1889 HISTORY OF LINCOLN NEBRASKA

CHAPTER XXII

THE PRESS OF LINCOLN -- AS IN OTHER THINGS, SO IN NEWSPAPERS, DOES LINCOLN STAND AT THE FRONT -- THE PAPERS THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE AND THE MEN WHO PUBLISH THEM

(324) Lincoln has been fortunate in many particulars, and among others in having good newspapers. A good newspaper is a standing advertisement to the outside world that a good town is behind it, and this has been the only advertisement that Lincoln has ever had.

On the 14th of August, 1867, the Commissioners for the location of the seat of government for the State of Nebraska, selected and officially announced Lincoln, up to that time the town of "Lancaster," as the place. On the following day there appeared in the columns of the Nebraska City Press a prospectus for the publication of a weekly newspaper at Lincoln, to be called the "Nebraska Commonwealth, over the signature of C. H. Gere. On the 7th day of September, the first copy of the newspaper was printed at the office of the Press, there being at that time no accommodations for a newspaper office at the new capital. "C. H. Gere & Co." were the announced publishers.

On November 2d, the second number of the Commonwealth was issued at Lincoln, printed in the office of Hon. S. B. Galey, a stone building on the north side of the Government square, W. W. Carder, publisher, and C. H. Gere, editor. It was a seven-column sheet, of dingy appearance, the type being some old primer and nonpareil taken from the used-up material of the Nebraska City Press; the press used being the first "Washington" ever brought across the Missouri river into Nebraska territory.

Before the third number was issued (and it came out two weeks later) the Commonwealth had moved into an office of its own, a stone building of small dimensions on the corner lot of the Academy of Music block, which was torn down several years ago to make way for improvements. The issues thereafter were regular, except when some accident of transportation prevented the arrival of printing paper in time for the press.

(325) In the May following, Mr. Gere, who had edited the paper from Omaha, removed permanently to Lincoln, and became associated with Mr. Carder in the business management of the paper, and the office was soon after removed to more roomy quarters, over Jas. Sweet & Brock's bank, in the corner of what is now termed "Union block." In the spring of '69, the name of the paper was changed to the Nebraska State Journal.

In November of that year Mr. Carder was succeeded by Mr. J. Q. Brownlee, and shortly after the office, still in search of more room, was taken across O street, and occupied the second floor of the frame building second door east of the State block.

On the 20th day of July, 1870, the day on which the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad ran its first train into Lincoln, and struck death to the stage line that had been the only means of transportation to the capital of Nebraska, the Daily State Journal first saw the light.

A daily edition had prior to this time been worked off on the hand press, during the session of the Legislature in the winter of '69 and '70, but it contained little more than the summary of legislative proceedings, and some local items.

A new Taylor cylinder press had been added to the Journal machinery, and after a dozen years of continual faithful service, it gave way to the largest size, two-revolution, Cottrell press, with all modern improvements, including folder.

Still crowded for room, owing to its rapid growth, the Journal office in the spring of '71 returned to the State block, took possession of the rooms over Rudolph's grocery house, that had just been extended fifty feet in the rear, making its quarters 25x100, and amply sufficient for its accommodation. Shortly after, Mr. Brownlee disposed of his interest to Hon. H. D. Hathaway, of the Plattsmouth Herald, taking an interest in the Herald as part payment, and the firm name became Gere & Hathaway.

In the fall of 1872 a separation was made between the newspaper and the job business, and the State Journal Company was organized, the members being Messrs. Gere & Hathaway, and Messrs. A. H. Mendenhall and Geo. W. Roberts, of Peoria, Ill., Mr. Mendenhall haying long been the foreman of the Transcript office, and the latter, the proprietor of a bindery and blank book establishment in that city.

A large addition of material and machinery for book and job (326) printing, bindery, and blank book making, was made to the old job department of the Journal, and again more room had to be obtained. The second stories of the five buildings, known as Commercial block, on the southwest corner of Government square, were connected by a common hall, and after some alterations, nearly the whole of the upper half of the block was taken, part for the State Journal company, and part for the newspaper, still owned and published by Gere & Hathaway.

