder book press, two jobbers and a stitcher, all operated by gasoline power. Its job business is an extensive one and many neat and attractive pieces of work, which would have been considered a credit to offices of greater pretensions, have been turned out.

The Yakima Democrat

The Yakima Democrat is a weekly publication, of which J. D. Medill is editor and proprietor, issued every Saturday at North Yakima. The Democrat is a six-column, eight-page paper, with an extensive circulation throughout Yakima county and central Washington. It is now in its eleventh volume, having been established in 1893, its first number appearing September 26th of that year, bearing the name of the Weekly Epigram. J. T. Harsell was the publisher of the little sheet, which was issued from a job press. It was diminutive in size, being but little larger than a handbill, but what it lacked in quantity it made up in the quality and sprightliness of its news items.

Mr. Harsell continued to issue the paper as an adjunct of his job office until September, 1897, when J. D. Medill, who owned the plant of the defunct Daily Times, purchased the Epigram office, consolidating the two and placing Mr. Harsell in charge. This arrangement remained in force until May, 1898, when Mr. Medill himself assumed charge of the paper and he has since continued to edit and publish it.

January 1, 1899, Mr. Medill changed the name of the publication to the Yakima Democrat and its policy from independent to Democratic. Under his management the paper gradually grew to its present size. The Democrat is now the only Democratic journal published in central Washington, and is one of the most influential weekly papers in the state. January 1, 1904, the publishers of the Democrat purchased the plant and good will of the Yakima Washingtonian and consolidated the two under the name of the former, by this means largely increasing its circulation. The Democrat is the city's official paper and stands in high repute among its contemporary newspapers.

Northwest Farm And Home

A paper of entirely different character from the other publications of North Yakima is the Northwest Farm and Home, owned by the Washington Farmer Publishing Company and edited by Leigh R. Freeman, Mrs. Freeman being associate editor. This paper was established in 1847, near F°rt Kearney, Nebraska, by Joseph E. Johnson, who sold the plant and business to Mr. Freeman in 1859. Mr. Freeman then moved westward and published the paper in twenty-five places before he finally settled in North Yakima. He reached Yakima county in 1884, where he absorbed the Yakima Record and later the Pacific Coast Dairyman. In addition to being a farm and stock paper, the Farm and Home is a descriptive magazine and advertises the west in the east, where many papers are sold.

The Northwest Farm and Home maintains branch offices at Seattle, Portland and Vancouver and is widely circulated throughout the United States.

The Sunnyside Sun

In April, 1901, William Hitchcock made a preliminary canvass in Sunnyside to see what the prospects were for a venture in the newspaper business. As a result of his efforts, he secured 200 subscribers, not a very promising number, but he nevertheless went ahead and purchased a small outfit. The first issue of the Sun appeared May 24, 1901. Many well disposed people thought the undertaking unwise, but the editor lacked neither the necessary courage nor force to succeed and the auxiliary country promised well for future growth.

When the paper was started the office was fitted out with one small press and a few fonts of type; now it is one of the best equipped offices in the county, being fitted wth a Monona cylinder job and book press, gasoline engine, eight by twelve Chandler & Price gordon press, paper cutter, stapling machine and up-to-date type, body and display. The very excellent special edition published in February of this year is a good sample of the class of work done in that office. From that issue we quote the following paragraph :

"There is probably not another paper in the Northwest, published in a town no larger than Sunnyside, that would attempt such a thing. Four thousand copies of this issue will be circulated. They will go into hundreds of homes in the middle west and will, no doubt, influence many people to come to Sunnyside. To such, the Sun extends its cordial welcome."

The Prosser Record

Among the representative papers of Yakima county is the Prosser Record, published at Prosser, by G. E. Boomer. The Record is a well edited, neatly printed journal devoted to the interests of

Prosser and the surrounding country. It came into existence about four years ago as the successor of the American, which had been established in Prosser as early as 1894, but had ceased publication in 1896. The first owner of the Record was A. W. Maxwell, who sold out to August & Brownlow, after conducting the paper a year. The present owner, Mr. G. E. Boomer, obtained possession of the paper only a few months ago, but in that short time has made himself a force in this section. The Record is an eight-page, six column weekly, Socialistic in politics. In connection with the paper, a well equipped job office is operated.

