With the increased business of the early 1880's, publishing conditions began to grow more propitious for a regular Sunday paper. The opposition of the ministers had not yet been entirely allayed, but the editors felt that it could be handled.
For months before that time, however, the paper had been issuing six-page papers to handle a heavy run of news, a big special event, an extra rush of advertising, or some highly desirable miscellany. Usually, the extra two pages were added on Saturday, but they were added also on other days of the week.
These two-page supplements were in seven-column format, one column smaller than the regular news section; they were run on the old, smaller press. The Sunday paper itself was a seven-column four-page section at the start.
Finally, there came, Monday, November 28, the definite announcement that the Sunday Oregonian would be launched on December 4. The announcement came in the form of the leading editorial, headed The Sunday Oregonian.
Portland (the editorial said) has long wanted a Sunday newspaper. It has long been the intention of the proprietors of the Oregonian to supply the want. In their opinion the time has now arrived.
The primary object is to furnish a news paper.
It was explained that there would be a regular service of telegraphic news reports. Local matters were to receive
special attention . . . not only a report of current matters but a review of the events of each week and of comment thereon. . . . All the matter in the Sunday paper will be prepared expressly for it. . . . The paper will be entirely distinct from the Morning Oregonian. . . .
It is expected that the Sunday paper will somewhat relieve the embarrassing pressure of advertisements on the week-day issue . . . Our regular issues have long been so crowded with ads . . . have been obliged to exclude ... many features which would add to their interest and value.
The first number of the Sunday Oregonian, labeled volume 1, number 1, which came out December 4, 1881, on the 31st birthday of the weekly and close to 21 years from the start of the daily, read a lot better than it looked. Lacking a lot of the mechanical finish of the later Sunday Oregonians, it was a pretty smart little paper and must have pleased the Portland of that day exceedingly with its homely, personal touch.
Let's sketch the contents briefly:
The first page, all clear of advertising, while the regular daily