In 1887, Mr. Roberts having sold his interest in the Journal company to Mr. John R. Clark, and it having been incorporated under the laws of the State, Messrs. Gere & Hathaway transferred the newspaper to the company.

The officers of the company are: C. H. Gere, President; A. H. Mendenhall, Vice President; John R. Clark, Secretary, and H. D. Hathaway, Treasurer.

The beginning of the year 1882, found the State Journal company in the occupancy of their handsome and spacious new building, situated upon the corner of P and Ninth streets. This building is a (327) substantial stone and brick structure, three stories and basement, with a frontage of 75 feet on P street, and 142 feet on Ninth street. The ground was broken in June, 1880, and the various departments ready for occupancy the first of December, 1881.

Prior to this last removal into its own quarters, the company had added a small line of stationery for its jobbing trade. This department has reached such proportions that it now occupies one-third of the building -- the part that was for a time rented. Its mechanical and artistic departments have also grown in the same proportion. A dozen steam presses are used for its job and book work. Its bindery is the largest and completest in the west.

To its thoroughly equipped electrotyping and stereotyping department, it has added a very complete engraving and lithographing establishment, which is employed to its full capacity in furnishing Nebraska work to Nebraskans. The two-revolution Cottrell press has been sent to the job-rooms, and the Journal has for some time been printed on a Hoe perfecting press, with a capacity of 10,000 double sheets per hour, delivered folded to the hands of the mailers and newsboys.

     The volume of the business of the Journal Company, in all its departments, reached, in 1882, the first year of its occupancy of its own building, $130,000. For the fiscal year ending July 15, 1889, it amounted to $288,306.31. It paid for labor during those twelve months an aggregate of $105,176.53, a fraction over $2,000 per week. Its freight bills for the year amounted to $7,318.79.

     The history of the democratic press of Lincoln is a varied one. Democratic newspapers have had a precarious existence, and leave changed names and owners frequently. In 1867 the Nebraska Statesman was founded by Augustus Harvey as a weekly. It was sold within eighteen months to Randall & Smails, who changed it from a weekly to an evening daily. Owing to Randall's mismanagement, the concern broke financially, and the material went into the Fremont Tribune office. About 1878 General Vifquain founded the State Democrat, which also changed hands frequently. Among the prominent Democrats who have had control of the paper may be mentioned Hon. Albert Watkins, Hon. A. J. Sawyer, and Hon. J. W. Barnhart. Changes continued to occur until August 1, 1886, when the property (328) passed into the hands of J. D. Calhoun, who successfully conducted the paper for twenty-three months. On July 1, 1888, Mr. Calhoun sold out to the "Call Publishing Company," which changed its polities. In the following August, Messrs. J. A. Emmons and Sol. Oppenheimer purchased an outfit and established the Weekly State Democrat, which is yet in publication and enjoys a good circulation and fair patronage. Mr. Oppenheimer soon sold his interest to Capt. Emmons, who is now the editor, the publishers being the Democrat Publishing Company. The Democrat is ably edited, and is earnest in its support of party principles and in pushing Lincoln to the front.

     On July 1, 1888, was issued the first number of the Lincoln Daily Call, as an evening paper, by the "Call Publishing Company." Of this company H. M. Bushnell is President, Sam D. Cox Secretary, Treasurer, and Business Manager, and Al. Fairbrother, Managing Editor. Under the management of these three gentlemen the Call has grown rapidly in circulation and influence. It is Republican in politics, although free to criticise where criticism is thought to be needed.