The Columbia Courier

made its bow to the public at Kennewick in 1892, its publisher then being E. P. Green. It was a four-page, four-column paper, using a patent inside. There were at that time not half a dozen families in Kennewick and vicinity. The size of the paper was increased three different times until it became a twelve-page sheet. It was purchased March 2, 1903, by C. O. Anderson, the present owner and editor. A well equipped jobbing office is maintained in connection. The Courier is a creditable little paper, devoted to Kennewick and the surrounding country.

The Mabton Chronicle

a six-page paper, was established by Bernard J. Pacius, March 12, 1904, in the thriving little village of Mabton, as an independent weekly. The property is owned by the Chronicle Publishing Companv, of which Mr. Pacius is a stockholder. At this writing (June, 1904), Mabton is about to secure another paper, the Enterprise.

A comprehensive history of all the publications of the past in Yakima county would include mention of a number that have long found repose in the journalistic graveyard. It would be an almost impossible task to fully treat of the history of the numerous publications which have failed to survive the storms of time. Among the pioneer newspapers which flourished for a time and then passed into oblivion may be mentioned: The Yakima Signal, started in Yakima City in 1883 and published for a number of years; the Yakima Sun, a short-lived paper which made its first appearance in Yakima City in 1885. ostensibly for the purpose of fighting "New Yakima," as North Yakima was then called; the Yakima Argus, first published in 1884; the Times, which made its bow to the public the following year ; the Prosser Falls American ; and numerous others.

The Ellensburg Localizer Central Washington

1883 by David J. Schnebly, one of the veteran newspaper men of the Pacific Northwest. This pioneer of pioneer editors many years later said regarding his experience in journalism:

"Today (February 6, 1893) the editor and proprietor of this paper (The Localizer) begins his seventy-fifth year. It is forty-seven years since he entered the field of journalism in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and he has been in the business the major part of the time since. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 6, 1818, went to Peoria, Illinois, in 1835, but soon thereafter took up his abode in Mercersburg, where he went through Marshall's College. While in Alercersburg he bought the Visitor, now the Journal, but in 1848 returned to Peoria and worked on the Transcript. Having immigrated to Oregon in 1850, he took charge of the Oregon Spectator, the only paper in Oregon at that time, and indeed the only one in the Northwest. This paper was established at Oregon City, in 1845, by the missionaries, Rev. Jason Lee being the prime mover in its establishment. It was conducted for five years with different editors - Col. William T. Nault, Judge Aaron E. Wait, Gen. George L. Curry and the Rev. Wilson Blain. The latter handed the editorial shears over to us. The plant became the property of Hon. Robert Moore, who employed us to manage it for him one year. At the end of the year we purchased it. In 1854 the plant was sold to Dr. William L. Adams, who changed its name to the Argus. The old press, a Washington, is still in Oregon. The Spectator had a fine time clipping the news from exchanges, which came around the Horn and arrived here twice a year. There was no editorial piracy charged against the editor of the Spectator. The papers came by sailing vessels. The New York Tribune and Herald were among our exchanges. After we got through with them they were loaned to anxious parties who wanted to get the news."

, To narrate a little more of his life story : Mr. Schnebly, after leaving the Spectator, removed to a donation claim eight miles from Oregon City and there lived until 1861, when he removed to Walla Walla. In the meantime he had married Margaretta Ann Painter, a daughter of Col. and Mrs. W. C. Painter, among Walla Walla's best known pioneers. During the next decade Mr. Schnebly was engaged in newspaper work on the Walla Walla Union and Statesman, built a toll bridge across the Spokane river above the falls, erected the Eureka mills on that river, farmed and raised stock. In 1871 he came with his sons, Henry and Charles, to the Kittitas Valley and followed husbandry until 1883, at which time he founded the Localizer.

