Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

1829. The race to become R.I.'s first daily

Publishing the first daily newspaper in Providence history turned out to be more a game of poker than a journalistic endeavor.

The paper known today as The Providence Journal was a spinoff of a twice-weekly paper that started Jan. 3, 1820, with the rather awkward title of "Manufacturers' & Farmers' Journal, Providence and Pawtucket Advertiser."

It was started by a group of investors that included pioneer industrialist Samuel Slater with an eye toward supporting the fledgling manufacturing sector of the economy.

The arrival of the Manufacturers' & Farmers' Journal, on Mondays and Thursdays, meant that Providence, home of several twice-weeklies, would have a paper six days a week. The only day off was Sunday, which would be reserved for the Sabbath in Providence for several more decades.

By early 1828, Journal publisher John Miller was contemplating publishing his paper six days a week. But Miller worried a daily paper would kill off the twice-weeklies then serving Providence.

So he let 1828 pass without making a move. The next year, though, rumor and deception would force his hand.

In July 1829, the word was out around Cheapside and Market Square, the main commercial districts along Main Street at the foot of College Hill. Someone was planning to begin a daily newspaper.

It was a Friday afternoon, July 17. Miller headed to the offices of his competitor, The Rhode Island American. The editor there, Benjamin F. Hallett, had worked for Miller before moving to the American.

Hallett talked too much that day.

Daily Journal. First published July 21, 1829.

After their conversation, Miller announced he would begin publishing a Daily Journal the next morning, Saturday, July 18, 1829. It would be the first daily paper in Providence.

As Miller and his staff prepared to hurry the first Providence Daily Journal to press, one of Hallett's bosses went to see him.

There would be no need to publish The Journal daily, Miller's competitor told him. Hallett had misspoken. Sure, Hallett and his bosses were considering going daily. But no decision had been made, the other paper's publisher said. If we decide to go daily, you'll hear about it well ahead of time.

Miller abandoned his plans for the Saturday issue, and the newspaper world in Providence was quiet -- at least for the weekend.

The twice-weekly Journal came out Monday morning as scheduled.

Then, at 8 o'clock, Miller learned Hallett would begin publishing a daily paper, to be called The Daily Advertiser, the next morning, Tuesday. In response, Miller announced he would start The Daily Journal on Tuesday, too.

The plan was set: On Tuesday, July 21, 1829, Providence would go from being a town that had never had a daily newspaper to being a town with two.

But the drama was not over. Hallett and his bosses had one more trick for Miller.

At 3 p.m. Monday, Hallett published Tuesday's Daily Advertiser a day early, getting the jump on Miller and The Journal.

The next day, Tuesday, July 21, 1829, Miller published the first Daily Journal.

On Wednesday, both dailies published their second issues.

In The Daily Journal's first editorial, Miller explained why he went daily.

"The proprietor of the Journal is induced by the advice of his friends to establish a Daily Paper, to be called the Providence Daily Journal and General Advertiser," the first editorial reads. "It is his wish to make his paper a general vehicle of correct information on all interesting and important subjects."

Miller and his staff also apologized for the hurried circumstances under which the first Daily Journal was produced. "As the paper of this day is published at a very short notice, we ask the indulgence of the public for every defect or deficiency."

In the fifth column of the editorial page was a four-line announcement: "A new paper called the Daily Advertiser was issued yesterday, in anticipation of this day, from the press of Messrs. Carlile & Parmenter, edited by B.F. Hallett, Esq."

Manufacturers' & Farmers' Journal. First published Jan. 3, 1820.

One might argue that Miller's paper was the first true daily, because The Journal was published every day that week: the twice-weekly Journal came out on Monday, then The Daily Journal debuted Tuesday. But the twice-weekly Manufacturers' and Farmers' Journal continued as a separate publication until 1907, so the Monday issue cannot be counted as the start of the daily run.

Another argument in The Journal's favor is that Hallett used the ruse of publishing Tuesday's issue on Monday, then not publishing again until Wednesday.

But Miller never made that argument, as he wrote on Tuesday of the following week: "It was a trick to get the start of us and they got it; it is yet to be determined who comes out ahead."

It was The Journal that would come out ahead. In less than four years, The Daily Advertiser ceased publication.

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History repeats itself

John Miller's Daily Journal, beginning in 1829, was the second paper to bear the name The Providence Journal. The first was a weekly published by John Carter Jr. from Jan. 2, 1799, to Dec. 30, 1801, whose full title was The Providence Journal, and Town and Country Advertiser. In 1848, The Providence Daily Journal adopted an Old English typeface for the nameplate at the top of the front page, the same typeface the first Providence Journal had used for its nameplate.

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Firsts in the first Providence Journal:

First typo:

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL puelished daily at eight dollars per annum.

First wedding announcement:

MARRIED

In this town, last evening, by the Rev. Mr. Church, Mr. George Horton, of New-Jersey, to Miss Mary L Dawly, of this town.

First want ad:

DRESSER TENDER WANTED

WANTED to hire a Dresser Tender, well acquainted with dressing fine yarn. Apply at the Journal Counting Room.

First display ad:

SELF ADJUSTING PATENT TEMPLES.

O.M. STILLMAN, continues to manufacture at WESTERLY, his much approved Self Adjusting Patent Temples; and for the greater convenience of Manufacturers, has established a permanent place of deposit with J. BORDEN, at the FALL RIVER IRON WORKS COMPANY's Store in this town, who will receive and execute all orders for the same.
He would likewise give notice, that he has ap pointed the following persons his Agents in different parts of the country, viz: Tiffany, Sayles & Hitchcock, BOSTON; George Dickinson, NEW-YORK; David B. Rising, PHILADELPHIA; Isaac Bannister, BALTIMORE; O.G. & N. Rogers, NEW HARTFORD, (N.Y.)
He would also caution all persons against infringing on his Patent, either by manufacture or use, as he will take due notice of the same.