     Few business enterprises of the city, have grown more rapidly than the Lincoln News plant. Beginning as a very small job office, in 1880, by Mr. E. B. Hyde, it has now expanded into a large printing house, including an excellent book bindery, facilities for stereotyping, and two newspaper and a number of job presses. The Daily News was first published on the 20th of October, 1881, as a four column folio, the day of President Garfield's funeral, by Mr. T. H. Hyde, who actively joined his son, E. B. Hyde, in the business at that time, and has been the main factor in the enterprise ever since. The paper was started to contribute to the business interests of the job department. The winter of 1881-2 was one of commercial activity, and the News prospered, so that early in the spring of 1882 the daily was enlarged to a five-column folio, and advanced to a six-column folio late in the fall of that year. The News continued to grow, and in 1885 Mr. Walter Hoge became interested in the business, and the firm became Hyde, Hoge &, Hyde. The pressure of patronage required another enlargement of the News in 1887, when it became a seven-column folio. bout the first of the year 1888 a stock company was formed called (329) the "Lincoln News Company," and it so continues to the present time, with Messrs. Thomas H. Hyde and E. B. Hyde as the leading stockholders. The daily was again enlarged in the fall of 1888 to an eight-column folio. Mr. Hoge retired from the company during the summer of 1888. Mr. Harry Dobbins became connected with the editorial department in 1888, and he and Mr. T. H. Hyde do the main editorial work, Mr. Hyde being managing editor. Mr. E. B. Hyde is manager of the mechanical and business departments.

The News Company now occupies three floors of the brick building at 121-3 North Tenth street. The daily is steadily increasing its circulation and business, and the weekly News has a large circulation among the people of the county. Altogether the News establishment is the largest printing house, except that of the Journal, in the South Platte section of Nebraska.

The first German newspaper published in the city of Lincoln was called the Staats-Zeitung, and was owned and edited by Dr. F. Renner, now of Nebraska City. The doctor, a well educated man and strong Republican, started the Staats-Zeitung in 1871, and made a strong fight for General Grant's reelection in 1872. The Staats-Zeitung was afterward moved to Nebraska City, where it is now published by Mr. Bentler.

     The Germans of the city of Lincoln, feeling the necessity of having an organ in their own language, contributed, in the year 1880, a large sum of money, and guaranteed a good patronage, to Peter Karberg, who was known as an old and experienced newspaper man in Dubuque. He moved to Lincoln in the month of May, 1880, and published the first number of his Nebraska Staats-Anzeiger on June 1st, 1880. Karberg's experience and energy soon made the Staats-Anzeiger one of the best and most influential German papers in the State. The early death of Mr. Karberg, on July 2, 1884, made the sale of his paper necessary, and Mr. Henry Brugmann became the successor of Mr. Karberg. Financial troubles caused the foreclosure and sale of the Staats-Anzeiger in October, 1887. The creditors bought the material, and after disposing of the job department formerly connected with the paper, sold it to Schaal & Esser, who now continue its publication. The Agizeiger was a strong advocate of Republican principles under its first two proprietors, who themselves were strong party (330) men. The present publishers are Democrats, and the paper has no avowed policy.

     The Lincoln Freie Presse is the youngest, but the most successful, German paper, not only in the city of Lincoln, but in the whole State of Nebraska. Its publisher and editor, Major J. D. Kleutsch, is one of the best-known Germans of our State. Being one of the oldest citizens of our city, Mr. Kluetsch knows the wants of our German population, and publishes just such a paper as is demanded and needed. The Lincoln Freie Presse, a seven-column, eight page weekly, was first published on September 1st, 1884, by G. Z. Bluedhorn, who sold it on February 15, 1886, to its present owner, Mr. J. D. Kluetsch. It has now the largest circulation of any German paper in the State. Its circulation is unlimited among the German residents of this and adjoining States, and it accordingly enjoys a very large advertising patronage. Independent in politics, tolerant in religions matters, and fearless, though true, in matters pertaining to the welfare of our city and State, the Freie Presse has done more than any other German paper to build up the State of Nebraska and city of Lincoln. The history of Lincoln, written by the Freie Presse in the German language, in a series of twenty-eight able articles, has advertised our city all over the United States, and also abroad, and Mr. Kluetsch and his paper have been highly commended for the enterprise shown by these articles. John D. Kluetsch, editor and publisher of this paper, was born on the 22d day of March, 1833, in a town called Uelmen, near Coblentz, on the river Rhine, in the kingdom of Prussia. After passing the primary schools of his town, he studied at the gymnasiums at Recklinghausen, in Westphalia, and at Coblentz and Trier, in the province of Rhenish Prussia. The gymnasium at Trier, (no doubt the oldest city in Western Europe, and at one time the residence of Constantine the Great,) was always considered one of the best schools in Germany. After graduating, Mr. Kluetsch visited the University of Bonn, and the Academy of Forestry at Eisenach, the city in which Martin Luther was held as a prisoner, and where he translated the Bible. Having finished his studies; Mr. Kluetsch entered the Prussian Army as a one year volunteer in the Eighth Prussian Sharpshooters' Battallion, at Wetzlar, near Giessen, the well-known German university. After this we find Mr. Kluetsch at the city of Cologne, where he (331) remained in the government's employ, with the exception of a few months during the Franco-Austrian war, in 1859, when he joined the Prussian army again, until he emigrated to this country, in May, 1861, shortly after the breaking out of the rebellion. Mr. Kluetsch enlisted as a private in the Eighty-second Illinois Volunteers, and received many promotions for his bravery and good behavior. He served on the staffs of Generals O. O. Howard and Carl Schurz, and took part in some of the hardest-fought battles of our last war; for instance, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. After leaving the army, Mr. Kluetsch moved to Chicago, where he held a number of positions in the postal service, and in the recorder's office as map clerk. He was elected collector of taxes for West Chicago in 1870, and reelected in 1871, and moved to Lincoln on the 1st of May, 1872. Here he followed several vocations, until the 15th day of February, 1886, when he purchased the Lincoln Freie Presse, of which paper he is the sole owner.