neat, tidy appearance and as might be expected, achieved success and reputation immediately. Even at that time its editor was approaching the allotted three score and ten years. At that time the agitation over a division of Yakima county was at its height and, judging from the tenor of the editorials, the Localizer considered the movement premature though inevitable. The plant suffered a serious disaster July 4, 1889, the great fire of that date almost completely destroying the office and contents. As some one expressed it "everything from shears to files was swept away." Notwithstanding; the energetic publisher and editor immediately contracted for the erection of a new office, ordered new equipment and in a short time had the business running as smoothly as before the fire. Not a number was missed, though for a time the Localizer appeared considerably reduced in size. At this time Editor Schnebly changed its name from the Kittitas to the Ellensburg Localizer and instituted various other changes and reforms, all of which bettered the paper's condition. The paper was installed after the fire in a commodious brick block situated on the west side of Main street between Third and Fourth streets, where it is still published.

During the strenuous campaign of 1896, J. M. Cummins, who had been for some time past an attache of the office, temporarily assumed the business and editorial management of the paper, which became at this time a silver instead of a gold advocate. While the venerable owner was making brave attempts to personally manage the business, he realized that the burdens of old age were upon him and that the enterprise required more strength and attention than he could possibly give to it, so April 9, 1898, the plant passed into the hands of his cousin, F. Dorsey Schnebly, also a '71 pioneer of Kittitas. In his valedictory, the aged editor, says:

"Looking back through .the years that are past, I can but note the many changes of the last half century. Forests have been leveled, cities grown up, political parties risen and fallen, and wars changed the geography of the world. All these have been noted in their turn and now on account of failing eyesight and declining years, I take leave of the Localizer. I have labored to benefit Ellensburg and our county and I hope have been successful. Having attained four score years and two months, I now lay down my pen and leave the work to younger hands."

Not many more years did he, whom the Tacoma Ledger termed "the patriarch of journalism in the Pacific Northwest," live, for early in January, 1901, he was stricken with la grippe and never rallied from the shock, his death occurring January 5th. Only a few days before his death he did some work in the Localizer office and after his retirement in 1898 often contributed to its columns and aided the force. His demise removed one of the last of the old school of Northwestern editors, an able, aggressive writer, and one skilled in all branches of his work and devoted to his profession.

Under the ownership and management of F. D. Schnebly the Localizer continued to maintain its high standing and success. However, he, too, soon turned over the business to still younger hands, the property passing into possession of the Cascade Printing & Publishing Company, April 15, 1903. This firm is composed of Amasa S. and U. M. Randall, the former being manager. Besides conducting the Localizer, it also owns and conducts the Cascade Miner at Roslyn. The company has spent several hundred dollars during the past year for new equipment. Randall Brothers changed the politics of the Localizer from Democratic, which it had been since 1898, to independent. The paper was Republican from 1883 to 1896, when it became Silver Republican. The Localizer occupies commodious quarters in the Schnebly block on Main street. This neatly printed and well edited eight-page journal is still issued once a week, Saturdays, and, with its contemporaries, is energetically and persistently engaged in upbuilding and reflecting the life of the community.

The Ellensburg Capital

A. H. Stulfauth, editor and proprietor, is now in its seventeenth year. It is Kittitas county's second oldest paper, having been founded Thursday, October 11, 1887, by A. N. Hamilton, an experienced newspaper man who now resides in western Washington. The Capital has been a credit to its publisher and the thriving little city from the beginning. The newspaper's first home was in the Capital block, corner of Pearl and Fifth streets, where it remained until October, 1890, when the plant was installed in the Bath block, its present location. At the time of its establishment, Ellensburg was a very prominent candidate for the location of the state's capital ; hence the significant name adopted by Publisher Hamilton for his paper.

In June, 1889, A- H. Stulfauth, formerly telegraph editor of the Evening Post, and connected with the Chronicle and Examiner of San Francisco, was so strongly attracted by the advantages of Ellensburg that he purchased a half interest in the Capital and removed to the Kittitas valley. A few months later, October 10, 1889, he assumed full charge of the business, editorial and mechanical departments and by skillful, conscientious work soon brought the Capital into prominence. Ten years later Mr. Stulfauth obtained full control of the business and he has since continued sole proprietor and editor of the publication, which ranks among the most successful and best country weeklies in eastern Washington. Originally the Capital was an independent sheet, but under Mr. Stulfauth's management, it became in 1892 a stanch supporter of Republican principles. Its political faith remains unaltered.

