For the country at large the circulation was as follows: Dailies, 1,478,435; tri-weeklies, 107,170; bi-weeklies, 175,165; weeklies, 7,581,930; monthlies, 3,411,959; quarterlies, 101,000; annuals, 807,150.
Comparing Oregon's newspaper reading of the 1930's with that of 1860, we find that a population of 50,000, or one-twentieth of the 1930 figure, provided between 15,000 and 16,000 readers of Oregon newspapers. Two of the big Portland dailies today circulate a combined total of more than 200,000, or 1,500,000 a week. Add the circulation of all the other 250-odd publications in Oregon (if you can find out what it is), and you can realize how the reading of Oregon newspapers has grown.
The first steam power newspaper machinery brought to Oregon was an Adams press, installed by the Oregon Statesman, Salem, in 1859. This was sold in 1872 to Eugene Semple, state printer, later editor of the Portland Herald and still later governor of Washington. Steam and hand-power alternated as presses were bought and sold, and for 12 years a giant negro, Hiram Gorman, was the Statesman's "engine." In December 1883, Byars and Odell installed steam power again, and the days of running the Statesman off by hand were over.
The Oregonian's installation of its first power press was referred to in a letter by Simeon Francis, first editor of the Morning Oregonian, in the course of a letter on miscellaneous topics to D. W. Craig, of the Argus, February 4, 1861. He wrote: "Mr. Pittock has sent for a power press. It is that which the Standard was printed on at Sacramento. I expect it will be up the next steamer—cost about $1,000 to put up. Our press work is now a heavy item." The letter closes with an appeal to Mr. Craig to see if he can't devise a way to unite their two printing establishments, as a means of meeting advancing costs.