     The Hausbesucher (Home Visitor) is another German paper published in this city by Rev. Mr. Bruegger, pastor of the German Methodist Church, corner of Fifteenth and M streets, under the auspices of this church. It was founded by Rev. Karl Harris, the former pastor, on June 1, 1881. Its circulation is largely among the members of the above church, and reaches about 300 copies.

     The Capital City Courier was started with an office desk, but now has one of the finest and most complete newspaper and job printing establishments in the State. The Courier was established by its present proprietor, Mr. L. Wessel jr., December 9, 1885. By successive enlargements the Courier grew from a four to a six-column folio. At the end of six months it blossomed out as a full-fledged newspaper, and charged a subscription price. For the State Fair, of 1887, the proprietor published an edition of 10,000 copies, each eight pages of six columns, and the paper has continued that size ever since. It is one of that class of journals known in the West as "society papers," but it also has full and carefully edited departments devoted to the drama, literature; sport, fashions, humor, music, religion, woman, home architecture, and correspondence, besides chatty comments on politics and other current events.

     (332) In connection with the paper a department for the prosecution of the artistic in printing and publishing is maintained. The offices are on Twelfth street, in the new Burr block, where two store-rooms are occupied, one for the Courier and business department and the other for the composing and press-rooms.

     Believing that there was an opening in the city for a first-class distinctive Sunday morning paper, the Sunday Morning Globe was brought into existence, in April, 1889, the publishers and editors being W. L. Hunter, late of Illinois, and J. C. Seacrest, who had been for two years identified with the newspaper business of the city. The Globe is an eight-page, six-column paper, independent in politics, and devoted especially to the interests of society, secret fraternities, sports, and city events touching the interests of the masses. It aims to be a people's paper. The business is done in the name of the Globe Publishing Company. The office of the company is located in the Windsor block. The daily Globe was started September 28, 1889.

     The first agricultural paper published in Lincoln, the Nebraska Farmer, was established in 1872, by General J. C. McBride and J. C. Clarkson, now of Chicago. At the time this publication was established, the farming and live-stock interests of Nebraska amounted to very little; they were too young to support a paper published in their interest. But the main reason for the establishment of the paper was to promote, by its influence, the success of certain land deals in the State in connection with a railway project of that early day. In 1880, however, the farming and live-stock interests of the State had grown to larger proportions, making the field of an agricultural paper broader and more lucrative. In that year General McBride purchased his partner's interest in the journal and conducted it alone for some time, when he sold an interest in the paper to O. M. Druse. Soon after this transaction General McBride was appointed postmaster, and the entire paper became the property of Mr. Druse. At this time the Farmer was a monthly publication. In January, 1887, L. L. Siler, of Lawrence, Kas., and H. E. Heath, of Kansas City, purchased the paper of Mr. Druse, who had been running it for some time as a semi-monthly.