The Capital plant is modern and quite complete, including besides full lines of type, a news press, two jobbers, an Advance paper cutter, etc. The presses are operated by water power. It is comfortably located in the Bath brick block on Fourth street between Pearl and Pine streets, opposite the Hotel Vanderbilt. The mechanical force is under foreman H. W. Rodman. The Capital is a neat seven-column, four page paper.

The Ellensburg Dawn

Third in point of age among Ellensburg's representatives of journalism, though second to none in the qualities that go to make a first-class newspaper, is the Dawn, now in its eleventh year. From a little six-page monthly magazine, six by nine inches in size, first issued in November, 1893, it has steadily grown and improved.

The Reformers' Dawn, as it was first called, was established by Robert A. Turner, who had been connected with reform work since 1876, to advocate the principles of the People's party as promulgated at Omaha, July 4, 1892. The paper was offered to the reading public for the insignificant sum of twenty-five cents a year. At that time the Populistic movement was sweeping westward with wonderful strength and had just reached Kittitas county in force. The result was that the little reform paper was so cordially received that after the fourth issue, the size of the paper was doubled, and in May, 1894, 1,250 subscribers were claimed by its publisher. The following August it was again enlarged and with the campaign of that year really obtained its permanent footing as a newspaper. The publication of the weekly Dawn was begun in August. It was eleven by fifteen inches in size and contained only four pages. Much skill and energy were required to pilot the journalistic craft safely by the shoals and reefs of the hard times, but tbe feat was accomplished and when prosperity again came the paper forged ahead rapidly.

To enumerate all the changes and improvements made in the course of the Dawn's growth would be an endless task and not of general interest. At present the Dawn occupies quarters in the Albany block, in the very heart of the city, into which the plant was recently moved from its old location on Main street. Previous to that the office was in the Geddis annex, from 1897 to August, 1902. The first office was in the Cadwell block, but this becoming too small, the paper was removed in 1805 to tne Geddis block and thence to the annex. The Dawn was printed for the first two years on an old fashioned Cottage hand press. Then a Rose hand cylinder was installed, but this, too, was insufficient and too old fashioned, so in the spring of 1902, the present fine Challenge cylinder book and news press was purchased. This has a capacity of about 1,500 per hour and is an up to date machine in every respect. Other mechanical equipment has been added from time to time until the Dawn printing office has become one of the most complete in the county. The mechanical department is in charge of J. Mark Martin, a thoroughly competent workman.

Politically, the Dawn is strictly independent, though at one time it was an ardent champion of Populism. Since the passing of the People's party, however, Editor Turner has devoted himself rigidly to the task of promoting the general welfare regardless of party doctrine, and if there is one thing more than another that the Dawn is noted for, it is this independence. The columns are well filled with news and editorial matter, carefully and accurately written, and the presence of a goodly local advertising patronage indicates the popularity of the Dawn as an advertising medium.

The Cascade Miner

The Miner alone, of half a dozen newspapers established in the city of Roslyn, has survived and today it is the sole representative of journalism in the Roslyn district, with the one exception of the Echo, published at Cle-Elum. The Roslyn Miner, as it was originally called, was established by the Republicans in 1896 as a campaign paper, John B. Armstrong becoming its first editor and publisher. The first number appeared September 14th. The paper's first home was on First street between Pennsylvania and Dakota avenues. The plant was originally a small, inexpensive one, costing but a few hundred dollars, and for a time only a four column folio was published, but this was soon changed to a seven-column folio with "patent" inside. Before going to Roslyn, Mr. Armstrong had been connected with a newspaper in Ellensburg and being an experienced, capable man he issued a good paper.

