Leslie McChesney Scott

“ One may assume that The Oregonian news paper has rendered valuable service, else the public would not give support over so long a duration of time, nor would the fame of the publication, as one of the world's best newspapers, be so far spread. Circulation of 110,000 copies daily and of 170,000 Sunday, which is the largest in the Pacific Northwest, indicates that the newspaper holds a high position in the regard of the people, and suffers no decrepitudes. ”

“ These were big losses in a small city, and at a time when the purchasing
power of money had three times the value of today. The Oregonian suffered from, the competition, especially from that of Ben Holladay's Bulletin. Mr. Holladay was the Croesus of Oregon, the first railroad builder, who had large command of money, and supplied cash to his newspaper for propaganda and political purposes. He drove The Oregonian into losses and debts and almost to bankruptcy. Mr. Pittock assigned the control of The Oregonian to Henry W. Corbett, a banker, to meet the debts in 1870-72. ”

“ An editor and publisher of conspicuous success in later years was C. S. Jackson, founder and builder of the Oregon Journal. A late acqui sition of our local press is C. H. Brockhagen, publisher of The Portland Telegram, who, as he has done in other cities, applies modern and national methods to Oregon journalism.
Since Mr. Pittock's death nine years ago, the managers of The Oregonian have been C. A. Morden and 0. L. Price, and since Mr. Scott's death eighteen years ago, the editors have been Edgar B. Piper and R. G. Callvert. Oregon has had a large supply of newspaper talent. ”

“ Himes that his sale of The Oregonian route was the greatest mistake of his financial life.
No competition is more spirited and costly than that of fighting newspapers. The conflict contains forces which stir men's pugnacity to primal and primeval depths. So in Oregon. Newspaperdom here has seen many strong characters. They have striven hard for their convictions. Harvey Scott was the most dreaded and respected of these fighters. Beriah Brown, of the Salem Democratic Press and the Portland Herald ”

“ During the interval, 1872-77, the editor was W. Lair Hill.
The first keen opponent of the daily Oregonian, the Times, although earlier in the field, could not outmatch the younger newspaper in the conflict for survival of the fittest. Mr. Austin, publisher of the Times, was more easy going than Mr. Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian, had less patience and industry, less application to the details of business; also more social engagements. Mr. Austin was a violin player, an accomplishment which, according to the canons, does not contribute to habits of hard work in the craft. Mr. ”

“ Three of these enterprises lost money heavily, Herald, Bulletin and News. The Standard, under Mr. Noltner, for a time enjoyed a well merited prosperity. The deficits of the Herald were $150,000; of the Bulletin, $200,000 ”