The new firm soon changed it to a weekly publication. In January, 1888, Mr. Siler sold his three-fifths interest to his partner, (333) H. E. Heath, who in the following spring took his brother, H. A. Heath, a practical farmer from Western Nebraska, into partnership, since which time the firm has remained unchanged. The Nebraska Farmer is recognized as the leading farm journal published in the West. It is ably edited, and has a large force of contributors and correspondents, made up of men who have practical knowledge of the things about which they write. It has an extensive circulation through Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and other Western States.

In the fall of 1886, Colonel H. S. Reed and Ex-Governor Robert W. Furnas established a monthly journal called Western Resources, the first number of which was issued in January, 1887. In the fall of 1887 Colonel Reed purchased the interest of Governor Furnas, and continued to conduct the paper as a monthly until January 1, 1889, when the form of the paper was changed, as was also the time of publication. It is now issued three times per month, viz: on the 10th, 20th, and 30th.

     At the time Western Resources was established it was made a general farm paper, but when Colonel Reed became sole proprietor he changed policy and made the paper exclusively a live-stock journal, devoted to the live-stock interests of the State. Since the paper has been conducted on this line of policy, more live-stock organizations have been formed in the State than ever before, for which Colonel Reed is mainly responsible. Western Resources is without a peer in its line in the West, and is acknowledged to occupy second place among the live stock journals of the entire country. Its circulation is about 10,000 copies, and it is the official organ of the following associations, which shows that it is appreciated by the men in whose interest it is published: Nebraska Draft Horse Breeders' Association; Trotting Horse Breeders' Association; Hereford Breeders' Association; Imported Stock Breeders' Association, and the Association of Expert Judges of Swine.

     The Nebraska State Laborer was established in August, 1888, by the organized workingmen of this city, and is published under the auspices of their principal organization, the Central Trades and Labor Union. It earnestly champions the cause of the workingmen, and able advocates all measures which tend to ameliorate the condition of the laboring masses and elevate them to a higher plane: of usefulness (334) and enjoyment. It has grown rapidly in popular favor, and is exercising a wide influence among that class to whose interest it is devoted. It is edited by B. S. Littlefield, a former well-known teacher in Lillibridge & Roose's business college.

     There are at this time twenty-six periodicals published in Lincoln. Besides those referred to at greater length, may be mentioned, more or less in detail, the following additional publications: The Nebraska Methodist, published at Wesleyan University, in the interest of that institution and Nebraska Methodism generally; the Hesperian is the organ of the students of the State University; the Proscenium is a theatrical sheet, issued in the interests of Funke's Opera House; the Congregational News, by Rev. H. A. French, is a journal devoted to the interests of the Congregational Church; the Lincoln Monthly, by Messrs. Lillibridge & Roose, represents the interests of the Lincoln Business College; the New Republic is the organ of the Prohibition party in the State, of which Hon. W. H. Hardy is now the editor; the Western Workman, by Professor F. F. Roose, is the Western organ of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Lincoln Journal of Commerce, is a monthly price current, published in the interests of the city jobbing trade, and for other business purposes; the Nebraska Railway Gazetteer, by Professor F. F. Roose, is a monthly periodical devoted to western railway affairs; the Daily Stock Dealer is a daily published by Mr. Walter Hoge for the benefit of the Lincoln Stock Yards, Packing and Provision Company, and the stock dealers of this vicinity; the Home News is a little folio in the interests of the Home for the Friendless; the Farmers' Alliance is a monthly, designed to represent the association of farmers by that name; the Lincoln Newspaper Union is the trade journal of the Lincoln newspaper ready-print supply and publishing house, managed by Mr. Frank Rohm; this house also prints the Nebraska State Capital, a story paper; Modern Bookkeeping, by Lillibridge & Roose, is published in the interests of accountants and students.

The Cherrier Directory Publishing Company, of which A. B. Cherrier and N. Hall are the members, has for two years past published city directories which are better arranged, more convenient of reference, and more complete, than any directory before published.

For more information about any of the sites please contact Pam Rietsch at: pam@livgenmi.com