Amasa S. Randall, also a former Ellensburg newspaper man, purchased the Miner, December 26, 1898, taking charge the first of the new year. The following April he associated with himself as a full partner, his brother, Urellis M. Randall, and together they organized the present Cascade Printing & Publishing Company. The next May they purchased a portion of the defunct Ellensburg Register plant, and in December, 1899, installed a Cottrell cylinder, the largest press ever brought to Roslyn. The press complete weighs six thousand five hundred pounds, occupies ninety-six square feet of floor space, and stands over six feet high. The big cylinder alone weighs over a ton. Upon assuming charge of the Miner, the new proprietors changed its name to .the Cascade Miner, the name which it now bears. Amasa S. Randall continues to act as manager of the company. The firm added the Cle-Elum Echo to its holdings in 1902, and in the spring of 1903 bought the Ellensburg Localizer. At present only the Localizer and the Miner are owned by the company, the Echo having been sold.

The Miner now has a well equipped plant occupying apartments on First street and in connection is run an excellent jobbing department. The machinery is operated by water power. As the city's official paper, a well edited, cleanly printed and public-spirited journal, the Miner enjoys the esteem of the community and a position of credit among the weeklies of the state. U. M. Randall, assisted by L. L. Warner, is in charge. The paper continues to be an ardent advocate of Republican doctrine. In size, it is now an eightpage, six-column sheet.

The Cle-Elum Echo

Cle-Elum is fortunate in possessing such a wide-awake, able weekly as the Echo. The paper is much above the average and cannot help but aid materially in strengthening and upbuilding the community around it. Between the years 1891 and 1902 Cle-Elum was without a newspaper, but in January of the latter year, Randall Brothers, of Roslyn, determined to enter the unoccupied field and began preparations for the publication of a paper. A very good small equipment was at once installed and a six-column folio commenced telling the local news. Charles S. Freeman first had charge of the business, but was later succeeded by Charles S. Fell. The latter purchased a half interest in the business in November, 1903, from Randall Brothers; the balance is owned by Walter J. Reed. The Echo is printed in a convenient office on Pennsylvania avenue. It is now a seven-column folio, all home print; politically, it is Republican.

The Teanaway Bugle

Among Kittitas county's pioneer journals that have long since become a memorv was the Teanaway Bugle, published by G. W. and Fred Seaton, who dabbled in journalism as amateurs. Beginning some time in 1884, the little sheet, four pages nine by twelve inches in size, appeared at irregular intervals for about a year. Fred Seaton was the practical printer of the firm. Of this unique publication, the Cle-Elum Tribune, in 1891, gives the following interesting description:

"One of the earliest enterprises in Kittitas county that partook of the character of a newspaper was a little two-column folio which bore the title of The Teanaway Bugle. Its editor was Fred O. Seaton, and the office of the publication was a little old shack, located on the west bank of the beautiful Teanaway. In its initial number, an editorial announcement appears to the effect that the sheet would appear quarterly, but from a careful perusal of the files of the paper, it was made manifest that its editor, with conscious disregard, had twisted the 'quarterly' into broader 'periodically,' and made the periods conform to his unqualified convenience.

"The Bugle was a very newsy little paper, however, and it served its purpose. It dwelt 'freely and fearlessly' on the public and private life of the Teanaway valley, its varied resources, picturesque location, scenic beauty, and other attractive features, and regularly presented a very roseate word picture of its prospective future.

"Just about the time the Bugle was at the zenith of its prosperity there was a marked absence of petticoats in the upper Kittitas country and, presuming from the tenor of an advertisement that appeared in several issues of the paper, it was evident that the sons of Adam, who were scattered throughout this region, in their solitary and hermit-like life, longed for the companionship and the civilizing influences of at least a few sympathetic daughters of Eve. 'PARTNERS WANTED! MUST BE FEMALES! ! BEAUTY NO OBJECT!!!' were the attractive headlines to the announcement in bold type, which read as follows:

" 'After roaming around this cold, cheerless and unsympathetic world for many years, with nothing to love, no one to caress us, we, the undersigned old bachelors, have at last settled down on lovely ranches in the charming valley of the peerless Teanaway. All that is wanting to complete our happiness is partners of the female persuasion. No capital required and but few questions asked. Women of uncertain age and questionable beauty acceptable, provided they can otherwise pass examination. Sound teeth and strong constitutions are the essential requisites. Address either S. L. Bates, J. B. Stevens, A. Helmer, A. Haas, S. L. Taylor, J. H. Moore, C. M. Giles, Colonel Mason, Ephraim Allyn, T. L. Gamble, Gus Pletat, N. Plaisted, H. Boardwell, S. A. Bacon.'

"The proposition courted investigation and the postmaster at Teanaway was given as a reference. It is not known to the Tribune whether the announcement was made at the request of the men whose names are affixed, but some inquiry developed the information that two or three of the above named gentlemen are now enjoying the complete happiness sought, and that the little proclamation in the Bugle opened the way to the matrimonial entanglements. In this respect at least it is hoped that the paper served a good purpose. ..."

The Gospel Preacher

years, in Ellensburg, the Rev. W. W. Stone being editor and publisher. It was the official state organ of the Christian church, and really a very ably edited little sheet. The Gospel Preacher went out of existence when Rev. and Mrs. Stone were compelled to go south for the health of the latter in 1895. They were pioneers of the Kittitas valley.

The Kittitas Wau-Wau

The distinction of having been the first newspaper published in the region now embraced by Kittitas county unquestionably belongs to the Kittitas Wau-Wau, a small amateur paper published in 1879 by Austin A. Bell and Harry M. Bryant, conducting a general store at Ellensburg under the firm name of Austin A. Bell & Co. Number one, volume one, appeared July 4th, 1879, and one other issue ended the career of this venturesome little journal.

The Kittitas Standard

next entered the Kittitas journalistic field and immediately became one of Ellensburg's substantial and popular business enterprises. With the Standard the name of its founder, publisher and editor is inseparably connected, for Richard V. Chadd's strong personality made it what it was and gave it a territorial reputation. Before coming to Ellensburg in 1883, Mr. Chadd had established and published for some time the Yakima Record, a paper that all old pioneers of central Washington will vividly remember. From an excerpt taken from Editor Chadd's salutatory, appearing in No. 1, Volume 1, of the Standard, June 16, 1883, we may fairly judge the character of the man :

"Hence, we simply announce our presence and simply make the promise that we shall publish an independent paper. It will be tied to no man's collar, in the interest of no clique, or ring, and is not a 'branch' establishment. Its publisher has invested solely his own means as a business venture. His well known independence is a guarantee of the truth of this assertion. Our aim shall be to publish a local paper devoted exclusively to the interests and development of Kittitas valley and vicinity. This is all the promise we make. People of Kittitas, how like you the platform ?"

However, it is not unlikely, indeed it is generally understood to be a fact, that John A. Shoudy gave the Standard his personal support. This was considerable, as Mr. Shoudy owned the townsite, conducted an immense business and was otherwise publicly interested in the progress and welfare of the valley. At any rate, the Standard prospered and experienced a healthy growth for a number of years.

Editor. Chadd was an able newspaper man and, true to his promise, gave the people an excellent journal, fearlessly independent, public-spirited and clean.

Thursday evening, September 10, 1885, Charles Voorhees, the Democratic candidate for territorial delegate, addressed the people of Ellensburg upon the political issues of the day. Mr. Chadd, who had not been in good health for some time, attended the meeting, afterwards returning to his little office on Pearl street, near Third, to work. A noisy demonstration, with booming of anvils, followed the meeting. But Editor Chadd was not well and kept within. When citizens visited the office a little later, they found him at his desk, dead. Evidently his weak heart had been unable to withstand the shock occasioned by some unusually loud explosion and the cord of life had snapped. With his death, the publication of the Standard ceased and the plant was shipped to do duty elsewhere. Robert A. Turner, proprietor of the Dawn, possesses an incomplete file of the old Standard, which has been freely used in the compilation of the county's history. There are several other newspapers in the Kittitas journalistic graveyard but we will not trouble the reader with the inscriptions on their tombstones. Pace quiescant.